The true story is told of Davy Crockett in his campaign to run for Congress, 2nd term. During his campaign he accidentally met a man with the unlikely name of Horatio Bunce. Crockett immediately recognized this man’s name. Horatio Bunce was a “wise man,” renowned, far beyond Crockett’s district, for his Christian insights of character and society. Horatio Bunce reproved him, telling him though he had voted for him previously he would not do so now because he had voted to appropriate funds where the Constitution gave no such right. Crockett was shocked because the funds had been provided for relief of victims of a tragedy. “And after all,” Crockett argued, “it wasn’t even a lot of money.” Bunce was not moved. He stated, it wasn’t the amount that bothered him, it was the principle. That money came out of the public treasury, and politicians often dip into the public till to make a “humanitarian” and “charitable” name for themselves. But the Constitution has NO provision for such relief. So Bunce argued, that either you have no capacity to understand the Constitution or no resolve to keep it. In either case, he assured Crockett, he had violated his oath to uphold the Constitution and would not receive this man’s vote. Crockett was duly sobered by this strong reproof, so he spent many hours talking with Bunce about the Constitution and the Rule of Law. He told Bunce, finally, “this coming Saturday, I will stand in front of the people and will testify publicly of my error and my promise to never, to the best of my knowledge, violate my oath of office to uphold the Constitution, again.” Horacio Bunce promised that if he did that, publicly recanting his error, he would vote for him again. Crockett was reelected back to Congress. Shortly thereafter a Bill came up, providing relief of a military hero. Crockett told the story of the confrontation with Horatio Bunce and explained he would oppose this Bill because it was Unconstitutional “as every one of you knows it to be.” But Crockett added, I will give one week of my salary toward a private fund if every one of you will match it from your own salaries. The amount of money would be far more than what this Bill is proposing. Not one voice was raised in support of Crockett’s request.
We hear much about the need for “revival” in our land, however there is a word from Scripture that needs “reviving” first. That word is Righteousness. Jeremiah 23 calls that the character of our Lord, Jesus Christ, “the Lord our Righteousness.”
- Righteousness is the character of Jesus Christ as found in Scripture
- The Gospel is described as Righteousness (cf. Romans 10)
- The Law of the Lord is called Righteousness (cf. Romans 8)
- Our walk with the Lord is called to be “Righteous” (cf. Romans 8)
- Churches, families and Civil Governments are all called to be “Righteous” (cf. Deuteronomy 1:13ff, Ephesians 4-5.
The last 6 chapters in the book of Acts, give us, surprisingly, details of Paul’s public stand concerning the Civil Magistrates. Why 6 chapters? Like everything the Apostle Paul did as our apostle, his work set precedent after precedent to guide the churches in the millennia that would follow.
- Paul set precedent in explaining the entrance of the Gentiles into the church with believing Jews
- Paul detailed the difference between the Law of God’s proper use as a hedge of protection around the Gospel (cf. Romans 7:7-25) and the fact the Law of the Lord was never salvitic.
- Paul properly separated out the Ceremonial Law’s performance (Sacrifices, Temples, High Priests, Circumcision, etc.) from the proper role to its mature expression in Christ as the source and explanation of our doctrines. (Atonement, doctrine of sin, doctrine of the Fall of man, lambs, etc.)
Paul established – in the last 6 chapters of Acts- the foundations, drawn from the Old Testament Civil Laws of God, the proper foundations for Civil Government around the world. Fundamental to that foundation, is the fact all authorities 1. Have only derived authority under God; 2. This is due to the fact that Kings, judges and rulers are called to be the inheritance of Jesus Christ (cf. Psalm 2) 3. The Civil Laws of God, when used, are detailed in all acts for the framing of Civil Government, Rules of Evidence, Proper Sanctions, and above all else, their representation of and loyalty to, Jesus Christ.
It is given to the church to expound the principles of Civil Government and it is given to Civil Magistrates to sit in the pews in worship so as to be equipped by the Word of God for their office and profession, just like the rest of us. (This is a great truth our Forefathers believed; so did Horatio Bunce and Davy Crockett.)
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