question? -- IS IT RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS AGAINST ONE'S GOVERNMENT FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST?

Many today are becoming alarmed with the immorality that is saturating our society. Public leaders at all levels who are immoral in every possible way are fully accepted by what appears to be an amoral society. Not working for one's bread is not only condoned but is promoted by the welfare system. Sex education in the schools is not taught with reference to any moral standards except what each one feels is right. In essence the secular education system seeks to make each individual his own god. All of this is alarming and terrible; however, the Christian cannot, as a Christian, scripturally take up carnal weapons of war even to combat such evil.

The scriptures dealing with our attitude toward government are very direct. Paul said in Romans:

¹ Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. ² Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.-- Romans 13:1-2

Some might argue from the verses following verse two, that when the rulers start being a terror to good works then the Christian can rebel against the authorities, but there is nothing in the text to teach what a Christians attitude should be if the authorities are not doing according to God's direction. Since the authorities are appointed by God, we need to trust God to handle the situation. Peter's instruction makes the non-combat role of a Christian towards his government more emphatic.

¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. -- 1 Peter 4:15-16

An earlier passage in Peter says:

¹³ Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and [for] [the] praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men -- 1 Peter 2:13-15

We might also consider that the Christian's citizenship is not an earthly one (Hebrews 12:22-23). Perhaps this is why reference is made to the kingdom of heaven.

There is an exception to the subjection. In Acts 5:29, Peter and the other Apostles said to the Jewish authorities, "We ought to obey God rather than men." The Christian's response in a conflict between God's word and any law would then be to simply obey God's law and then suffer the consequences. It is realized that this is easier said than done; nevertheless, suffering as a Christian by its own definition involves difficulty.

One might also ask if one can act as an agent for the government and bear arms. Since God authorizes governments, I believe the Christian can be a part of government; although one still cannot violate God's laws. The Philippian jailer is a good example of this. He served as keeper of the prison both before and after his conversion as recorded in Acts 16. There is no indication that Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, (see Acts chapter 10) stopped being a centurion after his conversion.

Christians are citizens of the kingdom of heaven; however, the sojourn on earth requires them to live and function in the kingdoms of this earth with all the laws both desirable and undesirable. A true Christian will always obey God first, even to the point of suffering if man's laws conflict with God's laws.