The Black Regiment and True Patriots

Colonial preachers espoused resistance and civil disobedience to the unjust rules of despotic kings and the lawless acts of a foreign parliament.  These were not anarchists, for they also taught the necessity of obeying legitimate government.  Their own colonial legislatures, which had been constituted from the duly elected representatives of the people, instilled a reverence and honor of good government, as well as contempt for tyrants.  More than any other element of society, King George feared the preachers.  He called them the “Black Regiment,” because of the black clerical robes they wore when preaching.

 

Were it not for the Black Regiment, it is most unlikely that there would have ever been a Declaration of Independence.  Being of Puritan persuasion, the Black Regiment was hostile to the notion of “the divine right of kings.”  Frequent was the cry from the pulpit, “Restore the crown rights of King Jesus!”  Tories and Loyalists regularly complained to the king that “the pulpits in America are trumpets of sedition!”  It was the State-Church that drove unlicensed preachers from England in the first place, and they weren’t about to permit King George to be sovereign over America’s churches, simply because he declared it so.

 

George’s fears of the Black Regiment were well-founded.  In all of recorded history, there has never been a more capable and persuasive group of military recruiters.  Many a preacher single-handedly raised multiple companies of men, and in most cases, those men then insisted he be their commander.  Their power of persuasion was simply irresistible; their love for liberty, and of their men, equally irresistible.  The impassioned preacher could enlist more men than George Washington himself.  Those who could not go to war often wrote stirring pamphlets to be circulated amongst the troops to keep morale high.

 

Patriot preachers struck terror in the hearts of the British, in the same way the Israelites had struck terror in the hearts of the Canaanites.  America desperately needed that kind of psychological (rather, spiritual) advantage.  Tiny America was overwhelmingly outmanned and outgunned by what was then the most powerful military force on earth.
No segment of society deserves more credit for America’s founding and independence than do its nonconformist, unlicensed preachers.  They confronted the tyrant to his face and protested, “No king, but King Jesus!”  Unlicensed preachers were America’s true founding fathers.  Most every preacher in our own day expresses deep gratitude for the sacrifices of those brave patriotic Christians who secured our freedoms.  Yet, as we shall see, many a modern preacher has, in practice, abandoned the American heritage of freedom of religion that they claim to cherish so dearly.

In 1776, we came out of bondage with faith, understanding, and courage.  Even against great odds, and with much bloodshed, we battled our way to achieve liberty.  Liberty is that delicate area between the force of government and free will of man.  Liberty brings freedom of choice to work, to trade, to go wherever and live wherever one wishes.  It leads to abundance.

 

Abundance, however, can result in complacency, which ultimately leads to apathy.  Apathy is the “let George do it” philosophy, and it always brings dependency.  For a period of time, dependents are often not aware they are dependent.  They delude themselves by thinking they are still free—“We never had it so good.”—“We can still vote, can’t we?”  Eventually, abundance diminishes and dependency becomes known by its true nature: bondage!!!

 

There are few ways out of bondage.  Bloodshed and war often result, but our founding fathers learned of a better way.  Realizing that a Creator is always above and greater than that which He creates, they established a three-vote system (Senate, House and Executive branches) by which an informed citizenry could control those acting in the name of government.  To be a good master you must always remember the true “pecking order” or chain of command in this nation:

 

1.    God created man…
2.    Man (that’s you) created the constitution…
3.    The Constitution created government…
4.    Government created corporations…

 

The base of power was to remain in “We the People,” but unfortunately, it has been lost to those leaders acting in the name of government, such as politicians, bureaucrats, judges, and lawyers, etc.  As a result, America began to function like a democracy instead of a republic.

—Citizens Rulebook

 

An explanation of this can be found in Scripture.  In 1 Samuel 8, the children of Israel prospered, became complacent, and wanted a king.  Verse 5 says, “…make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”  They wanted a king who would take care of them and would do it for them.  They didn’t want the responsibility of God’s government, which would require them to keep up the standard of God in their own lives all the time.

 

In God’s government, the common citizen has as much responsibility to his neighbor as the public servant in office has to the people who elected him.  Verse 19-20: “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” (Emphasis added)

 

Following the Lord requires a higher standard, it requires the responsibility of the people as a whole to be God’s servants and to carry out His righteousness and maintain it in the world.  When we no longer rely on God for our liberty because it requires too much of ourselves, we will eventually rely on man, which is national idolatry!  It is like the analogy of working for someone else, or being self-employed.

 

A boss will correct his employees when they are out of line because it reflects badly on him, he loses money, and it destroys his reputation.  A boss may hire another person to do certain specialty work that he may not know how to do as well, but he judges the fruit of that worker and keeps him or gets rid of him depending on the fruit he produces. 
The same thing should apply to government.  Our leaders fulfill a role that we may not be capable of doing, however, we are the boss of that government and should rightly judge that government based on the liberty it upholds.  It is always the job and responsibility of the governed to keep the governing in check.  That is what Elijah did with Ahab, Nathan and Gad did with David, Daniel did with Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, Jeremiah to Zedekiah, John the Baptist did to Herod, the list goes on.  To ignore government disobedience is a sin against God.

 

The Bible says in Romans 6:12-13, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God.”  Verse 16 finishes by stating, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

 

If the king or rulers violate their oaths and do not do what they agreed to do, then the power flows back to those who gave them that power; they are responsible to do what is right according to the Law of God.  Thousands of professing Christians in this nation disobey the Word of God every day when they render unto Caesar what is truly God’s!  Just imagine what kind of judgment America would have seen if the preachers would had left the tyrant and idolater, King George, who set himself up to be God, to do whatever he wanted with the colonies?  What would our nation be at this point—Communist?

 

It is our responsibility to correct our brother as it says in Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”  God is no respecter of persons; whether you are a commoner or a king you are always under the jurisdiction of God.

 

The Bible says in Romans 13:

 

Verse 1: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.  For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”  Government is known as powers or jurisdictions ordained by God.

 

Verse 2: “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”  As Christians, we are not to resist government that is ordained, set up, and established by God.  However, Scripture says nothing about damnation to those who resist tyranny.

 

Verse 3: “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.  Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?  do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same…”  God’s rulers are not a terror to good works, however, tyrants are a terror to good works.  They seek to dethrone God as we see government doing now in the public schools, courtrooms, public monuments, and making their citizens apply for licenses to preach, baptize or marry, drive, fish, hunt, etc.  As a matter of fact, our government requires us to get their permission to do everything God has given us the right to do.  They usurp the unalienable rights God gave us.  As King George of England did, so we see now in America.

 

Verse 4: “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.”  The word minister translated from the Greek decones means servant; this is where we get the word deacon.  So, government officials that demand our obedience are truly God’s deacons whose responsibility is to serve and be a revenger and exacter of righteousness.  God’s righteousness, not man’s created righteousness.

 

Verse 5:  “Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.”  Government that God establishes will never work contrary to moral conscience.  If it does, it is not God’s government; it is merely an imposter, a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

 

Verse 6: “For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.”  Government is once again referred to as ministers, in the Greek translated as leitourgos, which is where we get our word liturgy.  Liturgy is a public form of worship.  Therefore, government officials are responsible for God’s liturgy.

 

Verse 7: “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”  God is very careful to direct us to give tribute, fear, and honor only to whom it is due.  For example, giving money to the mafia would make you an accessory to murder and other malicious crimes.  God would not let you escape judgment as you willfully support such an institution as the mob.  How about giving money to a government that is an oppressor of the poor, supports and funds infanticide, and refuses God’s word to its people?

 

Verse 8: “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”  Continuing, verse 9 says, “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

 

The conclusion of the matter is that government is to abide and promote God’s Law.  Does the government you submit to and pay tribute to promote God’s Law?  How does your government compare to God’s government?  Are you being obedient to an imposter?  If so, you are willfully partaking in idolatry against God!
The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence explains that when government leaves its sphere of authority, their laws have no binding effect on man’s conscience.

 

The Fairfax Resolves #8: “Resolved that it is our greatest wish and inclination, as well as interest, to continue our connection with, and dependence upon the British Government; but tho’ we are it’s subjects, we will use every means which heaven hath given us to prevent our becoming it’s slaves.”

 

It is impossible to have a separation between government and religion, because without religion, government would not have any power.  Behind every law is a moral judgment. Therefore, state and federal governments are religious institutions.  Right and wrong, righteousness and unrighteousness are religious principles.  However, does this religion represent the God of Heaven, or the religion of man, which is tyranny?

 

It says in 1 Peter 2:13-14, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.”  Ordinance: Greek word being Ktisis: the act of founding or establishing the thing created.  Peter is referring to the type of government, and for what purpose it was set up, not every law that any government passes.  If God ordains a king like David or a republic like we had in America at one time, we are to obey that “form” of government under God’s rule.  If Peter merely meant to obey every law of every professing government he would have contradicted himself in Acts 4:19-20 when he directly disobeyed the Sanhedrin, the governing body of the Jews: “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

 

Or how about when the Lord opened the prison doors in Acts 5:19-20, “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”  God showed His jurisdiction over earthly government and then commanded the apostles to do what the government told them not to.  In Acts 2:7-8, Peter is released from prison and his shackles by an angel of the Lord.  In Acts 16:26, the Lord again shows His jurisdiction over the earth by sending an earthquake and opening all the prison doors.  Or how about Rahab, Daniel and the Hebrew children, Elijah, etc.?  They all stayed obedient to God while disobeying ungodly decrees.

 

Jesus Christ is the only sovereign on this Earth and all power is given and allowed by Him.  Outside of Christ there is no power.  Matthew 28:18 says, “…All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.”  1 Timothy 6:15 says, “…who is the blessed and only Potentate (ruler, officer, authority), the King of kings, and Lord of lords…” (parentheses added).  Proverbs 8:16-17 says, “By Me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.”

 

Ignorance is conducive to slavery.  If you don’t know your rights, you don’t have any rights.  Hosea 4:6 states, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” and verse 14 says, “…therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.”  And finally, verse 9 says, “and there shall be, like people like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.”

 

Ultimately, the curse of God places you in slavery and destruction.  Slavery is a perfect form of hating your brother, and the Lord promises in Leviticus 26:17, “…they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.”

 

1 Samuel 12:25 says, “But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.”

 

We must realize a nation of people and their king ultimately fall, not because of their government, but because of their national sin before God.