INTRODUCTION
As inheritors of Anglo-Saxon freedoms, Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights and evangelical-influence, we understand that there is rightly an opportunity for Christians to engage in free enterprise. What this does not mean is every man doing what is right in his own eyes.
Limited toleration on expression is vitally important for both the preservation of Christian culture and also the curtailing of dangerous ideas.
Since the Enlightenment, a dangerous trend has come into the English-speaking world, of French and Communistic ideas, which strangely have been associated with the reign of terror, the guillotine, secret police, gulags and forced conformity.
The liberal way has become an enforced global order of world socialism, with man set up as having universal rights, human and associated rights, United Nations dictates and of course the promotion of all kinds of ideas which are against conservative, right-leaning, authority-based Christian morality.
The problem is that these anti-authoritarian notions have infiltrated Christianity. One area where these ideas are noticed are in the King James Bible-supporting Free Grace circle, where there are obvious Libertarian promoters.
A particular circle of these sorts revolve around Bryan Ross. Another author who Ross promotes, whose scholarship in the King James Bible area is quite respectable, is also heavily into Libertarianism. Underlying the Bryan Ross’ differing views to those undergirding the Pure Cambridge Edition is this tension between Libertarianism and Biblical authoritarianism. This also explains the heart behind the “verbal equivalency” ideas.
THE GENERAL PROBLEM
Mixing Libertarianism with Christianity creates a political theology that quietly denies the authority, including political authority, that the Bible requires.
Libertarianism presents itself as harmless with a preference for “liberty”, “non-coercion” and “limited government.” Smaller government and lower taxes are quite fine. Yet beneath this surface lies a full moral system that competes directly with the Bible’s teaching on law, rule, judgment and obedience. Libertarianism is not merely a political opinion, it is a rival doctrine of authority.
This contradiction becomes especially stark when Libertarianism is embraced by those who profess unwavering fidelity to the King James Bible. And yet this Bible is completely linked unapologetically with kings, magistrates, fear, punishment, command and submission.
The question must therefore be asked plainly: Can a Christian affirm the absolute authority of Scripture while rejecting the authority structures Scripture commands? The answer is, No.
AUTHORITY NECESSARY
Scripture does not treat civil authority as a regrettable concession to human frailty. It treats it as a positive good, ordained by God Himself.
“There is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” (Romans 13:1).
Christ Himself is destined to rule with a rod of iron. The minister in the church is the minister of God, bearing a sword as an instrument … and likewise the same passage can be seen to apply to the divinely-ordained civil power in a Christian government.
“For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But 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).
Libertarianism, by contrast, begins with the presupposition that authority must justify itself to the individual, that coercion is inherently suspect, and that force is immoral except in the narrowest case of personal self-defence. It puts each individual man as a judge of his own destiny without any regard to the sovereignty of God. I’m no Calvinist, but obviously God’s will is being done. Therefore, Libertarianism is not a biblical presupposition but, really, a humanistic one.
Scripture never asks whether authority is consensual. It commands submission.
“Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God.” (Romans 13:2).
THE NON-AGGRESSION PRINCIPLE
At the centre of Libertarian political theory lies the so-called Non-Aggression Principle: the idea that force is immoral unless used in direct response to aggression.
Scripture knows nothing of this principle.
God commands:
- Punishment before consent
- Judgment before appeal
- Discipline without negotiation
The law is coercive by definition. Judgment is coercive by nature. Government without coercion is not government at all, it would be mere suggestion.
“If thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain.” (Romans 13:4).
The sword is not metaphorical. It is not voluntary. It is not symbolic. It is real, physical and to be feared. Scripture presents this fear as righteous.
Libertarianism recoils at this.
VOLUNTARISM IS NOT OBEDIENCE
Libertarianism redefines obedience as voluntary association. One obeys only insofar as one consents.
Scripture rejects this outright.
Children do not consent to parents. Subjects do not negotiate with kings. The church does not vote Christ into authority.
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake.” (1 Peter 2:13).
Submission is commanded precisely because it is not optional.
A Christianity that teaches obedience only when authority is agreeable has already abandoned obedience altogether.
A PERFECT STORM OF LAWLESSNESS
When Libertarianism attaches itself to Free Grace theology, the result is a Christianity stripped of both external authority and internal restraint.
- Christian grace severed from discipline
- Christian liberty severed from law
- Christian living severed from fear
What remains is a gospel with no teeth, no terror and no throne.
“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?” (Romans 13:3).
This is not the gospel preached by prophets, apostles or Christ Himself.
Libertarian Christianity cannot account for divine wrath exercised through earthly rulers, because it denies that rulers have moral authority to act coercively at all.
THE BIBLE IS NOT LIBERTARIAN
The King James Bible was not made nor supplied under Libertarianism. It seems to be absurdity to use the King James Bible as a banner for Libertarian thought.
The King James Bible is a monarchical Bible:
- Translated under a king
- Addressed to subjects
- Filled with kings, thrones, dominions, principalities and powers
It assumes hierarchy as natural and authority as normal.
The language of Scripture is that of rights under duty, not of autonomy, but of obedience and not ofself-determination but divine Lordship (and human lordship).
The master is over the servant, yet should serve; the husband is head over the wife, yet should give himself for her and God is the Father of His children, yet he gave His Son for them.
Libertarianism must constantly reinterpret or soften these terms like “rule”, “bishop”, “command”, “judge”, “obey”, “submit”. Scripture never does.
ANARCHY NOT THE BIBLICAL PATTERN
From Genesis to Revelation, authority flows downward from God, not upward from the individual.
- God rules kings
- Kings rule nations
- Fathers rule households
This is not tyranny. It is order.
Monarchy, as rightly understood, is not the deification of man but the delegation of rule. Even Christ reigns as King, not chairman.
The Bible does not speak against concentrated authority, it speaks against rebellious hearts.
Libertarianism is therefore a political religion that defies proper doctrine.
The issue is not whether Christians should love liberty. The issue is which authority defines liberty.
Libertarianism enthrones the individual. Scripture enthrones God.
The King James Bible leaves no room for a Christianity that rejects the sword, fears authority, or treats obedience as optional. A gospel without authority is not good news. A kingdom without a king is not biblical. And a Christianity reshaped to fit Libertarian ideology is no Christianity at all.