The following comments on the value of civilization and government (the classic definition, not a modern day liberal's idea) and how Jesus approached them is in response to this post on an "anarcho-primitivist" conference.
An important concept for my readers to understand is that by defending the concept of civilization (as opposed to "deindustrialization" and abandonment of technology etc.) I am not advocating for the numerous ills that have arisen from society. I believe industry, technology, and markets are neutral items whose meaning is determined by the intention of the individual involved. Civilization and all that it entails is not bad in and of itself, it is the humans that comprise civilization that create the problems. Even if anarchists succeeded in their fruitless quest, they would still be faced with a whole lot of very depraved humans (read Lord of the Flies or Romans). In society or not, these humans would present the same problems anarchists complain about: selfishness (wealth gap), pride (power hierarchy), greed (economic development and progress). Fantasizing about a return to hunter-gatherer subsistence does nothing to solve these fundamental sins, and ignores the powerful work of our Savior in an attempt to entirely solve our societal ills with man-made solutions! But I digress.
How did Christ treat the religious and government systems of his day? Jesus never sought the abolition of the established religious order, but rather its reform. The zealots and revolutionaries of the time (aspiring anarchists, perhaps!) tried to make Jesus into an anti-Rome figure, a role he entirely avoided. He also chastised Peter for combating the state and authority of the day - even in the defense of his Lord!
When asked about taxes, and whether or not paying part of one's property to the state is the right thing to do, Jesus advocated civil obedience, not rebellion. Jesus did not evade the tricky questions thrown at him, but answered them head on, addressing hypocrisy and the issue raised. The Pharisees and religious leaders were following a flawed legalistic interpretation of Old Testament law - one that would not allow healing on the Sabbath. Jesus responds with the question "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" A question with an obvious answer. Theologian Wayne Grudem writes: "The Pharisaic tradition misses the entire point of Mosaic law: to love God and one's neighbor."
Jesus did not advocate eliminating the law in favor of some amorphous community/relationship oriented lifestyle. Instead he came to fulfill the law and reveal its purpose: to highlight sin and the necessity of a Savior.
Of course community and relationships are of utmost importance, but are to be developed in the structure of the body of Christ with God-ordained leadership and direction from the Holy Spirit and Scripture.
In regards to religion, it is dangerous and foolish to disregard church structure because God didn't "set up a religion". I suppose this depends on your definition of religion, because God did communicate through his apostles and Biblical authors as to how the body of Christ should operate, what sacraments should be repeated throughout the ages (communion, baptism), as well as practical matters like what churches should look for when choosing leaders. That all sounds like a divinely-originating "system" to me. This does not replace relationship or community, but rather provides the framework in which these aspects of Christianity can flourish.
When referring to my messy room, my mother used to exclaim: "God is a god of order!" Her point was our lives should reflect the orderly, principled nature of God. Look no further than the Israelites, who were organized by theocracy. God appointed a judge who in turn organized the people according to tribes etc. God established a very strict law and code of conduct, with mandatory rules along with dire consequences if a law was broken.
When God created Adam and Eve at the beginning of time, he gave a command in Genesis that echoes to all mankind: "...fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion...over every living thing that moves on the earth." Here God was entreating his new creation of man to populate the earth and bring order and structure to an uncharted world.
I encourage readers to explore this verse:
"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 judgement."
The doctrine of the sovereignty of God holds that He is ultimately in control over every and all circumstances. Without being the author of evil, the God of the universe directs history. In that sense we as Christians are to obey God-established civil authorities, to the degree they do not violate God's law (which is of course higher than man's).
An important concept for my readers to understand is that by defending the concept of civilization (as opposed to "deindustrialization" and abandonment of technology etc.) I am not advocating for the numerous ills that have arisen from society. I believe industry, technology, and markets are neutral items whose meaning is determined by the intention of the individual involved. Civilization and all that it entails is not bad in and of itself, it is the humans that comprise civilization that create the problems. Even if anarchists succeeded in their fruitless quest, they would still be faced with a whole lot of very depraved humans (read Lord of the Flies or Romans). In society or not, these humans would present the same problems anarchists complain about: selfishness (wealth gap), pride (power hierarchy), greed (economic development and progress). Fantasizing about a return to hunter-gatherer subsistence does nothing to solve these fundamental sins, and ignores the powerful work of our Savior in an attempt to entirely solve our societal ills with man-made solutions! But I digress.
How did Christ treat the religious and government systems of his day? Jesus never sought the abolition of the established religious order, but rather its reform. The zealots and revolutionaries of the time (aspiring anarchists, perhaps!) tried to make Jesus into an anti-Rome figure, a role he entirely avoided. He also chastised Peter for combating the state and authority of the day - even in the defense of his Lord!
When asked about taxes, and whether or not paying part of one's property to the state is the right thing to do, Jesus advocated civil obedience, not rebellion. Jesus did not evade the tricky questions thrown at him, but answered them head on, addressing hypocrisy and the issue raised. The Pharisees and religious leaders were following a flawed legalistic interpretation of Old Testament law - one that would not allow healing on the Sabbath. Jesus responds with the question "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" A question with an obvious answer. Theologian Wayne Grudem writes: "The Pharisaic tradition misses the entire point of Mosaic law: to love God and one's neighbor."
Jesus did not advocate eliminating the law in favor of some amorphous community/relationship oriented lifestyle. Instead he came to fulfill the law and reveal its purpose: to highlight sin and the necessity of a Savior.
Of course community and relationships are of utmost importance, but are to be developed in the structure of the body of Christ with God-ordained leadership and direction from the Holy Spirit and Scripture.
In regards to religion, it is dangerous and foolish to disregard church structure because God didn't "set up a religion". I suppose this depends on your definition of religion, because God did communicate through his apostles and Biblical authors as to how the body of Christ should operate, what sacraments should be repeated throughout the ages (communion, baptism), as well as practical matters like what churches should look for when choosing leaders. That all sounds like a divinely-originating "system" to me. This does not replace relationship or community, but rather provides the framework in which these aspects of Christianity can flourish.
When referring to my messy room, my mother used to exclaim: "God is a god of order!" Her point was our lives should reflect the orderly, principled nature of God. Look no further than the Israelites, who were organized by theocracy. God appointed a judge who in turn organized the people according to tribes etc. God established a very strict law and code of conduct, with mandatory rules along with dire consequences if a law was broken.
When God created Adam and Eve at the beginning of time, he gave a command in Genesis that echoes to all mankind: "...fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion...over every living thing that moves on the earth." Here God was entreating his new creation of man to populate the earth and bring order and structure to an uncharted world.
I encourage readers to explore this verse:
"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 judgement."
The doctrine of the sovereignty of God holds that He is ultimately in control over every and all circumstances. Without being the author of evil, the God of the universe directs history. In that sense we as Christians are to obey God-established civil authorities, to the degree they do not violate God's law (which is of course higher than man's).
