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THE
NEW LIFE by
John Marshall
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Chapter
9 • THE
BELIEVER AND THE STATE
In
some respects, it is obvious that none should be better suited
than believers to serve on juries and to pass judgments on
their fellow men. Possibly, here lies the reason why some
have been ready to give such service.
Many years ago the writer decided as a matter of conscience
that he saw no grounds for refusing jury service. The experience
was illuminating. Truth was frequently clothed in anything
but garments of righteousness, and judgment was not always
tempered with mercy. But the overwhelming impression that
was left on his mind was that he was in the wrong place; he
was working with unbelievers whose attitude of mind belonged
to a world in which the believer is but a pilgrim, and whose
judgments were part of a citizenship to which we are alien.
The sting of Paul's advice to saints on judgment comes at
the end: "and that before unbelievers."
There is, perhaps, no clear-cut scriptural guidance that will
satisfy everyone and each believer must decide the issue for
himself, realizing that unless one is, according to the provisions
of the Jurors' Act, exempted from jury service, the penalty
for refusal to serve may be a fine.
In decisions of this kind, nothing should obscure our loyalty
to God, our Father, and to Jesus, our Lord. Nothing should
dun the glory of our call or the wonder of the Word of life
which so sustains our heavenly citizenship. These are the
supreme spiritual facts on which all our decisions should
be made.
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References
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Chapter
10 • THE BELIEVER
AND THE STATE:
"RESIST NOT EVIL"
IN
A letter which Jeremiah sent to "the residue of the elders
which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the
prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried
away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon . . ." he gave advice
which must have proved positive and helpful to all who have been
aliens and pilgrims throughout the world ever since. It was God-given,
comforting and sensible: it advised them to become resigned to their
new environment, to build houses, plant gardens, marry, beget children
and "seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to
be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in
the peace thereof shall ye have peace".
Most believers today live in countries which allow them freedom
to worship and to preach the Gospel, and they should not neglect
to pray for the peace of such countries. The Apostle Paul confirmed
the advice of Jeremiah and the teaching of Jesus when he wrote to
Timothy: "I exhort therefore, first of all that supplications,
prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for
kings, and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil
and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable
in the sight of our God and Saviour."
Such a unity of teaching and exhortation makes it clear that our
task in this world is to think peace, live the peace of
Christ, and preach the peace of his kingdom. But the peace of the
Body, or Ecclesia, of Christ can only be as strong as the peace
which exists in the hearts and minds of individual believers who
have made a reality of the peace of Jesus in their lives.
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References
Jer 29v5-7, 1 Tim 2v1 RV
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