"If we had served our God as we have served their kings, there would not be today one remnant of them in our path, either to slander or to slay us" -- G.K. Chesterton, The Crimes of England
If our compliance to the King matched our reliance on our kings, we would live in perfect Monarchy. The reign of Christ would be on earth as it is in heaven. But we have deferred to governors more readily than we have to God. We have sought the favor of the State over that of the Sovereign. We have been zealous in our patriotism and apathetic in our piety.
2 Chronicles 12:8
They will become his slaves so that they may learn the difference between My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
You can serve Christ by serving His appointed authorities, but you cannot substitute the magistrate for the Messiah. Loyalty must be to the Lord of lords, not to your lords as Lord.
The reason we have so many thorns in our side is that we refuse to worship the Crown of thorns. We are confronted constantly with those who hate Christ because we have gladly filled their coffers. We have chased the wind and reaped a whirlwind. We have sown weeds and are now being choked out by them.
Leviticus 26:3-13
If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely. I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land. You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. I will turn to you and make you fruitful and multiply you and will confirm my covenant with you. You shall eat old store long kept, and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new. I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.
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