Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world..." (John 18:36). This is
something all Christians should understand. Why is it so difficult for
Christians to realize that we are in the world, but we are not of the
world? Listen to Jesus shortly before He went to Calvary. He prayed to
the Father in heaven, "I have given them (the apostles) thy word: and
the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I
am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of
the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." They are
not of the world, even Romans chapter 13 that civil authority according
to God's divine arrangement. It is given to govern the affairs of the
world. It has neither part nor lot in the affairs of the church: it is
carnal. Neither has the church any business messing in the Civil
affairs of the world, for it is spiritual. The apostle Paul says, "Be
not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with
darkness?
Civil government has the responsibility of making laws, and of enforcing
law and order. And if a person is in violation of the laws of the land,
the government has the responsibility of punishing the evil doer. "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" (Romans 13:4). That is the job of civil government.
The church is the body of Christ, made up of people who are "sanctified,
and called to be saints" (1 Corinthians 1 :2). Our responsibilities are
spiritual, for we are now "servants of righteousness" (Romans 6:18).
When members of the church, citizens of the kingdom of Christ, violate
the divine laws of God which apply to Christians only, the church is
required to deal with such matters. But if they are guilty of civil
disobedience, they are subject to punishment by civil authority. "He
that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done and
there is no respect of persons" (Colossians 3:25).
In this day and time many Christians are receiving calls to sit on
juries on cases which have nothing to do with spiritual matters. They
are being asked to judge their fellow men and women in matters which
have nothing to do with the church and things which are spiritual. Yes,
juries are asked to judge a person guilty or not guilty. They may not
be asked to pass the sentence, but they still do judge and cast their
vote for either guilty or innocent. In First Corinthians chapter 5 the
apostle Paul instructs the church to deal with a member who was guilty
of sin, and assured them that he would be with them in spirit. And he
pointed out to them and to us that we judge and deal with those who are
in the church, but God judges them who are without.
We have no business judging and disciplining nonmembers. Such is not
the business of the church. Those who are guilty of violating civil law
are to be judged by civil authority, not by Christians.
Members of the Lord's church should be some of the finest citizens in
any country. The word of God teaches us to be subject to the higher
powers. For they are ordained of God" (Romans 13:1). And we are told,
"Submitting yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake" (1
Peter 2:13). However, there is an exception to this rule. As Peter and
the other apostles told the members of the Sanhedrin court of the Jews,
"We ought to obey God rather then men" (Acts 5:29). When the laws of
men conflict with the laws of God, we must choose to obey God,
regardless of the consequences.
