Many anarchists use the motto, "no gods, no masters," as though Church and State share the same root corruption. However, it should be noted that the early Christian Church was a threat to government authority. Christians refused to venerate the deified Roman emperor or make offerings to the Greco-Roman pantheon of gods. They were seen as atheists and anarchists by the society in which they lived, although the latter term was yet to be invented. To be a good Christian often meant being a bad Roman.
Even in the early history of Israel, we see God warning His people against demanding a king. Political authority is antithetical to God's design for society. Ancient nations had kings who claimed to be, or to be descended from, gods and demigods. The Israelites wanted a man to be anointed as God's favored ruler. Today, this governmental claim to legitimacy is cloaked in secular ideas of "public mandates" and "the will of the people," but it is just as false.
I see a parallel between striving for anarchist principles in a world of growing state authority and striving for Christian principles in a world of sin. In many ways, these struggles are one and the same. The Christian is in the world, but strives to not be of it. The anarchist lives in a world claimed by layers of government, but sees it as wholly illegitimate instead of a flawed structure to be corrected. Most see government and society as one and the same. How should Christians see the State? When Jesus was tempted in the desert, Matthew 4:8-10 (WEB) recounts this exchange:
Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”
Our kingdom is not of this world, so the territorial claims of these rulers mean nothing to us. Their authority is usurped and illegitimate. A man cannot serve two masters, and I assert that all forms of nationalism are idolatry. The Kingdom of God is the inverse of political authority. Compare our idea of government against Matthew 20:25-28 (WEB)
But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
When Christianity became the official Roman religion, it was not a triumph of faith. It was a heresy. The church must always stand in opposition to the State. Although Constantine's theological understanding is debated, he reportedly waited until he was on his deathbed to be baptized in order to be absolved of his sins as a political ruler. Consider too what Paul wrote in Galatians 5:19-24 (WEB).
Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
Governments are designed to appeal to our base desires, our lust for power, our greed, and our hate. The State makes neighbors into enemies as we see in Ukraine and Russia today, or even just along the US border with Mexico and in our cities. I contend government mandates violation of God's commandments against idolatry, theft, and murder. If you burn a flag and a bible, which will engender the most outrage, even among those who claim to be Christians? The moment war is declared, what happens to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control?
The State is anti-Christ. It always has been, and always will be. The question is which master you serve. If you have embraced Christ, it is time to let go of the old ways you once followed. If you have rejected the State already, I invite you to consider a higher calling. If you disagree philosophically or theologically, you are welcome to comment and debate.
