Based on the posts above, I'm not convinced that
Christian Anarchism is completely understood.
Before we get into Christian Anarchism, we have to establish some Biblical concepts up front that are important to understanding its position.
- We know that God has ordained human government to restrain the evils of men and to punish wickedness.
- We know that we are to respect government authorities and give honor to whom honor is due.
- We are to pay our taxes.
- We are to obey the ordinances of man pertaining to the society we live in.
- We are to live peaceably with all men.
However, we are never commanded to give allegiance to, loyalty to, or absolute obedience to any earthly civil government. Paul (and Peter) both admonished that we respect the law and honor the powers that be. Essentially, we are not to be "hostile" towards earthly governments. We are to live peaceably within them. However, whenever it becomes clear that any earthly government has overstepped its God given boundaries, intruding into those things that are of God, we obey God over man.
Again, we are never admonished to give absolute allegiance or blind loyalty to any earthly government. There should be a natural tension between the nations of this world and the Kingdom of God. The Christian is allegiant to, loyal to, obedient to, the Kingdom of God over ALL else.
Now, given the nature of coercive governmental power down through the ages, it becomes problematic for Christians to be such fans of the civil government, the state. Many social evils we detest in our society are considered "liberties" granted to citizens by the civil government. Nation states wage war and demonize the enemy, leaving them so dehumanized, it is easy to forget, they are people to. It is easy to ignore the "collateral damage" and the innocent lives lost when we are so caught up waving a flag and chanting the anthems of our earthly nations.
Christian Anarchism addresses this.
It is my understanding that Christian Anarchists believe in the following. What additional points might need to be added? Or perhaps what points might any of you take issue with, and why?
Christian Anarchists believe in the following:
- Christian Anarchists believe that all human government is coercive and under the authority of Satan.
- Christian Anarchists believe that the Christian is a sovereign citizen of God's Kingdom.
- Christian Anarchists oppose church incorporation.
- Christian Anarchists oppose state minister's licensing.
- Christian Anarchists oppose state marriage licensing and "civil marriage".
- Christian Anarchists oppose voting.
- Christian Anarchists oppose all forms of state coercion.
- Christian Anarchists oppose war and violence.
- Christian Anarchists oppose taking oaths and testifying in court.
- Christian Anarchists oppose partisan politics in the church.
- Christian Anarchists oppose the notion that earthly civil governments can be "Christianized".
- Christian Anarchists tolerate civil laws in their society that are based on safety and the common good.
- Christian Anarchists oppose violent revolution.
- Christian Anarchists oppose pledging allegiance to any flag, state icon, or any earthly nation state.
- Christian Anarchists oppose institutionalized discrimination in all forms.
- Christian Anarchists oppose institutionalized church hierarchy.
- Christian Anarchists radically affirm the separation of church and state.
- Christian Anarchists prefer to meet in house churches and house church networks.
- Christian Anarchists believe that the core of Christian teaching is loving God and loving one's neighbor.
- Christian Anarchists believe that marriage and family should be "self-governing".
- Christian Anarchists advocate for home schooling.
- Christian Anarchists believe that intentional community is the manifest spiritual Kingdom of God.
- Christian Anarchists believe in sharing their lives, possessions, and resources for the common good of their Christian community.
- Christian Anarchists believe in creation care and living in harmony with nature.
- Christian Anarchists believe in voluntaryism, mutualism, and the non-aggression principle.
In short, the Christian Anarchist seeks to minimize, or eliminate, any entanglements with all earthly states or governments. In Christian Anarchism, each Christian is challenged to wage this "one person revolution" in order that they might experience the fullness of the Kingdom of God in their daily lives.
Christian Anarchists profess the motto, "No King but Christ!"
Defined:
Christian = Disciple of Jesus
Anarchism = Independence from all earthly civil authority