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Originally Posted by amishrockstar  NON DIGNUS,
Thanks for your reply. The main problem (and in order to put my question in a little more context) is that my dad is going to an Anabaptist church and as you probably know they are basically anti-government. So a lot of his thinking stems from the belief that believers shouldn't get involved in government at all (one reason is that believers aren't allowed to share their faith while at work), that we aren't to go to war (pacifism), among other similar ideas.
So, the main thing that needs answering for him is how can we say 'biblically' that a believer SHOULD judge unbelievers, especially in 'light' of 1Cor.5:12,13?
Any more thoughts???
THANKS |
Brother,
In 1 Corinthians 5 and 6, Paul is not speaking of the propriety or impropriety of secular courts. He is talking about disputes between brothers and the need for such to be addressed by the courts of the church, rather than having brothers drag brothers before the civil magistrate over petty disputes. He says...
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1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
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You can see in the first part of this passage, that Paul says that if he were counseling seperatism, the Corinthians would have to go out of the world. Obviously, this is impossible, and thus Paul's admonition is not to be construed as commanding believers to shun the ungodly.
When he writes, "For what have I to do to judge them also that are without?" Paul is speaking from his office as an Apostle - not as a private citizen. As an Apostle, he has no authority to judge those who are outside of the visible church. Again, the context does not support the interpretation that Paul means there is no valid place for a believer to sit in judgement of an unbeliever. He is merely speaking of the offices and courts of the church.
The following passages speak directly to the question of the believer's response to and responsibility toward the civil authorities...
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Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
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1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
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