Quote:
Originally Posted by VirginiaHuguenot  I agree, Mark, that "rendering service to, or participating in or benefiting from a pagan government is sinful for the christian as long as he does not sin directly himself."
An American juror, however, must swear an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, and that in the view of Reformed Presbyterians historically would be an unlawful oath because the Constitution contains within it provisions which contradict the moral law of God and fails to acknowledge the law of God as the Supreme Law of the Land. An unlawful oath to become a juror and the expectation that a juror must act in accordance with those provisions of the Constitution which violate the law of God make the prospect of serving as a juror a matter of conscience and barrier to Reformed Presbyterians who share those convictions.
This issue (the oath to the U.S. Constitution and the Constitution's moral defects) has been debated at length previously as you may recall. If you are interested, for further study of the Reformed Presbyterian position of political dissent from governments that oppose Christ as stated in the following sermons:
James R. Willson, Prince Messiah's Claims to Dominion Over All Governments and the Disregard of His Authority by the United States, in the Federal Constitution
J.H. Boggs, Why Covenanters Do Not Vote
G.H. Milne, Political Dissent
William Roberts, The Reformed Presbyterian Catechism |
Andrew,
Thank you for your answer.
You are right, I do recall the issue of oaths and the US constitution being debated previously on this board, although the topic has not come up for a while.
My respectful thoughts:
I understand your reasoning (I think), however I must ask, what is the difference between swearing an oath to uphold the US constitution and working a job that effectively upholds a pagan, God denying government? I mentioned the example of Joseph, who not only took care of the pagan priests of Eygpt, but took actions to protect and promote the reign of Pharoah though the famine. Now this Pharoah might have had a little more respect for God than the Pharoah who reigned in the time of Moses, but there is nothing to indicate he was a believer or that Egypt was anything up a pagan kingdom during the time. So regardless of whether he took an oath or not, Joseph was essentially upholding a government that denied the lordship of God.
Regarding the oath to the constituion, certainly I think christians should not vow to do anything sinful. However, does promising to protect an ungodly government really classify as such? Christians are called to honor and king and I believe from the examples I quoted before that protecting and unchristian government is not sin per se. After a night in the lion's den and being vindicated by God, the righteous Daniel answered the pagan King Darius with 'O King, live forever' (Dan 6:21)! It does not seem to me that obvious that promising to protect the US constitution and government is against christian principles.