Philosophy

As with the first generation of Christians of the original Church, we find ourselves in interesting times. There are clear contradictions between biblical principles and the culture, state, and much of institutional religion. Even so, we are called to submit to and pray for our ruling authorities, to love all our neighbors, and to not cause division in the Church. The position of The Agora stems from the difference between “submit” and “support”. While we are called to submit, we are not called to support the anti-biblical institutions of the kingdom of man. On the contrary, we are told “What does light have to do with darkness?”. A similar perspective is true in regards to culture. We are to be salt and light intermingled with the rest of society but at the same time living in ways separate from the world.

Both theologically and historically, the answer to “How should we then live?” is found in Romans 13:

“Pay everyone what he is owed: if you owe the tax-collector, pay your taxes; if you owe the revenue-collector, pay revenue; if you owe someone respect, pay him respect; if you owe someone honor, pay him honor. Don’t owe anyone anything — except to love one another; for whoever loves his fellow human being has fulfilled Torah.”

In relation to how to relate to the governing authorities, we are told to pay taxes, pay respect, and pay anything else that we owe. However, our goal should be the conclusion- “Don’t owe anyone anything.” While difficult and often not reasonably possible in entirety, this is the scripturally stated ideal and therefore what we strive after. Just as we can never be perfect but still we strive for perfection, we can never be completely out of all debts of all kinds but we still strive to owe nothing. Hence, we operate in the parallel society, as the Kingdom of God, as much as reasonably possible where we can show clear contradistinction between our ways and the world’s without separating ourselves from the world entirely or participating in and supporting the world’s secular systems.

The Agora is structured as an unincorporated entity and is therefore not incorporated under the state. While we do not break any laws, we attempt to be subject to as few of them as possible. We have no desire for rebellion but rather acknowledge that we are to submit and not rebel so long as an issue does not involve going against God. We are to live as an example to society and within society but operate according to God’s ways, not the world’s. We do all this by operating as much as reasonably possible outside of the world’s systems. This is where the parallel society structure comes into play. It is not a new strategy but rather is mimicking the original Church.

“It is not always the world which ejects the Christian from his secular calling. Even in the first century we find that certain professions were regarded as incompatible with membership of the Christian Church. The actor who had to play the part of pagan gods and heroes, the teacher who was forced to teach pagan mythologies in pagan schools, the gladiator who had to take human life for sport, the soldier who wielded the sword, the policeman and the judge, all had to renounce their heathen professions if they wanted to be baptized. Later the Church- or was it perhaps the world?- found it possible to lift the ban on these professions.”

– Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship

“It was far from their imaginations to conceive it possible that Christianity should appropriate to itself the relations and offices of the state. The Christians stood aloof from the state, as a priestly and spiritual race, and Christianity seemed able to influence civil life only in that manner, which it must be confessed is the purest, by practically endeavoring to instill more and more of the holy feeling into the citizens of the state.”

– Neander

“But while they inculcated the maxims of passive obedience, they refused to take any active part in the civil administration or military defense of the empire.”

– Edward Gibbon, Vol. 1 p. 557

“The Christians after the conversion of Constantine, still resorted to the tribunals of their church to decide their claims and pecuniary disputes.”

– Edward Gibbon, Vol. 2 p. 280

With the parallel society approach, we are creating our own alternative systems. We do not seek to join those of the world nor do we fight them. Rather, we operate as much as possible within systems that are under the Kingdom of God rather than under the kingdom of man. We are told that the ruler of this world is the Adversary and the systems of this world will ultimately be judged and destroyed by Christ as enemies of His. We love the individuals of the kingdom of man and pray for them and their rulers. We offer our services to them and live as an example of a better way. However, we remain in our role as ambassadors and representatives with our citizenship grounded in the Kingdom of God and our lives as salt and light in a corrupt and fallen world.

In addition to the food club, we are working on a homeschool co-op, some alternative health options, classes and workshops for further education, and other options to help those who are interested to have less reliance on and support for systems and programs they don’t agree with. We believe this is an effective way to be consistent with scripture and live out our beliefs.

Here are some verses and quotes that cover these subjects and this perspective:

John18:36 (ESV)

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

John 15:18-21 (CJB)

18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would have loved its own. But because you do not belong to the world — on the contrary, I have picked you out of the world — therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they kept my word, they will keep yours too. 21 But they will do all this to you on my account, because they don’t know the One who sent me.”

John 17:6-21 (CJB) (Yeshua praying for the people of His kingdom on earth)

6 “I made your name known to the people you gave me out of the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, 8 because the words you gave me I have given to them, and they have received them. They have really come to know that I came from you, and they have come to trust that you sent me.

9 “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given to me, because they are yours. 10 Indeed, all I have is yours, and all you have is mine, and in them I have been glorified. 11 Now I am no longer in the world. They are in the world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, guard them by the power of your name, which you have given to me, so that they may be one, just as we are. 12 When I was with them, I guarded them by the power of your name, which you have given to me; yes, I kept watch over them; and not one of them was destroyed (except the one meant for destruction, so that the Tanakh might be fulfilled). 13 But now, I am coming to you; and I say these things while I am still in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.

14 “I have given them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world — just as I myself do not belong to the world. 15 I don’t ask you to take them out of the world, but to protect them from the Evil One. 16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17 Set them apart for holiness by means of the truth — your word is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 On their behalf I am setting myself apart for holiness, so that they too may be set apart for holiness by means of the truth.

20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in me because of their word, 21 that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with me and I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me.”

James 4:4 (CJB)

You unfaithful wives! Don’t you know that loving the world is hating God? Whoever chooses to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy!

1 Samuel 8:4-8 (ESV)

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you.

John 12:31 (CJB)

Now is the time for this world to be judged, now the ruler of this world will be expelled.

John 16:8-11 (CJB)

8 “When he comes, he will show that the world is wrong about sin, about righteousness and about judgment — 9 about sin, in that people don’t put their trust in me; 10 about righteousness, in that I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; 11 about judgment, in that the ruler of this world has been judged.

Ephesians 2:1-2 (ESV)

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience

Ephesians 6:10-12 (CJB)

10 Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength! 11 Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. 12 For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.

Matthew 4:8-11 (CJB)

⁸ Once more, the Adversary took him up to the summit of a very high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their glory, ⁹ and said to him, “All this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me.” ¹⁰ “Away with you, Satan!” Yeshua told him, “For the Tanakh says, ‘Worship Adonai your God, and serve only him.’” ¹¹ Then the Adversary let him alone, and angels came and took care of him.

1 Corinthians 15:22-27 (CJB)

²² For just as in connection with Adam all die, so in connection with the Messiah all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: the Messiah is the firstfruits; then those who belong to the Messiah, at the time of his coming; ²⁴ then the culmination, when he hands over the Kingdom to God the Father, after having put an end to every rulership, yes, to every authority and power. ²⁵ For he has to rule until he puts all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be done away with will be death, ²⁷ for “He put everything in subjection under his feet.”

Romans 13:1-8 (CJB)

1 Everyone is to obey the governing authorities. For there is no authority that is not from God, and the existing authorities have been placed where they are by God. 2 Therefore, whoever resists the authorities is resisting what God has instituted; and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are no terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you like to be unafraid of the person in authority? Then simply do what is good, and you will win his approval; 4 for he is God’s servant, there for your benefit. But if you do what is wrong, be afraid! Because it is not for nothing that he holds the power of the sword; for he is God’s servant, there as an avenger to punish wrongdoers. 5 Another reason to obey, besides fear of punishment, is for the sake of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes; for the authorities are God’s public officials, constantly attending to these duties. 7 Pay everyone what he is owed: if you owe the tax-collector, pay your taxes; if you owe the revenue-collector, pay revenue; if you owe someone respect, pay him respect; if you owe someone honor, pay him honor. 8 Don’t owe anyone anything — except to love one another; for whoever loves his fellow human being has fulfilled Torah.

Genesis 12:1-3(CJB)

Now Adonai said to Avram, “Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. ² I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and I will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Here are some quotes from early Church Fathers and other Christians of the first few centuries:

“Shall we carry a flag? It is a rival to Christ.”

– Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 3, p. 73

”But now inquiry is made about this point, whether a believer may turn himself unto military service, and whether the military may be admitted unto the faith, even the rank and file, or each inferior grade, to whom there is no necessity for taking part in sacrifices or capital punishments. There is no agreement between the divine and the human sacrament, the standard of Christ and the standard of the devil, the camp of light and the camp of darkness. One soul cannot be due to two masters—God and Caesar. And yet Moses carried a rod, and Aaron wore a buckle, and John (Baptist) is girt with leather and Joshua the son of Nun leads a line of march; and the People warred: if it pleases you to sport with the subject. But how will a Christian man war, nay, how will he serve even in peace, without a sword, which the Lord has taken away? For albeit soldiers had come unto John, and had received the formula of their rule; albeit, likewise, a centurion had believed; still the Lord afterward, in disarming Peter, unbelted every soldier. No dress is lawful among us, if assigned to any unlawful action.”

– Tertullian (a.d. 197-212)

“If He (Christ) would not even once exercise the right of dominion over his own, for whom he did the most menial services, if he, fully conscious as he was of his regal power, yet shrank from being made a king, he gave a perfect example to all his disciples to avoid all which is high and glorious in earthly rank and power.”

– Tertullian

“I am a Christian. He who answers thus has declared everything at once—his country, profession, family; the believer belongs to no city on earth but to the heavenly Jerusalem.”

– ST. John Chrysostom (a.d. 347–407)

“God called Abraham and commanded him to go out from the country where he was living. With this call God has roused us all, and now we have left the state. We have renounced all the things the world offers. . . . The gods of the nations are demons.”

– Justin The Martyr (a.d. 100–165)

“I threw down my arms for it was not seemly that a Christian man, who renders military service to the Lord Christ, should render it by earthly injuries… It is not lawful for a Christian to bear arms for any earthly consideration.”

– Marcellus Of Tangier (spoken as he left the army of Emperor Diocletian in a.d. 298)

“If anyone be a soldier or in authority, let him be taught not to oppress or to kill or to rob, or to be angry or to rage and afflict anyone. But let those rations suffice him which are given to him. But if they wish to be baptized in the Lord, let them cease from military service or from the [post of] authority, and if not let them not be received. Let a catechumen or a believer of the people, if he desire to be a soldier, either cease from his intention, or if not let him be rejected. For he hath despised God by his thought, and leaving the things of the Spirit, he hath perfected himself in the flesh and hath treated the faith with contempt.”

– The Testament Of Our Lord (anonymous author, 4th or 5th Century)

“A military man in authority must not execute men. If he is ordered, he must not carry it out. Nor must he take military oath. If he refuses, he shall be rejected. If someone is a military governor, or the ruler of a city who wears the purple, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. The catechumen or faithful who wants to become a soldier is to be rejected, for he has despised God.”

–Hippolytus, The Apostolic Traditions

There are also prominent historians of the early church who shed light on similar aspects of their beliefs:

“It was far from their imaginations to conceive it possible that Christianity should appropriate to itself the relations and offices of the state. The Christians stood aloof from the state, as a priestly and spiritual race, and Christianity seemed able to influence civil life only in that manner, which it must be confessed is the purest, by practically endeavoring to instill more and more of the holy feeling into the citizens of the state.”

– Neander

“Their (the Christians’) simplicity was offended by the use of oaths, by the pomp of magistracy, by the active contention of public life, nor could their humane ignorance be convinced that it was lawful on any occasion to shed the blood of our fellow creatures, either by the sword of justice or by that of war, even though their criminal attempts should threaten the peace and safety of the community.”

– Edward Gibbon, Vol. 1 p. 550

“The Christians felt and confessed that such institutions (human governments) might be necessary for the present system of the world, and they submitted to the authority of their pagan governors… This indolent or even criminal disregard of the public welfare, exposed them to the contempt and reproach of the pagans, who very frequently asked what must be the fate of the Empire, attacked on all sides by barbarians, if all mankind should adopt the pusillanimous sentiments of the new sect.”

– Edward Gibbon, Vol. 1 p. 552

“But while they inculcated the maxims of passive obedience, they refused to take any active part in the civil administration or military defense of the empire.”

– Edward Gibbon, Vol. 1 p. 557

“A sentence of death was executed on Maximilianus an African youth, who was produced by his father as a sufficient and legal recruit, but who obstinately persisted in declaring, that his conscience would not permit him to embrace the profession of a soldier… On the day of a public festival Marcellus a centurion threw away his belt, his arms, and the insignia of his office, and exclaimed with a loud voice, that he would obey none but Jesus Christ the eternal king, that he renounced forever the use of carnal weapons, and the service of an idolatrous master. He was condemned and beheaded for desertion.”

– Edward Gibbon, Vol. 2 p. 60

“The humble Christians were sent into this world, as sheep among wolves, and since they were not permitted to use force even in defense of their own religion, they should be still more criminal if they were tempted to shed the blood of their fellow-men in disputing the vain privileges or sordid possessions of this transitory life.”

– Edward Gibbon, Vol. 2 p. 255

“The Christians after the conversion of Constantine, still resorted to the tribunals of their church to decide their claims and pecuniary disputes.”

– Edward Gibbon, Vol. 2 p. 280

“Prior to the age of Luther, there lay concealed in almost every country of Europe, but especially in Bohemia, Moravia, Switzerland and Germany, very many persons, in whose minds was deeply rooted that principle which the Waldenses, the Wickliffites and the Hussites maintained, some more covertly, others more openly, namely, that the kingdom set up on earth or the visible church, is an assembly of holy persons, and ought therefore to be entirely free, not only from ungodly persons and sinner, but from all institutions of human device against sin.”

– Johann Lorenz Mosheim, Institutes of Ecclesiastical History, Ancient and Modern, vol. 3, p. 200

(on doctrines that were common for centuries before Luther)

“(1.) They should receive none into their church by the sacrament of baptism unless they are adults and have the full use of their reason.

(2. ) That they should not admit magistrates nor suffer their members to perform the functions of magistracy.

(3. ) That they should deny the justice of repelling force by force, or of waging war.

(4. ) That they should have strong aversion to all penalties and punishments, especially capital punishment.

(5.) It forbids their confirming anything by an oath.”

– Johann Lorenz Mosheim, Institutes of Ecclesiastical History, Ancient and Modern, vol. 3, p. 213

(270 A.D.) “Paul, bishop of Antioch, was tried by a council of bishops.” among the charges was “He accepted secular dignities, and chose rather to be considered a judge than a bishop.”

-Nathaniel Lardner, Vol. 2, p. 668

“We have seen that the party represented chiefly by Hub-Meyer, believed in government, paid all taxes and obeyed all ordinances that did not interfere with the free exercise of religion. But, as a magistrate must bind himself by civil oath and use the sword, they held that a Christian could not be a magistrate, because the apostles knew nothing of church taxes imposed by the state, held no office and took no part in war. They thought civil government was necessary for the wicked, but their foes either could or would not understand them.”

– Thomas Armitage, History of the Baptists, p. 355

“Denk whom haller calls the Appollo of the Anabaptists, says, “The Apostles treat earnestly that Christians must be subject to government. But they do not teach that they may be governors, for Paul says, ‘What have I to do to judge them that are without?’ He would have Christians withdraw from politics, and have unconverted men to wield the sword of the civil and military ruler as a thing entirely separate from the church.”

– Thomas Armitage, History of the Baptists, p. 356

For more resources we’d recommend looking into the allusions in this handy statement:

How Should We Then Live? Through Mere Christianity, through My Religion, weighing The Cost of Discipleship in The Symbolic World we live in. We live for The Lord of Spirits of the seen and The Unseen Realm. For Our Foundations, we will apply The Theology of Obedience On Civil Government and be a Sermon On The Mount by living out Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture and The Lord’s Teaching Through The Twelve Apostles To The Nations. We will live this Life Together and honor Jesus’ Primacy Over The Powers.