During his lifetime, John Knox experienced difficult and challenging times. He also wrote extensively on the issues of his day. One of those issues that remains timely, concerns identifying the limitations of authority. How far are we obligated to follow authority? As Christians are we obligated to blindly follow authority (government) blindly, solely because they are an authority?

In dealing with these questions, he confronted the authorities of his day face to face. His answers shook Scotland and the world. His work led to the independence of Scotland, both politically and spiritually. What better example is there for our continued struggle with independence?

Following is one of his speeches, that was difficult to obtain. On reading it, the power of his argument continues reverberating to this day.

"If princes exceed their bounds, madam, no doubt they may be resisted, even by power. For no greater power is to be given to kings and princes than God has commanded to be given to father and mother. But the father may be struck with a frenzy in which he would slay his children. Now, madam, if the children arise , join together, apprehend the father, take the sword from him, bind his hands and keep him in prison till the frenzy be over, think you, madam, that the children do any wrong? Even so, madam, it is with princes that would murder the children of God that are subject unto them"

The parallels are striking. When in our day, the government routinely overrides the authority of parents, dictating how they raise and what they teach their children, when they hamstring churches through tax laws that limit what is said in the pulpit, when they engage in unjust wars, where the blood of our sons and daughters are spilled on foreign shores happens on a daily basis. This same government has debased our money, stealing its value before our eyes, it has defied and canceled out laws passed by the sovereign peoples of Texas and our fellow Southron States including those regarding abortion and unlawful practices, and has forced regulations and undue regulation on its citizens. These are clear evidence that government has exceeded it bounds, and is in a frenzy to kill its children. Such power is in need of restraint. Scotland rose to restrain the tyrant then, Dixie needs to rise and restrain the tyrant now. Consider John Knox’s words then and now. His words were true in his time, and they have not ceased being so. They are as true today as they were in the 1500’s. Just because his words are nto fashionable, it does not mean they are no longer valid.

Free Dixie, Not Iraq!

JM

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