Theology of theWestminster Confession

Adult Sunday School

2017

Of the Civil Magistrate

Civil Government and Family

WCF 23

Of the Civil Magistrate

God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, has ordained civil authorities to be, under him, over the people for his own glory and the public good. For this purpose he has armed them with the power of the sword for the defense and encouragement of those who are good, and for the punishment of those who do evil. [WCF 23.1, MESV]

WCF23.1

Civil Government and Family

What is a magistrate?

• Let’s start off by defining a “magistrate”

• New Oxford American Dictionary: a civil officer or lay judge who administers the law

• We should allow a full range of understanding, based on I Pet 2:13-14• Kings

• Governors

• Those who promote laws (legislature)

• Those who enforce the laws (police)

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Civil Government and Family

The Lord of the lords, and King of the kings

• It is important to note that in the discourse concerning civil government, that we acknowledge that God owns this world. He is undisputed King over all kings. He has ordained civil government to exist, not just in theory, but in fact.

• For his own glory, and for the good of the people

• To these ends, he gives the state the power of the sword

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Civil Government and Family

The sword

• The sword can be used to defend, and therefore encourage those who are good

• The sword can be used to punish evil-doers

• The fact that civil governments misuse the power of the sword does not allow us to be disobedient to the civil government, unless they contradict God’s commands

• Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. I Pet 2:13-14

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Civil Government and Family

Of the Civil Magistrate

It is lawful for Christians to hold public office when called to it. In such office they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth. For that purpose they may now, under the new testament, lawfully wage war upon just and necessary occasion. [WCF 23.2, MESV]

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Civil Government and Family

Responding to bad magistrates

• How do we respond to governments that are unwilling to do all of what God says?

• Option 1: Refuse all civil government, and replace with a mixture of sect and society• Waco, Jonestown, anyone?

• Option 2: Make peace with the government, but refuse to participate in any capacity• No police, no military, no public office

• Option 3: Participate only as far as the government is expressly Christian

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Civil Government and Family

Christian magistrates

• None of these options are satisfactory

• Instead, if God calls someone to a task, we should follow God’s leading

• By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. Prov 8:15-16

• We should rule therefore in piety, justice and peace

• So, God appoints rulers. He also instructs them how to live.

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Civil Government and Family

Just war

• One final point in this section: the waging of a just war

• The Westminster authors may have thinking about what Augustine said about the theory of “just war” found in The City of God

• However, in telling us that civil magistrates bear the sword, Paul is including the military as well as the police

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Civil Government and Family

NT teaching on our relation to government

• Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Rom 13:1-4

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Civil Government and Family

Of the Civil Magistrate

Civil authorities may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven, nor should they interfere in any way in matters of faith. Yet, as caring fathers, it is the duty of civil authorities to protect the church of our common Lord without giving preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest—doing so in such a way that all church authorities shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of carrying out every part of their sacred functions without violence or danger, interference or disturbance. [WCF 23.3a, MESV]

WCF23.3

Civil Government and Family

Limits to authority

• This is a long section, so we’re breaking it into several bits. It has also been subject to extensive revision by American Presbyterians in 1788, which we are following.

• We note that there is a limitation to the powers of magistrates. They do NOT perform the ministry of Word and Sacrament, nor do they administer church discipline.

• Note what happened to King Uzziah, when he entered the temple to offer incense -- he left the temple a leper, for he had overstepped the duties of a king (2 Chr 26:18)

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Civil Government and Family

The magistrate as promoter or guide of the church?

• Our forefathers revised this section in 1788 to point out that the establishment of a state church - considered a good idea in the 1500s and 1600s -by the 1700s, not so much.

• The church and the state operate in two distinct spheres of responsibility

• It’s a better idea to keep them separated

• The government should not be involved in the running and governing of the church

• While it is a great gift to experience the rule of a good magistrate in the civil sphere, no magistrate should think he should therefore rule the church

WCF23.3

Civil Government and Family

Of the Civil Magistrate

As Jesus Christ has appointed a regular government and discipline in his church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere with, prevent, or hinder their proper exercise among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own profession and belief. It is the duty of civil authorities to protect the person and good name of all their people in such an effective manner that no person be allowed, either in the name of religion or of unbelief, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatever. They should also take care that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without interference or disturbance. [WCF 23.3b, MESV]

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Civil Government and Family

The magistrate as protector of the church or religion?

• The state should ensure the church’s freedom to govern itself

• The state should permit freedom of religion and freedom of assembly

• In sum, the Philadelphia Presbyterians wanted to show that the church and state were to be separate spheres of responsibility, but each had a obligation to the other

• Question: does this section permit the protection and freedom of all religions? In 1788, there were Quakers, Unitarians, Shakers, and other sects, some just as unique as any non-Christian religion.

WCF23.3

Civil Government and Family

Of the Civil Magistrate

It is the duty of people to pray for those in authority, to honor them, to pay them taxes or other revenue, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority for the sake of conscience. Neither unbelief nor difference in religion makes void the just and legal authority of officeholders nor frees the people—church authorities included—from their due obedience to them. Much less does the Pope have any power or jurisdiction over civil authorities in their domains or over any of their people, nor can he deprive them of their domains or lives if he shall judge them to be heretics or on any other pretense whatever. [WCF 23.4, MESV]

WCF23.4

Civil Government and Family

The duties of subjects

• Straightforward, isn’t it?

• We are to pray for the civil authorities (I Tim 2:1-2)

• We are to honor them (I Pet 2:17)

• We are to pay taxes, and respect as well (Rom 13:6-7)

• We are to obey their lawful commands (Rom 13:5)

• We should not permit our consciences to grow accustomed to disobedience. --Van Dixhoorn

• Peter makes it clear this applies even for unbelieving authorities. He wrote his first letter from Rome, as a prisoner of Emperor Nero.

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Civil Government and Family

Ministers of religion and the government of the state

• Finally, how do we differ from the Roman church here?

• Paul submitted to civil authority, Festus and then to Caesar (Acts 25:9-11)

• Peter considered it a denial of Christ, and a decline among God’s people, to despise authority (2 Pet 2:1, 10-11)

• Historically, the Popes have considered themselves above any civil authorities, as well as counting themselves as the Ruler of Vatican State. They have laid claim to exercising “two swords”, over both church (judgment of heretics) and state (interfering with their internal rule, and in international politics).

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Civil Government and Family

Summary of key points WCF23

• God has established civil governments, for His glory and the public

good

• They have the power of the sword, for defense and for offense

against evil

• It is lawful, even needful, for Christians to hold public office, or

serve in the military, or on a police force, according to God’s

calling

• The church and the state are two separate spheres of

responsibility. The state must not think it can govern the church.

• We are to pray for and respect our civil leadership. We should

obey the laws of our land.

Civil Government and Family

Consider and discuss

1. Did the Westminster Assembly consider England a “Christian nation” when they wrote WCF 23? Did the American revisionists consider the USA a “Christian nation” when they changed WCF 23? Explain.

2. What do you think the civil magistrate’s role and responsibility should be to the church? Discuss some biblical limitations.

3. Can the practice of civil disobedience be principled rather than rebellious? Why? Who? When? Where? How?

WCF23

4. “I don’t pay all my taxes because the government is either going to spend it wastefully or immorally.” Discuss.

5. Are there positions in the civil government in which a Christian ought not serve? List some examples and defend your answers.

Civil Government and Family

Memorize

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Romans 13:1-2

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Civil Government and Family

Going deeper

Books

• Sproul, R.C. What is the Relationship Between Church and State? (Beginner)

• Smith, Gary. God and Politics. (Intermediate)

• Grudem, Wayne. Politics According to the Bible. (Advanced)

Articles

• Johnson John. Can War Be Just?

• Articles on Government and Politics at Monergism.com.

WCF23

Civil Government and Family