This response is to Billy Falling’s “America’s destructive heresy” in your October 1996 issue. It’s written with the intent of interacting with other truth-seekers in an up-lifting, Christ-like manner at a time when the Church is truly just beginning to awaken. This will hopefully be only the first of many steps towards a fuller understanding of the true jurisdictional relationship between Church and State.
As the nations of the earth prepare for the final battle of all battles, it certainly is time to focus on those things that have direct and immediate affect upon our personal relationship with our Lord and Savior.
In the first paragraph of the above referenced article Mr. Falling identifies two separate communities: secular and Christian — yet he claims that if anyone is to take this separation seriously, they are guilty of heresy.
GUEST COMMENT
Mr. Falling then accuses all Christians with malpractice for not being politically involved; and he also quotes a Supreme Court judge as if the judge were a Scriptural authority or even an Apostle.
Concerning David Barton: he has written well and has made many inspiring videos; but like many others, including Mr. Falling, he seems to mistake the Church/State separation issue with the issue of whether a Christian can be involved in politics. These issues are extremely different from each other and they most likely are not understood unless observed from a purely jurisdictional perspective. And this is somewhat difficult for most of us because we were never taught basic law 101 in either high school or college. One also must be very careful not to confuse emotion or quotes from idolized “famous people” with the law as it has been laid down by man — and especially with God’s law.
Mr. Falling then refers to certain writings of several attorneys from which he quotes the first U.S. Chief Justice John Jay as saying: “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” Quotes like this are probably why our Lord and Savior spoke in a somewhat non-flattering way about attorneys. When taking a closer look at this quote, there are a couple of oddities that are quite glaring: First, at that time the American people were being sold a bill of goods that “They” were the Sovereign; and in a republican form of government, that was allegedly created, the people were to choose “representatives” — not rulers. Secondly, if one could just relax long enough to come to a full realization of what a “Christian nation” really is, they could understand what an absurdity it would be for “Christians” in a “Christian nation” to only “prefer” Christians for their rulers. When the word “prefer” is used it signifies a choice. In a real “Christian nation” there would be no choice — just as Catholics would have none other than a fellow Catholic for a Pope. So that should make one somewhat suspicious of Chief Justice John Jay’s use of the term “Christian nation.”
Mr. Falling, founder of the Christian Voters League, then basically gave the Church a tongue-lashing for not opening up their sanctuaries as registration centers under the federal Voter Registration Act of 1993 (Motor Voter Bill).
No member of the Church should be condemned for being politically active. After all, the Lord has provided a jurisdiction known as the “State” for a specific purpose; and if a Christian is called to participate within that jurisdiction, he should do so in accordance with the Will of God.
However, Dr. Stephen Palmquist, a professor at the Hong Kong Baptist University and author of Biblical Theocracy, states that one must avoid the temptation of legislating God’s Word; for if God’s Word is legislated, one does not have a democracy, a republic or even a theocracy. What they really have is what Dr. Palmquist refers to as an ecclesiocracy: man’s rule under the name of God. Now, that’s heresy.
Rick Johnson is a Navy veteran and a graduate of Brigham Young University who currently attends Calvary Chapel, Oceanside. He is co-author of the three book series entitled Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The Rest of the Bloody Story and author of the tape series entitles “The List.” He can be contacted at 3915 Mission Ave., #7-616, Oceanside, CA 92054
