The Christian and the Magistrate: Roles, Responsibilities, and Jurisdictions

by Pierre Viret, R.A. Sheats (Translator)

What is the Biblical definition of a civil magistrate? Should Christians be subject to them? Should civil governments be subject to God? Is physical resistance to authority ever justifiable? Under what circumstances? And what is a Christian's role with respect to the civil sphere? 16th century Swiss Reformer Pierre Viret once expressed his feelings of political "By nature I have always loved peace, and was always horrified at all dissensions and troubles." Despite the man's peace-loving nature, however, God chose to place Viret in some of the most politically tumultuous situations imaginable throughout his life. In these times Viret was compelled to search the Scriptures in an effort to instruct his congregations-as well as countless others asking his advice-on the Biblical definition and response to civil government, war, resistance against authorities, tyrants, and many other political matters. The writings contained in The Christian and the Magistrate are a collection of some of the applications Viret offered of the Biblical truths pertaining to magistrates and the Christian's duty to them.

Genres: Theology

131 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2015

About the author

Pierre Viret (entre 1509 et 1511 - 1571) est un théologue réformateur suisse et une figure importante de la Réforme protestante,

Pierre Viret (1511 – 1571) was a Swiss Reformed theologian and an important figure in the Protestant Reformation.

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb. Viret covers in a short compass every facet of the Christian's relation to the civil magistrate. We should honor magistrates as fathers; obey them as far as possible; pray for them; use existing laws to protect our liberty where possible; remember the spiritual nature of church power. Magistrates are to guard both tables of the law; ministers ought to instruct magistrates their duty according to God's law. A lesser magistrate is necessary to interpose between the people and an ungodly ruler.

[Joshua Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very timely for Christians today and, unfortunately, in the days to come. Viret lived through times that Christians in America have never really experienced in our country's entire history - direct and concentrated persecution coming from the civil magistrates, as well as armed rebellions specifically centered around religious issues.

One thing that really stood out to me is how he talked about how if Christians have a civil magistrate who is persecuting them for their faith, and there is no God ordained lesser magistrate to lead resistance to him, then they should view that as part of God's sovereign plan and accept the persecution, knowing that God could provide the leader if He so desired. Now I think I may argue for a definition of lesser magistrate that's a bit broader than his (and that is something that I wish had been covered in more detail), but none the less the situation that he describes still could certainly happen, particularly where Christians don't make up even a sizable minority.

Viret was writing in a very different cultural context than modern conservative America. He doesn't spend time talking about God given rights that men posses. Although I think that there may be something to those doctrines that he may have been missing, that might make him all the more valuable to point us back to scripture, rather than our socially or politically learned principles.

This book is a collection of sections from several of his writings, and as such it is not entirely cohesive. I'd suggest you think of this as food for thought rather than a comprehensive approach to the subject.

[Drew Chrisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book comes at high regard in my opinion. Written by a close friend of John Calvin, a man whose experience with tyranny and violent governments is first hand, Viret ought to be more of a household name as I believe he stands with other great men like Knox and Rutherford. Needless to say, it is not Viret to be praised, but God, and Viret makes it very clear in his teachings here that the Word of God is the ultimate law for which to base every decision on. I feel like his work is absolutely relevant to everyone. He leaves very few stones, if any, unturned through Biblical example to weave an examination of heroes of faith and the nuances of their situations with regards to governing authorities and magistrates. Through it all, I found it a hard analysis to disagree with. A must-read for the Christian seeking to be elected to public office.

[Ryan Jankowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some good things here to consider for sure, but there are some essential elements for a subject like this that I found lacking - the most important of which is *what* the defining parameters are of a legitimate magistracy, or what happens when magistrates contradict each other. Whom are you to obey? If magistrates are corrupt, is their a higher magisterial authority in which to appeal? Calvin had his doctrine of lesser magistrates - which may appeal as one arbitrary solution, but I'm not sure how one can be dogmatic with such proposed solutions.

[Justin Lyttle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good and balanced approach to dealing with issues related to magistrates, and the magistrates responsibility toward God and those under his rule. It’s a short volume that I think would work well to more tedious and complex works on the relation of church and state.

[David Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a shame that more Christians aren’t familiar with Viret. We’d be in a lot better shape.