[This is part 8 in a series on allegiance to God alone. See part one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, nine]

Leaving Egypt Ministries, Obadiah D. Morris

We have already argued that Christians must pledge allegiance to God, not human government. To go further, the Christian identity itself demands allegiance to God’s kingdom and a rejection of worldly powers. Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as a “Christian American” or “Christian statist.” Those who identify as citizens of worldly-human governments or who proudly support these political systems are betraying their loyalty to God. They are not true Christians, but rather Egyptians, Romans, Babylonians, or Americans.

Though this is seen as controversial by many, to claim the Christian title does not automatically mean that one is a servant of Christ. A person’s beliefs and actions are far more important than a mere verbal profession. The true character of an individual is better revealed by their deeds than by their lip-service.

One critical area where this is important is whether men are still entertaining the kingdoms of this world or if they have forsaken them. We often see that many who call themselves Christians are animated by a worldly, statist philosophy rather than the leading of the Holy Spirit, which calls us away from the institutions and lies of this world. Anyone caught up in patriotism, political involvement, or the ideology of statism is ultimately serving the ideologies and ways of the world and is in need of repentance.

There is no reason to automatically accept a person’s claim to be a servant of Christ as genuine, simply because it came from their mouth. Many individuals who have committed despicable acts of tyranny and violence, such as George W. Bush, have falsely claimed to be Christians while bombing innocent children or expanding domestic surveillance programs to oppress the populations they seek to control. (Even worse, Bush made things worse for Christians in countries like Iraq).

The true measure of a person’s faith lies not in what they profess, but in how they act and what they believe. As we have argued, any lingering allegiance to earthly kingdoms is a clear sign that one is not a truly repentant kingdom-seeking Christian. The gospel of God’s Kingdom is not just the watered-down “gospel” that most have reduced it to — a mere recitation of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension. Rather, it is a radical political message, presenting an alternative to the world’s systems of power and control. The gospel message is about the liberation of men from the kingdoms of men. Those who do not truly believe this message, yet still pursue the very violent, statist methods of the kingdoms which we seek salvation from, cannot rightly be called Christians. They have failed to heed the Lord’s instruction to be anarchists and abandon the statist model of social organization (Mark 10:42-43). They are still bought into the gospel of Rome. 

The notion that true Christians must abstain from worldly political affairs—whether as a voter, servant of the State, or one who possesses the statist ideology—is a unfortunately a contentious claim. Many believe that simply professing to be a Christian is enough, even if one continues to engage in unethical or immoral activities that are bound up with man’s political kingdoms. They argue that a person can still be considered a Christian while working as a government agent, law enforcement officer, or tax collector — essentially serving the very kingdoms of this world that true Christians must reject and leave behind. Since a verbal profession is all that matters in their view, they see no issue with being a chariot-operator or horseman on Pharaoh’s payroll. “He says he’s a Christian.”

Many so-called Christians believe there’s nothing more they must do than to confess that they are Christians. They believe they can continue in their old ways and that they are covered by the verbal professions, that they have nothing else to repent from and change. In one personal experience, I called a state trooper to repent from his job robbing God’s children and serve the Lord again, to which he replied, “I’m saved.” In another instance, I called a town police officer to stop serving man’s law and serve the Lord, to which he replied, “I go to church every Sunday.” This is the thinking of many men who cling to the world and claim Christ while doing so.

Since many men don’t want to change their ways and worldviews, most people who consider themselves Christians are uneasy with such a submission that one cannot really be a Christian while serving the interests of worldly kingdoms. They believe that simply professing oneself a Christian should be sufficient to be considered as such, often retorting “who are you to judge them?” or “only God knows their heart.” However, this excuse fails to acknowledge a discrepancy between one’s professions of faith and one’s actions.

False converts

Though many men think we should take everyone’s word for it, scripture doesn’t put us in the position of accepting men as followers of Christ merely because they claim to be one. We are not forced into accepting verbal professions or outward displays of faith, such as wearing a cross necklace (something popular among pagans anyway). Such outward displays cannot cover up a man who, in his heart, is still fond of the kingdoms of this world (which generally manifest in things like flags and political lawn signs anyway). God knows a man’s heart. “I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve” (Jeremiah 17:10). 

Jesus recognized that many of his purported followers were insincere. For example, those who teach ideologies and traditions of the world (such as statism) instead of the teachings of the Lord. He had no trouble calling out false followers. As he said, 

“They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men” (Matthew 15:9). 

Those professing Christians of the world who preach the worldly philosophy of statism and tell men to bow to political gods as their masters are false prophets that are preaching another doctrine than that given to us by the Lord. There is no Biblical reason that we should accept that all men who call themselves Christians are truly in Christ, and advocating a statist ideology is a primary way of identifying false converts who actually buy into another religion. This devotion to earthly kingdoms directly opposes the gospel of God’s Kingdom that Christ inaugurated (Mark 1:15), preached (Luke 4:43), and called us to seek (Matt 6:33). Differences in political theology are much less tolerable than, say, different eschatological perspectives. True Christians cannot advocate for the kingdoms of this world, but must recognize themselves as being part of another kingdom altogether. 

It is easy to see why men often resist the notion that devotion to worldly power and possessions disqualifies them as authentic Christians. They don’t want to change their ways and renounce such worldly allegiances and idolatries that they have always been caught up in, and so they stubbornly cling to their unrepentant worldview and service to these kingdoms by insisting that a mere profession of faith is sufficient to be considered a true believer.

However, scripture supports the idea of many false confessors, who are known by their contradictory actions. We are not told to simply accept men at their word, but rather to be on the lookout for the worldly spirit of Egypt, even among those who profess to be Christians. Scripture calls us to be discerning of those who come in God’s name, for not all are truly His.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

All throughout the New Testament especially are we warned to watch out for false prophets and other deceivers who claim to be men of God (Matt 7:15, 10:17, 23:23; Acts 20:29-30; 2 Cor 11:3-4; Eph 5:6; ; Gal 1:6-9; 2 Tim 3:13, 4:3-4; 2 Thess 2:3; 1 John 2:26). There is no necessary reason that one must think “he’s the pastor at XYZ church, of course he’s a Christian.”

Merely claiming to be a “Christian,” attending church, or standing in a pulpit does not necessarily prove that someone is a true follower of Christ, i.e., one who obeys Christ’s commandments. (If anything, it is a sign that they don’t know the first thing about Christ, who came to liberate men from the dominion of men, not have them sit in building and sing songs with others). We have to look beyond the mere words of men. This is why Jesus teaches that “by their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:20).

Jesus Himself didn’t think professions of faith were sufficient proof of being one of His followers. As He went on, 

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23). 

Jesus is unimpressed by those who merely profess to be His followers but have no intention of heeding His teachings. “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ yet do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). Can anyone truly be a friend of Jesus if they do not seek God’s kingdom and turn away from worldly systems as He instructed? “You are My friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14). Jesus makes clear that those who know Him and hear His words must act on them (Matt 7:24). James conveys the same message, which many Christians seem reluctant to accept: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). Paul reaffirms this principle: “For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be declared righteous” (Romans 2:13).

Mere profession of Christianity does not prove one’s faith. Rather, obedience to Jesus’ commands demonstrates true love for the Lord. As Jesus said, “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me” (John 14:21). If someone has other gods, like politicians or presidents, before God, can they truly be considered a person of faith? Can one support political systems, which are founded on principles that contradict God’s commands against theft and murder, and still be called a Christian?

This theme in the Old Testament

The Old Testament is likewise filled with examples of those who falsely claim to be godly men. Many profess a message from the Lord, but it is not (Ezek 13:6-9). There are teachers sent to lead people astray with their words (Micah 3:5-7). Others claim to know God and hear His voice, but do not practice His teachings, instead plundering their fellow man for a living (Ezek 33:31). These are people who honor God with their lips, but whose hearts are far from Him (Isa 29:13) — those who call themselves Christians but do not live accordingly.

While many professing Christians have been taught to object to the idea of judging others, it’s reasonable to observe that the world contains many who claim the Christian faith but do not truly know the Lord, such as those who champion political violence. The prophets of old leveled similar accusations against those who professed belief in God yet continued in evil ways. They didn’t maintain a rigid idea that all professions are genuine. “Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ they are swearing falsely” (Jeremiah 5:2). Similarly, some may profess faith in God while placing their trust in earthly powers, a contradiction that undermines their claim to genuine belief.

Allegiance to God alone

We are not called to just take a man’s word for it or accept things the way they are. It is reasonable to question whether those who publicly profess to be Christian while embracing a “God bless America” ideology truly embody Christian values and teachings.

Can a man prostitute himself out to the kingdoms of this world, i.e., wave an American flag from his home and vote for a new Caesar to rule over him, and still be considered a Christian because he goes to church or something like that? 

God’s teachings emphasize that those who know Him are truly repentant and have turned away from their former ways, not merely those who profess His name in vain. True Christians have rejected the “political gods” of this world and do not mix “God and country,” Christ and Caesar, Jerusalem and Rome. They know the difference between the holy and the profane and do not call evil good and good evil. God’s people have turned from the ways of the world that they were once ensnared to. 

“Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’? Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Yes, I too have seen it, declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 7:9-11).  

Knowing men by their fruit

As we see, even the Bible tells us it is more important to examine and man’s actions and character rather than take his verbal profession of Christianity to be insufficient proof he seeks to serve the Lord. There are actions that disqualify a man from being considered a Christian and negate any claims to being one. Those who publicly align themselves with worldly powers, promote political agendas, or work in governmental positions that exploit God’s people, for instance, cannot be considered true Christians — regardless of outward symbols or slogans. It doesn’t matter how much one carves or paints “In God We Trust” on their predatory vehicles or houses of extortion, government police and government courts act as enemies of God. 

The typical response that “you don’t know his heart” when we point out the ungodly behavior of many professing Christians is more or less anticipated by scripture. As the Bible states, there are many men who “profess to know God, but they deny Him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed” (Titus 1:16). Many claim faith in God, yet their actions contradict their verbal professions. They may write “In God We Trust” on their police cars, but their daily work involves extracting revenue for the kingdoms of this world, rather than acting justly. They “swear by the name of the LORD and invoke the God of Israel—but not in truth or righteousness” (Isaiah 48:1). Though they invoke the name of the Lord, they have not abandoned their jobs plundering their neighbors and brothers. They are hypocrites. They say one thing, and do another. 

Questioning the authenticity of someone who claims to be a Christian while actively furthering worldly agendas should not be controversial. History is replete with individuals who have vainly invoked the name of God while living in disobedience to Him (Jer 44:26; Hos 4:15). This is why scripture speaks of using God’s name in vain, because clearly not all who use it are serious. It is easy enough to utter “I’m a Christian” as one commits acts of violence or upholds unjust political systems. Surely many of the tyrants in blue wear cross necklaces and attend churches right before they empty a magazine in someone who is traveling without a license plate from Caesar’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Are we to say he is a “Christian” man? Only if we don’t mean anything by the term and regard it as a meaningless label that carries with it no moral obligations or codes of conduct.

What truly matters is how one’s faith is reflected in their actions. True followers of Christ would decidedly refrain from taking on taxpayer-funded occupations like policing, military service, tax collection, or having anything to do with man’s kingdoms whatsoever.

Conclusion

Many Christians have embraced a culture of “niceism,” accepting people’s words at face value and avoiding speaking the truth if it might offend another. However, we can safely submit that “actions speak louder than words” is a Biblical principle. A person’s true character is revealed through their deeds and the ideas they actually hold to, not merely their willingness to slap a label on themselves. It is the fruit that a man bears that is more important. We are not called to blindly accept the self-proclaimed “Christian” labels or political philosophies of figures like George Bush or Hitler, but rather discern the truth by examining their actual conduct.

True Christianity demands more than mere lip service; it necessitates genuine faith in Jesus Christ, a life transformed, and obedience to God. A person cannot simply profess to be a Christian and then remain idle or, even worse, actively work to further the worldly kingdoms. Rather, they must be an active servant striving to advance the gospel of God’s Kingdom. As Scripture states, “Faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead” (James 2:17).

Many self-proclaimed Christians will resist this idea of questioning one’s verbal professions, often because they are mere nominal believers or insincere converts themselves. No one wants to be told they aren’t Christ-like at all when they have devoted their whole lives, careers, and worldview on serving the kingdoms of men as badged officers or enlisted soldiers. 

However, a simple profession of faith alone falls short of the biblical standard for authentic Christianity. True faith necessitates a transformative change in a person. As Jesus declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3).