Editor's Preface
The
Lord Jesus was clear - His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). Yet
Christians have been overly focused on worldly things since Peter tried to stop
Jesus from going to the cross. Theonomic Reconstructionists believe Mosaic Law
is to be forcibly imposed upon society, apparently oblivious to the covenant
structure in Scripture which applies law given within a covenant to those in
that covenant. Man does not have the authority to extract laws from a covenant
without express warrant from Scripture.
But
man tends to make his own rules, trying to redeem culture and make the world
ready for Christ's return; putting himself in place of God. Every time this
agenda is pursued, men claiming Christ use force of arms to gain support for
their cause.
Baptists
and our fore-runners have consistently resisted such movements, seeing the
overlapping division God has instituted between His kingdom and the state. We
participate in state affairs but we do not conflate the state with the
spiritual kingdom to which we belong.
Louise
Fargo Brown has written one of the best accounts of the political turmoil in
17th century England, with dozens of footnotes per chapter. It is not a
difficult read, though it may be difficult to accept for those who think it our
charge to claim the culture and country for God.
I
think Christians are better prepared to live for Christ in our own time if we
have some understanding of how they lived in our history. As the history of
Israel was preserved, in part, so we would not sin like they did (1 Corinthians
10).We should be eager to learn from history outside the Bible for the same
reason.
It
is my prayer that my brothers and sisters in Christ will learn from those who
have gone before and walk as wise children in this dark time.
For the kingdom of God and not that of man, I am your fellow sojourner and servant in Christ,
Stuart L. Brogden
Buy here: Baptists and the Fifth Monarchy
