IS CHRISTIAN LIBERTY ONLY SPIRITUAL?
” “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1) Precisely because Christian freedom is the gift of God we have a duty to protect it against all attackers. Although love is free, it still constrains us to obey God, to do certain things (positive duties) and refrain from doing others (prohibitions). Now be careful here than you distinguish matters with a Christian conscience. Whatever government exists by the providence of God – republic, democracy, monarchy, even dictatorship — commands our wholehearted obedience. We submit to authority for conscience’s sake. Whatever it lawfully commands, Christian conscience obliges us to obey. At the same time, whoever hinders us in our Christian duty rebels against the Almighty God and must be resisted. So Calvin, who counseled such careful submission to ordained authorities, can write, “[E]arthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against
