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Christ’s Ever-Increasing Kingdom

Stephen McDowell

This article is excerpted from the soon-to-be published booklet, Christ’s Ever-Increasing Kingdom.

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“There shall be no end to the increase of His [Christ’s] kingdom.” – Luke 1:33

“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.” – Isa. 9:7

There has been and will continue to be a progressive advancement of Christ’s kingdom in history, on the earth. The parables of the leaven and the mustard seed show that Christianity is destined to grow and grow.

He [Jesus] presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened.” – Matt. 13: 31-33; Luke 13:18-21; Mark 4:30-32

These parables indicate the slow but progressive growth of the kingdom of God, and point to the ultimate triumph of the gospel. The last 2000 years of history show this to be the case. When Christianity began, it was small, but over the centuries it has gradually grown larger and larger, and positively influenced the world. The Christian faith has changed nations and cultures such that people have found shelter and sustenance under its branches (in those nations transformed by biblical truth).

The Kingdom at Creation and the Impact of the Fall

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We pray this because of the fall of man. Before the fall, God’s kingdom – His government – was ubiquitous. After the fall, man surrendered the earth to Satan.

When God created mankind, they – male and female (that is, the family) – were given stewardship over the earth as God’s vice-regents. “God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule … over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (Gen. 1:28). This Creation Commission (also called the Cultural Mandate) included ruling or taking dominion over the earth and all it contained.[1]

After creation and before the fall, Satan and some angels rebelled against God and were cast to the earth (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). Satan has sought to set up his own kingdom and usurp God’s rule and purposes. He seeks to destroy mankind and keep him from the dominion mandate.

When man disobeyed God by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, man surrendered the earth to Satan. He surrendered his rule as God’s vice-regent to Satan. However, God’s mission for man to rule the earth remains.

After the fall, God initiated His plan to restore His kingdom and government to the earth. He is bringing about the “restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21).

The Promise of the Messiah to Restore His Kingdom

After the fall, God promised to send the Messiah in order to crush Satan – God said to the serpent that the seed of woman “shall crush you on the head,” Gen. 3:15 – reclaim His kingdom, and restore God’s government in the earth through His heirs (Christ and His church). That promise is restated many times in Scripture.

God’s plan involved His making a covenant with Abraham to bless the nations of the earth through his seed, his descendants, his family, out of which came the covenant nation of Israel and in perfect time the Messiah.

When Christ, who was part of both a heavenly and earthly family, came to earth, He gave birth to a new family, a spiritual family comprised of the redeemed, the family of God. God’s New Covenant family became the new dwelling place of God’s Spirit, the new tabernacle and temple.

Many Scriptures speak of the promise of the Messiah from the seed of woman, in particular from Abraham and his descendants, including King David (often presented as a type of Christ the King): Gen. 3:15, Gen. 12:3, Gen. 22:18; 26:4, Gen. 49:10, Dt. 18:15 (quoted in Acts 3:22 referencing this as Jesus), 2 Sam. 7:12, 16 (here David is a type of Christ); Ps. 132:11, Isa. 4:2, Isa. 7:14, Isa. 9:6-7, Isa. 40:10, Jer. 23:5, Ezek. 34:23, Ezek. 37:24.

What is the Kingdom?

In a general sense the kingdom of God is the government of God. It is the rule of God in every sphere of life.

The Greek word for kingdom is basileia which denotes sovereignty, royal power, dominion. W.E. Vine states, “The Kingdom of God is the sphere of God’s rule, Psalm 22:28; 145:13; Daniel 4:25.”^[2] It is the rule of the eternal sovereign over all His creation (Psalm 103:19; Daniel 4:3). Where the King is, there is the kingdom of God. First, the kingdom is in the heart of the believer. When Christ comes into the heart of man, His Kingdom comes. To the degree that He rules in your life is the degree to which His Kingdom comes into your life.

The kingdom of God is the rule of God, the order of God, the standard of God. The kingdom is the total rule of God in every area of life and thought in terms of His Law-Word. Every king has a law by which he rules. God cannot rule, or establish His kingdom, without a law (His righteousness).

The kingdom of God comes to your life to the degree that His rule comes to your life. This is also true within the society at large. The kingdom of God comes to a nation to the degree that the rule of God comes to that nation, being reflected in its laws, institutions, moral standards, and all spheres of life.

How Does the Kingdom Come?

God promised to send His Messiah to retake the earth from Satan, restore all things, and establish His throne (rule) in the earth. How is this being accomplished?

Remember, the kingdom of God is like a seed (Luke 13:18-19). A seed is planted and at first is small and barely seen, but over time it grows and becomes huge, producing much fruit (the parable of the mustard seed). The potential fruit of a seed is unlimited. After all, you can count how many seeds are in an apple, but you cannot count how many apples are in a seed.

Historically, the seed of God’s kingdom (planted with the coming of the Messiah) has produced a forest that covers the earth.

Satan is being crushed under the feet of the church. “And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Rom. 16:20).

The Advance of the Kingdom in History

During the time between the fall of man and the coming of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Satan prevailed in the earth. Yet, God had a plan to restore all things. God made a covenant with Abraham to bless the nations of the earth through his family – through his seed (Gen. 12 ff) (and the Messiah was the ultimate seed).

God called Abraham and said “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). Abraham and Sarah rejected the pagan city-state government and culture of Ur to follow God’s leading (Gen. 11:31-12:2; Acts 7:2-4). This resulted in the founding of the Hebrew nation, from which the Messiah came and which also became a model for all people (Gen. 15:18; 17:4, 6; 18:18). God delivered Israel (Abraham’s seed) from slavery in Egypt (Ex. 2:15, 16, 18, 21). Israel was a beachhead for God to re-establish His kingdom in the earth – to reclaim His world.

The Law of God given to the Hebrew people was for all men and nations. God’s Ten Commandments are a revelation of the state of reality, of how God’s world works. These moral and civil laws form the foundation of Western civilization. The Hebrew Republic provides a blueprint for life and government. Israel had the Law of God (which contains principles for life and flourishing) and the presence of God (Dt. 4:1-8), but they rejected God and His Truth, and became a harlot (Babylon in Revelation).

Much of the Old Testament Scriptures tell the story of the covenant nation of Israel – the nation from which the Messiah would come. Through many ups and downs, God preserved the nation and brought forth His anointed King who would restore all things.

Jesus Was the Promised Messiah.

As mentioned before, after the fall God initiated His plan of sending the Messiah to reestablish His ruler-ship over His earth. Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah. Many Scriptures speak of this: Luke 1:32-33; Mt. 16:16-17, 20; John 1:41; Acts 13:33-34; Heb. 1:3. Paul writes:

Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy. (Rom. 15:8-9)

Acts 3:20-26 makes clear that Jesus is the Seed God sent forth for the “restoration of all things:” “that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (v. 20-21).

The Birth of the Messianic Kingdom and a New Age

Jesus gave birth to a new family, a spiritual family comprised of the redeemed, the family of God (the church). The kingdom of Jesus the Messiah came into the earth via the heart of man (Luke 17:20-21). The “restoration of all things” began by restoring man’s relationship with God. All those birthed into this New Covenant nation are kings and priests (Rev. 1:6) with authority to disciple all nations (Matt. 28:18-20). The Messiah delegated His authority to rule and reign in the earth to the church.

Through His death and resurrection, Christ defeated Satan, stripping him of his power. “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out” (Jn. 12:31). Christ’s work gave Him authority to evict Satan from the earth. Satan is a squatter that the church, Christ’s ambassadors, are to go and remove from their inherited property.

Jesus said in Matthew 12 that His casting out demons by the Spirit of God was evidence that “the kingdom of God has come upon you” (v. 28). He goes on to say: “Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house” (v. 29). Jesus bound Satan at His first coming. His church is now able to enter his house (the world) and plunder his goods (that were surrendered at the fall).

With Christ’s resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to live inside all the redeemed of God, the Messianic kingdom was established. His kingdom is within His people. His kingdom came at His resurrection and outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost.

The Significance of the Messiah

Since the coming of Jesus the Messiah 2000 years ago, the Gospel has been spreading and transforming the world. In many ways, the crooked has been made straight, valleys have been filled, and mountains leveled (Isa. 40:3), as was said the Messiah would do, and as was attributed to Christ (Luke 3:5; Isa. 65, 66).

During the Gospel Age, the Church (God’s covenant family) has been reclaiming the spiritual and material world God created for mankind. Our task is to reclaim every square inch of the earth for the Master (for His kingdom is over all things).

Theologian and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Abraham Kuyper declared: “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’”

We can take back the earth for God (that is, restore paradise) because Jesus Christ defeated and bound Satan: “Now the ruler of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31). The true heirs, His ambassadors (the church), have and are evicting the illegitimate heirs. God gives us the Kingdom: “it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Lk. 12:32). He has called us to rule in/over His kingdom (Luke 12:44; Lk. 19:17, Ps. 8:6).

Satan is defeated, and since the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom with the coming of Christ, Satan has been and is being crushed under the feet of the church: “And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Rom 16:20).

The New Testament presents the victorious kingdom of God on the earth in history. Many Scriptures speak of the triumphant church: Luke 10; Rom. 16:20; Rev. 12:9, 11; Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Rom. 4:13; Matt. 5:5; Matt. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. 2:14; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 5:10; Rom. 5:17; 1 Cor. 3:21; Rev. 20:4; Eph. 1:22-23.

Paradise Restored

God created the world as a paradise. This was man’s original home. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God they were cast out of Eden/paradise and began to live in an ever-increasing land of torment. Jesus Christ the Messiah not only defeated and bound Satan, but He also restored man’s relationship to God, filled him with the Spirit of God, wrote His law on his heart, and gave him everything he needed to accomplish the great mission of reclaiming the earth and restoring all things as God intended them to be. In other words, God made a way to restore paradise on the earth.

Since the coming of Jesus the Messiah, God’s covenant family has been working for the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). Those things include:[3]

Myriads converted to the Christian faith (with an exponential increase of converts in the past 50 years).
Barbaric cultures civilized (Romans, Celts, Irish, Picts, Vikings, etc.)
Advance of liberty, including personal, religious, civil, political, economic
Advance of education for all people
Establishment of schools and colleges to transmit truth
Advancements in science and technology for the betterment of mankind
New inventions for economic flourishing
Advancements in business and the marketplace for increased productivity and elimination of poverty
Advancements in medicine for preserving life
Advancements in music and arts for greater worship and enjoyment of life

There has been a progressive expansion of Christianity impacting all spheres of life since Jesus initiated the Messianic or Gospel Age.

The parables of the leaven and the mustard seed show that Christianity is destined to grow and grow. The great movement of God today includes the restoration of biblical truth and the expansion of His kingdom in every sphere of life.

Truly, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9).

[1] For more on this see the books Ruling Over the Earth and Stewarding the Earth by Stephen McDowell, published by Providence Foundation

[2] W.E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1966, p. 294.

[3] See the booklet Christ’s Ever-Increasing Kingdom for a deeper look at how all these spheres of life have progressed during the Gospel Age (available in 2025). See also other Providence Foundation publications, especially America’s Providential History by Mark Beliles and Stephen McDowell, and Transforming Nations through Biblical Work by Stephen McDowell.

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Productivity

Productivity is the means of creating wealth, overcoming poverty, and fulfilling the Creation Commission.

by Stephen McDowell

God created man and the earth to be productive, to be fruitful (Gen. 1:11-12, 20-22, 24, 28). After making man, both male and female, in His image,

God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the seas and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1: 28, ESV).

The Hebrew word translated “subdue” is kabash, which means “to subdue, subjugate, dominate, bring into subjection.” This word is also used in reference to Israel subduing the land of Canaan so it would provide for their needs (Num. 32:22, 29; Josh. 18:1). God placed man in control of His creation as His vice-regent or steward. We are called to subdue, have dominion over, and steward the earth in order to meet our needs and advance His creation commission. All living and non-living things are under man’s dominion.

Our stewardship is further explained in Genesis 2: “then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it” (v. 15). Man’s mission was to cultivate the land God gave him. Every tree God created was good for food (Gen. 2:9). To keep trees, to cultivate land, to subdue the earth are actions of good stewardship.

In order to “be fruitful and multiply” we must subdue or control the earth. We are to develop and produce more and better goods from the earth. This is part of the mission God gave to mankind from the beginning. We are also to replenish the natural resources. God created living things such that they reproduce and multiply, making it possible for us to replenish the earth.

God’s blessing comes via man’s increased productivity using the resources He created in the earth and universe. Material abundance is a blessing of God (Deut. 8:7-10). Disobedience by man brought a curse upon him and the earth seen via hindered productivity (Gen. 3:17-19).

Material productivity is good. It is part of our godly mission. Productive occupations are good. Jesus and His apostles were involved in occupations that produced useful goods and services. Jesus was a carpenter, Paul was a tentmaker, James and John were fishermen. Many of His apostles continued their business while conducting their “religious” work of preaching the Gospel.

Jesus and the apostles were involved in productive occupations. Material productivity is good and is part of our godly mission.

God’s goal for us is to be productive, both in our spiritual and natural activities. We are to be fruitful in spiritual disciplines, like evangelism, worship, prayer, Bible study, et cetera. We are also to be fruitful in our calling – in family matters, our occupation, business endeavors, and other responsibilities in life.

Wealth comes from productivity, not from having more money, even honest money like gold and silver. Money does not equal wealth; productivity does.

Productivity is the goal, not merely having a job or obtaining more money (though money, a commodity to facilitate exchange, can reflect your labor and productivity). Years ago when I visited Manila, I saw many people cutting grass with machetes. Many of these low-wage laborers were employed by the government in its hope of full employment, but their work was of little value. They were hindered from entering into their highest potential by performing menial labor that could be accomplished in a fraction of the time with one lawn mower. The goal of a nation or individual should not be merely jobs for all. It should be for everyone to be as productive as possible.

Our economic goal should not be to get everyone a bigger house and nicer car and plenty to eat. It should be to maximize the productivity of every citizen. This involves everyone continually gaining knowledge and skills. Preparation helps us be productive, whether growing in our relationship with God and all the spiritual disciplines, or developing our business skills and knowledge.

Living a life of leisure is not our mission in life; rather it is for all citizens to be as productive as possible. Drug dealers and other criminals can obtain great riches, and even give these to others. But they do not produce needed goods or services, and hence, do not contribute to the increased wealth of a nation.

Our productivity brings into being new goods and services. It is a creative process. Our physical labor is to be productive, and so is our intellectual labor. Both bring into being new things that add to our wealth. Productivity comes from land, labor, capital, individual enterprise, and trade.

Productivity is encouraged throughout the Bible. In the beginning, God shows us His desire for His creation to be productive via trees bearing fruit, the land bearing grain, and animals bearing offspring. In His original commission to man, He told him to be fruitful, multiply, and cultivate the earth; that is, be productive. He affirms that economic growth and wealth creation is good. Increased productivity is a blessing from God, while hindered productivity is a curse (Gen. 3:17-19; Deut. 8:7-10; 28). God created man with a strong internal desire to be productive, to create and develop things using the earth’s natural resources and our mental and muscular energy.

Scripture teaches that we are to benefit from the fruit of our labor. Productive labor increases the amount of goods and services that exist. The labor of the farmer and the mechanic is productive. The service of the accountant increases efficiency. Doctors help us remain healthy, adding to our days of productivity. God wants us to benefit from the fruit of our labor, because this encourages more productivity.

We see in the parable of the talents that God rewards productivity. He rewards those who use their skills and abilities to increase the minas He gives His servants (Luke 19:11-27).

God is productive — He created all things to be a blessing — and He wants man to be productive — creating goods and services to bless mankind. The devil does not create, he merely destroys. Demonic governments destroy, via direct action and also indirectly via restrictive economic policies.

Destroying goods that people value will be injurious to a society. This seems very obvious, but government leaders have done this many times. In 1933 the U.S. government enacted legislation (the Agricultural Adjustment Act) that paid farmers to plow under part of their crops. The intent was to reduce the supply and prevent prices from falling for corn, wheat, cotton and other crops. Healthy cattle, sheep, and pigs were slaughtered to keep them off the market. This specific law was ruled unconstitutional in 1936, but today the government pays farmers to limit production for similar reasons. Former President Obama’s Cash for Clunkers program paid car dealers to destroy older cars traded in for new ones. The goal? Stimulate the buying of new cars. These are just a few examples of ignorant “politicians attempting to promote prosperity by destroying productive assets.”[i]

The Role of Government

The role of the government is to promote productivity – to promote economic growth. It is to “promote the general welfare” of the nation. This is to be done by enacting policies that increase the productivity of the people, including protecting property rights, having small taxes and minimal regulations, keeping the market free and fair, and providing safety and peace.[ii] The power of government should be small because government control destroys productivity. In a free market people choose their own occupation based upon their skills and desires, and when they work in an area they enjoy they will be more productive.

Low taxes encourage productivity. When taxes are low, people have more money to spend and invest. When governments take money, they do not invest it in productive activities. They consume it, usually on wasteful programs. Some government workers perform necessary work (to protect life and property), but they do not use money as productively as the private sector. Individuals are motivated to get the highest return on their money as possible as this directly increases their wealth. With more money, they will invest more, work more, earn more, and in the long run pay more taxes. Therefore, government policies should encourage productivity, not hinder it.

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(This material is from the newly published book, Stewarding the Earth, A Biblical View of Economics by Stephen McDowell.)

What resources has God given man to enable him to be productive? What are the factors of production in a biblical economy? What policies can governments implement to promote productivity? What are some historical examples where men have applied biblical principles and seen good fruit following? The answers to these questions, and much more, are given in Stewarding the Earth, A Biblical View of Economics.

Order copies today.

[i] James D. Gwartney, Richard L. Stroup, Dwight R. Lee, and Tawni H. Ferrarini, Common Sense Economics, New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2010, p. 26.

[ii] See Stephen McDowell, Stewarding the Earth, A Biblical View of Economics, Chapter 7 for numerous governmental policies.

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No Cross, No Crown

by Stephen McDowell

In December 1668, William Penn was thrown in jail for expressing his religious views. While imprisoned for over eight months he wrote the book, No Cross, No Crown, in which he states that “Christ’s Cross is Christ’s way to Christ’s Crown.” Penn’s life is a great example of one who bore the cross and, therefore, did bear the crown. He brought the crown to millions more as well.

The Great Blessings or Crown of Christ

Christ has done many marvelous things for us. We should remember the great blessings He has brought to us personally: He has redeemed us and saved us; He has removed the burden of sin and guilt; He has healed our spirit, mind, and body; He makes us new creatures, transforming us; He refines us, washing us as white as snow; He gives us meaning and a purpose in life; He cares for us and protects us; He pours out great blessings; He provides inner peace, security, and strength; He comforts us; He draws us to Him; He fills us with life and love; He gives us eternal life — He gives us a crown of life.

The first three chapters of the book of Ephesians present many of the blessings of redemption: Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing; He chose us; He adopted us as sons; He has forgiven our trespasses; He has made known the mystery of His will; in Him we have obtained an inheritance; we have been given the Holy Spirit, have been made alive, have been raised up and are seated with Him; and through Christ we have access to the Father.

Jesus has placed a crown upon our heads, upon those who love and obey Him. The prophet Isaiah wrote: “You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God” (Isa. 62:3).

Christ’s redemptive and restorative work has not only blessed individuals, but He has also brought great blessings to the world at large through His teachings and the impact His followers have had upon history. The Christian faith: lifts up all men, teaching that each individual has great value and importance because we are all made in His image; declares all men are created equal; exposes and overcomes the tyrant and oppressor; protects all men’s rights to life, liberty, and property; lifts up women and people of all nationalities; brings ideas that produce peace; produces economic, technological, and scientific advancement; presents ideas protecting freedom of worship, freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, and freedom to pursue our future.

Nations honoring God and embracing Christian truth have been crowned with success and liberty. The Psalmist affirms that, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

The Cross: the Price of the Crown

While it is good to remember the blessings Christ has brought to men and nations – to remember that He has crowned us – and to give thanks for these blessings, we must also never forget the price paid to purchase the crown, which is the cross. He purchased us with His own blood (Acts 20:28). He lived a crucified life: He constantly gave of Himself; He was rejected and misunderstood; He was denied by friends and suffered at the hands of His enemies; He was betrayed, beaten, mocked, and eventually suffered a violent death upon a cross.

Yet, He endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Heb. 12:2). He saw the crown on the other side of the cross. A crown, not for Him for He already possessed it, but for us. This was not only a crown for the eternal hereafter, but a crown for mankind to experience here on the earth.

Jesus bore the cross that we might bear the crown! However, what was true for Him is true for us. As William Penn wrote, “Christ’s cross is Christ’s way to Christ’s crown.” Jesus taught the necessity of taking up the cross, speaking to the multitudes: “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26-27).

No Cross, No Crown

This truth contained in the title of Penn’s book applies to us personally, but also to the nation at large.

True Personally

Jesus taught many times that we are to take up our cross. He declared: “he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it” (Matt. 10:38-39). In Mark 10:21 Jesus told the rich young ruler to “take up the cross, and follow Me.” After Jesus rebuked Peter for trying to divert Him from the cross, He told His disciples they must take up their crosses, deny themselves and follow Him (Matt. 16:21-28; Mark 8:31-38).

Paradoxically, the consequence of losing our life by taking up our cross, is finding life. As we follow Christ’s example of dying to ourselves we will experience the resurrection life of Jesus and the many corresponding blessings of obedience to Him. We receive the crown of life.

True Nationally

In Luke 14:25-33 Jesus instructed the multitudes to take up the cross. This is part of the cost of following Him. He ended His instruction on the cost of being a disciple by saying: “Salt is good; but if salt has become tasteless [lost its savor], with what will it be seasoned? It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He that has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 14:34-35). If we do not take up our cross we will become salt that is tasteless (v. 34). We will not be able to be salt to our society.

The title page to Penn’s No Cross, No Crown

Christians that are “cross-less” are “salt-less.” They no longer preserve and season the community and nation. Therefore, no crown will be placed on that people or nation.

America was birthed by Christians who took up their crosses and followed Him. Therefore, we have enjoyed the crown that comes with the cross. American exceptionalism and its many blessings came from obedience to God’s Word.^[i] However, as we have laid down the cross and turned from God (whether today or in times past), we have lost the crown and the blessings that accompany it. This has occurred in two ways:

The blessings of Christianity have diminished as the message of the cross has left a large part of the church in America. The cross is the power of God unto salvation (1 Cor. 1:18). If the message of the cross is not taught in the church, then the church will be salt-less, and there will be no crown.
The blessings of Christianity have diminished as the life of the cross has left believers. If the life of the cross is not in believers, then they will have a salt-less life and will not be able to bring the crown to society.

To be the salt of the earth we must take up our cross. It is hard to salt our society. Not only does it require thankless work, but it will be met with much opposition, often by those we seek to help. This was true of the early disciples as well as reformers throughout history (such as William Tyndale, the Huguenots, the Pilgrims, the Scottish Covenanters), and it is true for us today (just consider the great opposition to Christians in Muslim nations, and the less-violent assault on Christians seeking to positively influence culture in the United States and various western nations).

The colonists who took up their crosses at the time of the American Revolution (for it was a great sacrifice to perform what they considered to be their duty to God, country, and posterity) were being salt when they spoke against tyranny, fought for independence, and formed a new government. They helped to bring the crown to America – not the British crown, but rather Christ’s crown. The Father of the American Revolution, Samuel Adams, said regarding the signing of the Declaration of Independence: “We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and…from the rising to the setting sun, may His kingdom come.”^[ii] The blessings of obedience to the Word of God followed. The Founders of America bore the cross so others could bear the crown.^[iii]

What is the Cross? What does it mean to take up your cross?

In the Philippines each year some professing Christians remember and celebrate Christ’s death on the cross by choosing one person to be nailed to a cross. This is a literal crucifixion, though it is not unto death. It is considered an honor to be the chosen person because he is able to identify with Christ’s sufferings. He is paraded down the streets accompanied by many who flog themselves with whips, so they too can identify with the suffering servant. Is this what Jesus meant when he exhorted us to take up our cross? Certainly not.

When I was a young pastor working to start a new church in Atlanta in the early 1980s, my colleague, who had some radical ideas, said one day that he thought God wanted us to make a cross and carry it around the city, stopping at all the major university campuses, preaching and drawing attention to the work of Christ. While doing such a thing was contrary to my personality, I was not about to back down from the challenge, even if I was not sure that God had spoken to him. So we did it. We made a cross about eight feet tall and took a week to walk around the city. This did get a lot of attention, even making it on the local news. And God in His mercy did touch many people’s lives, in spite of our perhaps ignorant zeal.

My action in Atlanta is not really what Jesus meant when He said we are to take up our cross and follow Him. He was not speaking of a physical cross—though many of the early disciples did die by being crucified (that was a cross God called them to bear); and God perhaps called me for that week to make a physical cross and carry it (that was a cross God called me to bear). But such action is not what He calls most believers to do.

Paul, in the book of Galatians, tells us what it means to take up our cross: “Those who belong to Christ have nailed their natural evil desires [the life of nature and of self] to his cross and have crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit’s power [filled with the Spirit], let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives” (Gal. 5:24-25, Living Bible).

Taking up the cross has two components:

Nailing our natural evil desires to His cross and crucifying them there.
Following the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

In Romans 8, Paul affirms that the cross is, 1) putting to death the flesh and 2) being led by the Spirit, doing His will and not our will, when he wrote, “For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom. 8:13-14).

As Christians we are constantly challenged to give in to the sinful desires of the flesh. The Bible says we are to crucify these fleshly desires by nailing them to the cross, by recognizing that Christ’s death and resurrection provided a way for us to have victory over such lusts. This is one aspect of what it means to take up our cross daily.

Another aspect of taking up our cross is that we are to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit whatever He may want us to do and wherever He may lead us. We must embrace His plan for our lives. We will generally enjoy His will for our lives, but sometimes walking in His plan is hard. It was not much fun for Jesus to go the way of the cross, yet He said, “Not my will but Thine be done.” Many people have embraced their cross – His will for their lives – with great hardship.

Consider the Apostle Paul, who five times received 39 lashes from the Jews, who was beaten with rods three times, was once stoned, three times shipwrecked, spending a night and a day in the deep, was imprisoned many times and often in danger of death. He says: “I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:23-28).

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs^[iv] and By Their Blood^[v] are filled with accounts of Christians who have suffered for their faith over the centuries. Fair Sunshine^[vi] shows how the Scottish Covenanters gladly embraced God’s will for their lives, bearing their cross even unto death. The history of American colonization is largely the history of Christians who suffered hardship to follow the leading of God. The Founding Fathers readily gave their lives and fortunes to further the cause of liberty.

We have greatly benefited from the sacrifice of the pilgrims, patriots, and pioneers. They gave birth to this great nation and all the liberties we possess. In following God’s will for their lives, they suffered greatly. Yet, they gladly picked up the cross, and because they did we have experienced great blessings. A great price has been paid for our liberty – our crown.

Many Christians have suffered greatly for following Jesus, including being burnt at the stake.

As a multitude before us has done, we must take up our cross and follow Him. Aspects of taking up our crosses will be similar for each of us in that we must all put to death evil desires and the flesh. But we all have different crosses to bear. The path of following His Spirit will be different for each of us. What may be your cross, may not be someone else’s.

Your cross may involve putting to death the fear of sharing your faith, or speaking the truth, or praying. It may also be persevering in raising Godly children, or acting on social and political issues, or doing all that is necessary to fulfill God’s plan for your life and the responsibilities He has given you. The good news is that Christ bears us up as we take up our crosses—He takes up our little crosses into His cross.

William Penn’s Cross and Crown

William Penn is one of many early Americans who bore the cross as he followed the leading of the Holy Spirit in his life. Since he was faithful to bear his cross, he not only received a crown but brought it to the nation at large as well.

[To learn of the life and work of William Penn, see No Cross, No Crown: The Life Message of William Penn]

Bear the Cross and Receive the Crown

If we faithfully bear the cross, the crown will be our possession. This truth exemplified in Penn’s life applies to us in eternity, but also here on earth. Fulfilling God’s will is a delight, but there is a price we must be willing to pay to follow Him and His plan for us. Our sacrifices can have an effect far beyond what we can imagine. Just consider the impact of William Penn or the Pilgrims or the signers of the Declaration of Independence. However, we must remember: No Cross, No Crown.

Satan will offer us a cross-less conquest as he did Jesus.

When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, he offered Him a kingdom without the crucifixion (Matt. 4:8-9). In response to this offer, Jesus rebuked the devil. Peter tried to talk Jesus out of going to Jerusalem and dying (Matt. 16:21-23). Jesus rebuked him. The people tried to make Him king (John 6:15), in essence offering him a crown without the cross. Jesus withdrew.

Satan will tell you that you do not have to take up your cross to follow Jesus, you do not have to put to death your flesh, nor follow the leading of the Spirit. People are prone to accept this offer for few are willing to die. People shrink back from pain and seek an easier way. We will avoid anything that brings discomfort. I am thankful that Jesus stayed upon the cross for me and all mankind. He was mocked and tempted to come down:

“You who destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Matt. 27:40).

“He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we shall believe in Him” (Matt. 27:42).

Jesus could have come down from the cross. He could have popped out the nails, and jumped down from his place of suffering, but he endured for our benefit. He saw the joy on the other side of the cross. Just as “Christ’s cross was Christ’s way to Christ’s crown” so it is for us. Be faithful to bear your cross and He will be faithful to give you a crown, here in this life as well as the eternal hereafter. Bearing our crosses will not only bring us a crown, but it will bring a crown to many others as well.

End Notes

[i] See Stephen McDowell, The Bible: America’s Source of Law and Liberty, Charlottesville: Providence Foundation, 2016, Chapter 1 for more on American exceptionalism.

[ii] Samuel Adams, An Oration Delivered at the State-House, in Philadelphia, to a Very Numerous Audience; on Thursday the 1st of August, 1776; London, reprinted for E. Johnson, No. 4, Ludgate-Hill, 1776. See also Frank Moore, American Eloquence: A Collection of Speeches and Addresses, New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1858, Vol. 1, p. 324. (Some historians do not think Adams made these remarks, but even if this is so, the content is consistent with his beliefs and writings.)

[iii] To learn of some of those blessings see, Stephen McDowell, Monumental: Restoring America as the Land of Liberty, Libertyman Studios, 2013, Chapter 10.

[iv] Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, Edited by Marie Gentert King, Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1978.

[v] James and Marti Hefley, By Their Blood, Christian Martyrs of the 20^th Century, Milford, MI: Mott Media, 1979.

[vi] Jock Purves, Fair Sunshine, Character studies of the Scottish Covenanters, Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1990.

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Our Mission to Steward the Earth

This article is an excerpt from Stephen McDowell’s new book, Stewarding the Earth, A Biblical View of Economics

God created man and the earth to be productive, to be fruitful (Gen. 1:11-12, 20-22, 24, 28). After making man, both male and female, in His image,

God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the seas and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1: 28, ESV).

The Hebrew word translated “subdue” is kabash, which means “to subdue, subjugate, dominate, bring into subjection.”^[i] This word is also used in reference to Israel subduing the land of Canaan so it would provide for their needs (Num. 32:22, 29; Josh. 18:1). God placed man in control of His creation as His vice-regent or steward. We are called to subdue, have dominion over, and steward the earth in order to meet our needs and advance His creation commission. All living and non-living things are under man’s dominion.

God’s creation is good because it was made by a good Creator, and the creation reflects the nature and character of the Creator (Rom. 1:20). It is also good because it enables man – God’s highest creation – to sustain himself and to progressively advance as he learns how to be a better steward. As man learns how to properly manage God’s property, he becomes more and more like God. He becomes a co-creator, taking the original creation material and using his God-given knowledge and talents to make new things that bring about the amelioration of mankind.Chapter 1 of Genesis tells us God’s creation is good – “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good” (v. 31). Natural resources and the earth’s productivity are good. God’s physical creation is good. That is, material wealth is good. Many religions teach otherwise, and they have suffered from lack of material well-being in part due to this incorrect belief.

Christ Restores Man’s Ability to Steward the Earth

This original creation commission or cultural mandate was impacted by the fall of man but it was not abrogated. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they (and mankind in general) lost both their intimate relationship with God and their ability to properly steward the earth. Sin not only separated man from God but also brought a curse and great loss. Man was unable to properly fulfill the cultural mandate.

God’s redemptive nature is evident early on. After man fell from what God made him to be and to do, God planned both to redeem man and to restore man’s delegated authority and stewardship over the earth. God promised that the seed of woman would destroy the serpent, Satan (Gen. 3:15). Christ was that seed who came to redeem man and reverse the effects of the fall and the curse. He restored to man the ability to fulfill the mission originally given to Adam and also made it possible for man to once again have a personal relationship with God.

The story of redemption unfolds in the various covenants which God initiated with men. The giving of the law in the Mosaic Covenant was also used by God to further His redemptive program. Of course, God’s redemptive purpose has found ultimate fulfillment in the New Covenant through Christ, who was slain and by whose blood God has redeemed men for himself “from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9).

The complete purpose of salvation in Christ cannot be understood unless we understand the original purpose of man. Salvation goes beyond getting men to heaven. It includes restoring man to his original position. Christ brought to man the restoration of the covenant he had with God, of the glory he had from God, and of the dominion mandate. Jesus also brought His kingdom rule and reign to all creation. He proclaimed and demonstrated the gospel of the Kingdom (that is, the government, righteousness, truth, and peace of God in all areas of life).^[ii]

His atoning work also reversed the curse due to the fall of man. The curse affects individuals through death, sickness, and bondage, and in turn also affects all spheres of life. Christ brought redemption to individuals, but also institutions and all spheres of life (including law, government, education, arts, and business). Redemption is as broad as the sweep of sin.

God’s desire, as Jesus taught us to pray, is for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-13). We have been redeemed for a purpose. In Christ we have been restored to sonship and are now in a position to obey both the cultural and the evangelistic mandates. With respect to the cultural mandate, God has restored us to stewardship. Through Christ we are called back to God’s original purpose—to live in His image and to “be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over … every living creature that moves on the ground” (Gen. 1:28). We have been restored to serving God as his vice-regent over the earth. We have been enabled to steward the earth in accordance with God’s original design.

Faith and the Economy

The theology of a people determines their economic condition. The choices men and leaders make come from their view of God and His laws. Man apart from God is lost. His sinful state affects how he thinks and acts. Unregenerate man tends not to recognize the most obvious truths. This is why many people today embrace socialism even though there are no examples currently or in times past where it has worked. It does not bring advancement to man, only lack and bondage.

Economic systems (as well as political, educational, familial, and scientific systems) ultimately rest upon faith, upon a people’s theological suppositions. One’s theological beliefs determine his worldview (his view of God, man, truth, family, government, education, history and all of life). One’s worldview determines his political philosophy, and one’s political philosophy determines one’s economic philosophy which determines the systems and policies established in a nation. To summarize:

Theology —–>>> Worldview ——>>> Polity ——->>> Economy

Political philosophy affects economics because the government is the house in which the economy lives. A biblical form of government is essential for the best economic system. The limited but important function of government regarding economic matters will be addressed in more detail later, but simply stated, the role of government is to protect the life, liberty, and property of its citizens. It is to keep the market free and fair. It is to provide a peaceful environment so that man can most effectively steward the earth. President Grover Cleveland explained the limited function of government: “Though the people support the government the government should not support the people.”^[iii]

Government exercises force, while the economic sphere relies upon voluntary cooperation. Eternal vigilance over our government is necessary for economic freedom. Left alone, the tendency is for governmental power to increase. Thomas Jefferson said, “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.”^[iv] As the size and power of government grows, individual liberties are lost. A biblical economic system cannot be maintained without a biblical governmental system.

To learn what a biblical economic system looks like see, Stewarding the Earth, A Biblical View of Economics

End Notes

Chapter 1

[i] Strong’s Concordance, kabash (no. 3533), Wayne Grudem, Politics According to the Bible, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010, p. 269.

[ii] See Stephen McDowell, The Kingdom of God, Charlottesville: Providence Foundation, 2012.

[iii] Tom Rose, Economics: Principles and Policy From a Christian Perspective, Mercer, Penn.: American Enterprise Publications, 1996, p. 83.

[iv] Rose, p. 73.

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Critical Race Theory: A Neo-Marxism Ideology

Stephen McDowell

The secular left has been attempting to spread false and unbiblical ideas throughout the nation by teaching Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project in schools, the media, Hollywood, and government institutions, including the military. This is not new, as these ideas have been gradually introduced into textbooks, museums, newsprint, and other avenues over many decades. But today they are becoming more blatant and any opposing ideas are being suppressed.

The 1619 Project teaches false ideas of American history, starting from the premise that America was founded as a racist society. It basically assumes everything about our founding was bad and therefore, must be abandoned.

Critical Race Theory is a neo-Marxist ideology that redefines human history as a struggle between “oppressor” (white people) and the “oppressed” (everybody else). CRT is not only being promoted in schools, governments, and businesses, but also in some churches.

Marxism teaches the concept of equality for all people, but sees this as equality of outcome – equal things for all. This hasn’t occurred because there are classes that oppress (the bourgeois) others (the proletariat). The oppressed (have nots) must rise up and overthrow the oppressor (the haves). Class conflicts are necessary to obtain equity and justice.

Marxists in the early 1900s saw it would be difficult to convince Americans to believe in permanent classes since America’s founding principles enable anyone to rise above their social status. All have the opportunity to be productive, if they work hard, are thrifty, and take advantage of American liberty. So Marxists began to promote a different conflict, that of race. You can change classes in America, but you can’t change races. Modern social Marxists have extended the oppressed to include any minority, especially LGBTQ+ types.

CRT teaches that America’s legal system, America’s history, and America’s church are inescapably racist. The oppressed must receive privileges, and the oppressors must make reparations for there to be equity. The end result of CRT is the end of biblical capitalism and constitutional liberties, and the rise of the oppressive authoritarian state.

Thankfully some people and states are pushing back against the onslaught of this false religion, but much more needs to be done. One means of combating CRT and the 1619 Project is by presenting the truth of our history. Our book America’s Providential History has been a great weapon to combat these bad ideas since its first printing in 1989. We recently released a new expanded version that you can see on our store.

Other books to combat the false ideas of Marxism are Ruling Over the Earth, A Biblical View of Civil Government, and the soon-to-be published Stewarding the Earth, A Biblical View of Economics. Any of these books are great for classes.

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Private Property: One Foundation of a Flourishing Economy

Stephen McDowell

A person’s property is whatever he has exclusive right to possess and control. Property is first internal. A person’s conscience is his most precious aspect of property because it tells him what is right and wrong in his actions. Each person in a free government must be a good steward of his conscience and keep it clear. By doing so, he will know what is right and wrong from within and, therefore, he will be able to live his life in a right manner. The apostle Paul said he did his “best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men” (Acts 24:16).

How one takes care of his internal property will determine how he takes care of his external property. The following chart reveals various aspects of internal and external property:

Internal Property External Property

Thoughts Land/Estate

Opinions Money

Talents Freedom of Speech

Conscience Bodily Health

Ideas Possessions

Mind Freedom of Assembly

Affections

The idea of property is so important to God that three of His Ten Commandments protect property rights (Commandments 6, where life is a form of property, 8, and 10). Much of the Mosaic Law (and the Bible in general) deals with obtaining, increasing, protecting, and distributing property (both internal and external). There can be no civil society without private ownership of property (including land, clothes, tools, homes, weapons). People will not willingly till the land if others have an equal right to the harvest, nor will they build a home if another can take possession of it when it is finished. When the lazy receive as much as the diligent, then the motivation to develop character qualities necessary for freedom and prosperity – like industry, thrift, frugality, and inventiveness – will be lost. Socialism and all forms of statism reward behavior contrary to God’s Word, and consequently, do not produce a growing and free society, but rather a stagnant nation full of indolent and ignorant men and women.

Property rights are the basis for political equality. In ancient Israel all citizens were members of the body politic and had a voice in government. Their power and voice was derived from their ownership of land/property. Each family in ancient Israel was given a share of the land that they owned, managed, and cultivated, and this was inviolable (or made permanent) as the land was returned to the original owners in the Year of Jubilee (every 50 years), and in the Sabbath (seventh) year debts were forgiven and slaves were set free. These provisions also helped preserve the family, enabling the Israelites to retain their family holdings.

E.C. Wines writes, “Property in the soil is the natural foundation of power, and consequently of authority.”^[i] If ownership of the property in a nation is dispersed among all men, they will not be enslaved to a few powerful land owners. As Noah Webster said: “Let the people have property and they will have power.”^[ii] If they have power, then they will have control of the state. Their power is not conferred upon them by the state or aristocracy. “The men who own the territory of a state will exercise a predominating influence over the public affairs of such state.”^[iii] Property not only includes land, but also businesses, manufacturing, and various other means of producing goods and services.

The distribution of land to all families in ancient Israel had a number of positive consequences: 1) It made extreme poverty and huge wealth impossible. It kept the rich from accumulating large land holdings, and forming an elite class. 2) Everyone had an interest in maintaining peace and order in society so they could fully cultivate their land, and therefore, they had an interest in being involved in governmental affairs. 3) It promoted industry and frugality, as these are needed to cultivate property. 4) It enabled everyone to have a degree of independence, as they could provide for their own household. They did not have to look to government, or someone else, to provide for them. At the same time, the government protected everyone’s right to property. If you found yourself in poverty, you could not blame someone else.

God did not intend for the government of Israel, or of any nation, to provide material goods to the citizens. Governments do not exist to provide property; rather, governments exist to protect property of every sort, most importantly, liberty of conscience. Tyrannical governments will invade rights of conscience as well as external property rights. The power that can invade liberty of conscience, can also usurp civil liberty. Internal property rights must, therefore, be guarded at all costs, for as they are diminished, every inalienable right of man is jeopardized.

The famous British political scientist, John Locke, wrote in his treatise Of Civil Government:

For Men being the Workmanship of one Omnipotent, and infinitely wise Maker: All the Servants of one Sovereign Master, sent into the World by His Order, and about His Business, they are His Property, whose Workmanship they are, made to last during His, not one anothers Pleasure.^[iv]

Locke goes on to state that while we are God’s property, God has given us the responsibility to be good stewards over our persons. He wrote that “every man has a Property in his own Person.” It follows we have a God-given right to everything necessary to preserve our persons, to internal and external property.

In other words, God has created everything, including us, and given us the right to possess internal and external property. God requires us to be good stewards of everything He puts into our hand, whether that be houses, land, and money (external property) or talents, abilities, and knowledge (internal property). The idea of stewardship is embodied in the principle of property.

Before any property can be taken from us, we must give our consent. If our property can be taken without our consent, then we really have no property. This is why any taxes imposed by a government on its citizens must be done by elected representatives. We give our consent to taxes or laws affecting our property rights through our representatives. If they do not represent our views, we should work to replace them in a lawful manner.

A people standing on the principle of property will take action to prohibit government or other citizens from taking anyone’s personal property without their consent, or from violating anyone’s conscience and rights. Lack of this principle in the lives of citizens will lead to unjust taxation, a government controlled economy, and usurpation of both internal and external property rights.

One reason that property is valuable is due to its potential productivity. Agricultural production is primary as this is the foundation of prosperous and happy nations. Israel was represented as a land flowing with milk and honey, a land of wheat, barley, vines, and fig trees, and in many other similar terms of abundance (Ex. 3:8; Deut. 1:25; 8:7-10). Every family and those born to the families would inherit a portion of this rich land. Food production is foundational for any nation. Without being able to meet the basic needs of the people, a nation cannot grow and advance.

Agriculture has many positive influences for individuals and the nation at large. It produces character, industry, frugality, physical stamina, and rugged independence – traits necessary to live in liberty. It strengthens a love for the country while providing the necessities of life. It also helps keep peace because men will not use the sword as an aggressor, but only in defense of his property, if that need arises.

Pagans view manual labor as demeaning and for the lower class. Pagan nations have sought to enslave others to labor for them in the fields. In contrast, Moses (following God’s instruction) regarded agriculture as the most honorable of employments. Elisha was ploughing the fields when he was called by Elijah. David was taken from the sheepfold to become king. Moses, himself, was called from a pastoral life to free God’s people.

Godly leaders should honor agriculture and enact laws to support men as they work their fields. Laws should encourage a general ownership of property among citizens. (This was so in early America and was one reason for her great prosperity and equality.) The land should be owned by those who till it. Such ownership produces industry, as well as mental and muscular vigor. It gives people power. Most political evils in history have resulted from “the unrighteous monopoly of the earth.”^[v] Therefore, land and farms (as well as other forms of property) should be dispersed widely among the people. God’s plan for Israel did this.

Private property rights are a basic necessity for any society that desires to be free and prosperous. Noah Webster wrote:

The liberty of the press, trial by jury, the Habeas Corpus writ, even Magna Charta itself, though justly deemed the palladia of freedom, are all inferior considerations, when compared with a general distribution of real property among every class of people. … Let the people have property and they will have power—a power that will forever be exerted to prevent a restriction of the press, and abolition of trial by jury, or the abridgement of any other privilege.”^[vi]

A Christian nation will “let the people have property” and hence power.

(This article is taken from the book, Stewarding the Earth, A Biblical View of Economics by Stephen McDowell, published by the Providence Foundation, 2022.)

[i] Wines, The Hebrew Republic, p. 8.

[ii] Rosalie J. Slater, “Noah Webster, Founding Father of American Scholarship and Education,” article in Preface of the facsimile reprint of Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language, p. 14.

[iii] Wines, The Hebrew Republic, p. 9.

[iv] John Locke, Of Civil Government, quoted in Christian History of the Constitution, Verna Hall, compiler, San Francisco: Foundation for American Christian Education, p. 58.

[v] Wines, p. 29.

[vi] Rosalie J. Slater, “Noah Webster, Founding Father of American Scholarship and Education,” in Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language, republished in facsimile by Foundation for American Christian Education, p. 14.

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2021 April 25 Stephen McDowell – Turning America Around – How Do We Fulfill Our Duties? – YouTube

Turning America Around

Fulfilling Our Biblical Duties to Transform the Culture, Educate Our Children, and Protect Property

God has given His people a mission. Like Jonah, most are running away from it.

¹The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, ²“Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” ³But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. (Jonah 1:1-3)

Jonah ran away from the mission God gave him. Similarly, God has given a mission to His people in America, and, like Jonah, the church in general has failed to do what God has called us to do.

God used storms, wind, waves, and a great fish to bring about Jonah’s repentance.

Jonah was go to and cry against the wickedness of Nineveh. It was a pagan, immoral, evil society. God has called us to cry out against the pagan, evil, immoral culture that has been rapidly growing in America. The modern society not only flagrantly breaks the Ten Commandments with abandon, but declares anyone who believes and lives according to God’s liberating principles is to be canceled or persecuted.

Many people have been praying and repenting, asking for God’s mercy upon America. This has been, at least in part, precipitated by rising immorality (including the radical homosexual and trans movement), the enacting of many bad laws, the loss of liberty under COVID restrictions, the destruction of businesses and cities by leftist groups, the illogical “woke” movement, and the increasing acceptance of socialism especially among the youth.

We have witnessed the persecution of bakers, florists, photographers, and others for standing upon their conscience and Christian convictions. Those standing for life are threatened with jail for exposing the abortion death mills. We have seen government officials telling the church how they can fulfill their biblical duty to worship – deciding if that can gather, how many people can gather, and whether they can sing. Our God-given rights have been violated and our responsibilities usurped by modern-day Caesars.

America needs to repent. Certainly the lost need to repent before God, and consequently we need to speak God’s truth to them. But repentance in America must begin with the church – God’s people. Like Jonah, the church has been running away from the mission God has given us. The mission is to preach God’s truth to Nineveh, which represents the pagan, secular culture that is increasing in the nation.

Repentance is much than verbally acknowledging our wrong-doing. It is much more than a spiritual exercise of “wearing sack-cloth” and fasting. Repentance is a change of mind and way, and a return to our work and duty from which we had turned aside. It is doing that which God calls us to do. Jonah repented and went to Nineveh and proclaimed God’s truth. Under his preaching, Nineveh repented – they not only cried out to God in sackcloth (Jon. 3:5-8), they also did the works of repentance (Jon. 3:10). We must do the same.

What are the works of repentance we must do in America today? In the message in the following link, Stephen McDowell presents three primary things that we must do in order to bring long-term permanent change in the nation.

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Combating Lawlessness in America

What We Can Do to Stop the Leftists from Hi-Jacking the Land of Liberty

Stephen McDowell

America is under assault by those who oppose the foundational ideas upon which this nation was built. While claiming to uphold the Constitution, these secular humanists reveal by their actions that they oppose life, individual liberty, property rights, the equality of all men, and the idea that government is a servant of the people.

They readily toss aside the idea that all men are subject to the law, rulers as well as common citizens. Instead of embracing the American founders’ idea that no man is above the law, they seek to become a law unto themselves and force everyone else to conform to their views of truth and morality. Hence, those we elect to uphold the law are in fact the greatest law-breakers. And it seems they are never held accountable by our system of “justice.”

Examples of this action abound. None was more egregious in recent years than the charge against President Trump that he colluded with the Russians to win the election, based upon a completely fake dossier paid for by his political opponents. All the government officials, supported by the main-stream media, who were involved in this proved-to-be false allegation trampled upon the rule of law.

Of course, such examples abound both before Trump’s administration and now under the Biden administration, and include all spheres of governing officials.

Judges regularly make law — like the U.S. District Judge in Texas who a number of years ago toppled a marriage amendment upholding the traditional and Biblical view of marriage that had been approved by more than 75% of the voters in that state. Similar federal rulings discarded marriage laws in Oklahoma, Virginia, California, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, and Kentucky.

Regarding discussion on immigration reform Thomas Sowell writes: “Immigration laws are the only laws that are discussed in terms of how to help people who break them. One of the big problems that those who are pushing ‘comprehensive immigration reform’ want solved is how to help people who came here illegally and are now ‘living in the shadows’ as a result.”

Add to this, Presidents who legislate through executive orders, government agencies that run rough-shod over the rights of individual citizens, and the failure of Congress to perform its legal duties, and we can see we have a serious problem.

But why is this happening?

One primary reason that we are becoming a lawless society is that the church (both as an institution and the corporate body of believers) has become lawless. The church has disregarded all uses of God’s basic moral laws as revealed in the Ten Commandments: for civil use as a curb against sinful action in society, for didactic use as the rule by which we should govern our lives and grow to maturity, and in many ways for theological use as a mirror that serves as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.

For over three centuries the Ten Commandments were ubiquitous in America.

The Ten Commandments were taught in all the churches and hung on church walls of many denominations.
Christian leaders followed the example of Protestant reformers like Luther, Calvin, and Knox and systematically taught the Ten Commandments.
Catechisms were the primary textbooks in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. The Ten Commandments were central in these catechisms; for example, about 40% of the questions in the Westminster Shorter Catechism deal with the Ten Commandments.
The New England Primer, the best-selling text during the 1700s with about 5 million sold, contained the Shorter Catechism. Almost all of our Founding Fathers, even the minority who were not Christians, would have used this book and memorized the catechism. Therefore, even the non-believers were thoroughly grounded in the moral law of God.
Webster’s “Blue-Back Speller” sold about 100 million copies in the 19^th century. Over 100 sentences used to introduce new words taught the moral law of God contained in all ten of the commandments.
The McGuffey Readers, which sold 122 million copies, had a section on the Ten Commandments.
Other textbooks would have likewise taught the moral law of God. In fact, the Ten Commandments hung on many schoolroom walls up until 1980 when the Supreme Court ruled this was unconstitutional.

The Ten Commandments were the foundation of civil law in America:

The first laws written in the colonies, Lawes Divine, Morall and Martiall, etc., were written in Virginia 1609-12 and contain most of the Ten Commandments.
The laws of the New Haven Colony, founded by John Davenport in 1638, state: “the judicial laws of God, as they were delivered by Moses and expounded in other parts of Scripture, so far as they are a defence to the moral law, and neither typical nor ceremonial nor had reference to Canaan, shall be accounted of moral and binding equity and force.”
Massachusetts Body of Liberties: the standard for this precursor to the Bill of Rights was the Word of God.
The rights and liberties of the Ten Commandments are preserved in all our early civil documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Recognizing the Ten Commandments as the foundation of our laws is why many state capitols have plaques of the Ten Commandments.

The basis of America’s legal system was built upon the Biblical view of law as taught by William Blackstone and others. For this reason many courtrooms had the Ten Commandments hanging upon the walls, until recent times.

While the Ten Commandments were found everywhere in our nation in the past, they have come under assault in recent times: in 1980 the Supreme Court ruled they could not be hung on the schoolroom walls in Kentucky; Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore was removed from office after he refused to remove the Ten Commandments from the courthouse; laws are passed and judicial opinions issued that are contrary to the moral law of God.

However, the reason the commandments were removed from the schoolroom and courtroom walls is because they were first removed from the church walls and the walls of the hearts of Christians. Not that keeping the commandments is the means of our salvation (for salvation is a gift of God, given by His grace and a result of our faith in the atoning work of Christ), but, His moral law is to be the standard for right behavior within our society. Without this, we can have little liberty, justice, peace, or Biblical prosperity. The Bible teaches myriads of times that great blessings come from obeying His law-word.

Yet, if we do not know His commandments and how they apply to all of life, we cannot obtain the good fruit that comes from obeying them. Most Americans and, sadly, most American Christians, are ignorant of God’s moral law. In the fall of 1997, a friend of mine took a survey of 500 men attending the Promise Keepers prayer gathering in Washington, DC, asking them to name the Ten Commandments in the order they appeared in their Bible. Only one of these sincere and devoted believers could do so! I have taken numerous surveys of people attending our seminars asking the same question. Only a small percentage of them have been able to list the Commandments in order, and there has never been a majority of attendees who could list all ten even in random order.

Resources on the Ten Commandments

Ignorance of God’s moral law, which has led to great lawlessness in America today, prompted me to write two resources on the Ten Commandments. The first is a Bible study on the Ten Commandments designed to be used by parents in the home, by churches, by Christian and home schools, and by civil leaders and anyone else needing an understanding of the moral law that formed the foundation of Western Civilization.

This Ten Commandments Bible Study (God’s Blueprint for Life, Liberty, and Property) guides you through both the prohibitive nature of the commands and the positive corollaries and rights rooted in these commands. The format is primarily to ask questions regarding the Commandments and then give Scriptures for you to look up and write out the answers. When completed, you will have a thorough understanding of the marvelous principles contained in the Commandments.

The second resource is a booklet on the Ten Commandments entitled The Ten Commandments and Modern Society.

Jesus reiterated what is taught throughout the entire Bible: that God’s Law/Word, which is summarized by the Ten Commandments, contains principles that, if obeyed, produce life — life for men and nations — but if ignored, produce death. He said: “Do this [keep the commandments] and you will live.” America’s laws were based upon God’s higher law. This higher law, as summarized in the Ten Commandments, used to be taught to all Americans, was greatly revered, and all looked to obey it. Today, few obey, revere, or even know His commands.

Many people are doing all they can to remove any vestige of His law from our nation, claiming they are a great detriment to society. In 1980 the Supreme Court ruled in Stone v. Graham that the public schools of Kentucky could not display the Ten Commandments on the walls. The Court said: “If the posted copies of the Ten Commandments are to have any effect at all, it will be to induce the school children to read, meditate upon, perhaps to venerate and obey, the Commandments.” Just imagine if our children obeyed the Ten Commandments. Some may consider this dangerous, but in reality this would solve many of our problems. About 1.7 million Americans are behind bars today — 1 in every 155. To learn to not steal or murder might not be too bad an idea to help deal with this problem. The Ten Commandments and Modern Society shows the importance of the commands for us today and gives an overview of them, highlighting the positive corollaries of the negative laws.

The material in these two books is essential for American Christians to know and apply if we hope to turn the nation from a path of lawlessness to one following after God and His truth. America needs to repent (turn and go a different way) for many things. Most importantly, we need to turn from man’s law to God’s law. We need to once again acknowledge God as sovereign, the source of law (the First Commandment) and return to His moral law as revealed in the Ten Commandments.

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Civil Government and Man’s Conscience

Jesus taught we are to render to Caesar (civil government) what belongs to Caesar, but we are not to render to Caesar what belongs to God. Our conscience belongs to God.

Biblical civil government will not violate Christian conscience.

Stephen McDowell

Over the past few generations, civil government in America has progressively encroached upon the rights of conscience. During the COVID event, the trampling of man’s “most sacred property”[1] has become obvious, even to the most lethargic person. Many people are resisting the plundering of their rights and property. Others think it’s okay for civil leaders to do whatever they deem as necessary to protect the community.

How far can government go in violating human rights to protect the nation from what has been declared a pandemic? What does the Bible teach regarding the government’s role in man’s conscience? The book of Romans, chapter 13 presents an excellent overview of the biblical doctrine of government. One of the numerous principles taught here[2] is that Biblical civil government will not violate Christian conscience.

Romans 13:5 says, “Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.” Our conscience tells us what is right to do; that is, it tells us to obey God because God’s Word declares what is righteous. Therefore, if government is commanding action contrary to God, our conscience will not tell us to obey evil government, but rather God’s law. Subjection requires our submission to government; that is, we place ourselves under someone else. But when government requires something of us that is contrary to God’s word, we must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). Even here, we are submissive, in the sense that we will realize that there will be consequences for disobeying leaders. When do we disobey government? When it forbids what God commands (like prayer, Daniel 6) or commands what God forbids (like idolatry, Daniel 3).

To be in subjection “for conscience’ sake” does not mean that we are to subject our conscience to the will of government leaders or to any man. Only God can make laws binding our conscience. We are to render to God what belongs to God, and our conscience belongs to God, not man. However, pagan man will attempt to govern the conscience. Today, secularists are enacting laws punishing those who oppose homosexuality, attempting to force many businessmen to violate their conscience. They pass hate laws thinking they can discern the motives of the heart.

God wants our subjection to be voluntary and sincere (Eccl. 10:20; 1 Pet. 2:17), but if the ruler’s laws violate God’s law then this cannot be. Secular governments will enact laws that violate some aspect of God’s law. We must resist such tyrannical rulers,[3] while at the same time seek to establish godly government. As we take steps to resist and evaluate the probability of success we exhibit “a patient subjection to the penalty without resistance.”[4] The first century church had little hope of changing unlawful authority and so having this attitude and action showed the rightness of the Christian faith. If we resist unbiblical civil laws, the wrath of civil government will come upon us. We must be prepared to suffer the consequences. But if we subject ourselves to unbiblical laws for fear of punishment, then God will deal with us for disobedience.

We are to be subject to our government and its laws not just out of fear of punishment but for conscience sake. But this requires that the laws that we obey are not in violation of God’s laws, for our conscience will condemn us if we act wrongly. Hence, we need godly rulers and godly laws to be able to truly fulfill this requirement.

(To learn more about the biblical role of civil government and how to establish godly rulers, see Stephen McDowell, Ruling Over the Earth, A Biblical View of Civil Government)

[1] James Madison wrote that conscience is the most sacred of all property, identifying the principle that property has both an internal and external component.

[2] For other principles of government taught in Romans 13, see Stephen McDowell, Ruling Over the Earth, A Biblical View of Civil Government, Charlottesville: Providence Foundation, 2020, Chapter 3.

[3] See Chapter 5 of Ruling Over the Earth for steps to take to resist tyrannical leaders.

[4] Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Hendrickson Publishers, 2002, Rom.13:1-7, pp. 2229-2231.

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