The Kingship of Jesus Over Human Politics and Societies

To enhance understanding and learning from both scientific and biblical viewpoints I often quote from sources that I believe accomplish that goal. I frequently use reports regarding research from evolutionary publications that refute the evolutionary philosophy and support the scientific truth of creation.

I am also unapologetic to quote from sources when they are biblically well reasoned and support the Divine Kingship of Jesus over ALL nations, governments, and civil societies.

I have recently been introduced to the writings of Cardinal Louis Édouard François Desiré Pie (1815 – 1880) the Bishop of Poitiers and the Benedictine Canon Étienne René François de Sales Catta (1901 - 1974), a specialist on the works of Cardinal Pie. Pie is best known for his opposition to modern errors and his championship of the rights of the Church.

I am certain there are doctrinal matters over which Cardinal Pie and I would not agree, but on the writings presented in this article there is no disagreement. Cardinal Pie’s observations on the roles of the Kingship of Jesus, the Creation, the Church, politics, and social issues are as on point and relevant now as they were at the time in which he wrote them during the reign of Napoleon III (Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 1808 – 1873).

Napoleon III was the first president of France from 1848 to 1852 (French Second Republic), and the last monarch of France as Emperor of the French from 1852 until 1870.

Cardinal Pie was a keen observer of the failures of human government and the reasons they failed. He was also able to back up his statements with the use of Scripture.

He addressed the age-old question of why ungodly people and nations despise Christianity and Christians with this succinct response:

“… the world’s aversion to Christianity is fully explained by the statement the demon made to Jesus: ‘I know you very well, and I know very well who you are - the Holy One of God. You have come to destroy us.’”

Concerning pietism and his explanation of Christ’s statement “My Kingdom is not of this world” Pie wrote:

“Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession.” Ps. 2:8

“Jesus Christ asked, and His Father gave to Him. And all things have been delivered to Him (Luke 10:22). God has made Him head and ruler of all things, says St. Paul (Eph. 1:22, Col. 2:10). And He made Him ruler without exception: ‘YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.’” Heb. 2:8

“His Kingdom certainly isn’t of this world - that is, it doesn’t owe its origin to this world: ‘Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.’” (John 18:36) This is because it comes from above and not below: ‘My kingdom is not of this realm,’ and thus no earthly hand can uproot it.”

Pie’s view on the universality of Christ’s reign:      

“St. Paul declared that God made His Son Jesus head of all things and, fearful lest someone might doubt the universality of this reign, the apostle adds that within this universal subjection nothing is excepted (Heb. 2:8). The nations were specifically promised Him as His inheritance (Ps. 2). Now the Son of God certainly hasn’t been defrauded of this glorious portion of what is due Him.”

There are those who promote the idea of the political neutrality of the clergy. There were bishops in the mid-1800s that openly taught that members of the clergy should be politically indifferent: an easy-going, nonconfrontational, “can’t we all get along here”, compromising kind of religious attitude that wouldn’t offend the government nor upset society.

Pie was quick to assert the danger that such compromises would lead to. He wrote:

“The doctrine of political indifference or neutrality will never be anything but a hollow expression. Whoever wears themselves out telling you that he has no political opinion and that it’s best not to have any, rarely ends his discourse without demonstrating that he does indeed have one - a wicked one - and that he desires to make you share it.”

Such a statement is reminiscent of the one made by the Greek General and philosopher Pericles (495 BC - 429 BC), “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you.”

The French citizenry had started to become atheistic in the 1700s because of the influence of six men: Montesquieu, de Maillet, Maupertuis, Diderot, Buffon, and Lamarck. Their influence helped to foster The French Revolution. Later, the popularity of socialism would lead to the Revolution of 1848.

Cardinal Pie responded with:

“Placed between a people who are misled and who don't desire to do wrong and a group who are for the most part her adversaries, the Church, as always, continues to fulfill her duty. The matter at hand is private property. Now, the principle of private property is one of the positive teachings of revealed religion. The Church mustn’t vacillate between her popularity and her conscience. By her words and works, she labors for the protection of private property. It isn’t lawful for her to govern herself according to her desires and distastes, or even according to the rules of the human mind and the expectation of what might happen in the future. She is invariably bound above all and always to uphold divine Law, and divine Law intends to protect all the rights of all - even those of the men who deny or battle against it. The comfortable dogma of political neutrality has never found its application here.” [Emphasis added]

Expounding on the formation of civil government

Pie wrote:

“Beyond doubt, Jesus Christ never dictated to Christian nations the form of their political constitution or makeup. He gave a divine constitution to His Church; and though this constitution can become a pattern for a truly legitimate human constitution, it is in no way an obligatory pattern. The best political constitution of a people is that which best answers their character, natures, needs, and its own purpose and mission in the world. In this matter different times, wills, and above all the passions of men can often bring about and necessitate changes. Within every form of government there is a human element subject to earthy vicissitudes. Under the law of the Old covenant, God Himself had regard to the untutored and poorly-taught nature of His people with His consent, a better and nobler order replaced a less free and less perfect government.”

“But no matter what form human governments assume, one essential condition must instinctively impose itself upon them all – which is their subordination to divine Law. God’s ownership of and authority over peoples is no less absolute than His ownership of and authority over individuals; His rights extend over collective souls as well as over individual existences. Every nation is a moral person; consequently, it is unable to avoid giving to its acts moral value which consists in their conformity to the Law of God.”

“Now, my dearest brethren, isn’t it true that the great effort of the human mind, particularly since the past century, has tended to establish (not only in fact but also in principle and in law) the independence of human society with respect to every revealed law and every positive religion? Without speaking of more advanced systems and more radical theories, isn’t it a generally-held axiom that the civil government can and must remain rationalist, that the act of faith and religion is outside its sphere, and that it has no other obligation in this matter besides non-participation and neutrality? . . .”

“Alas! My dearest brethren, our way is lost like a vain sound vanishing in the air, . . . The guides and the oracles of the peoples obstinately insist on saying to God that sentence which is as foolhardy as it is ungodly: ‘They say to God, “Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.”’ (Job 21:14). And thus God, wearied by their contempt, has taken them at their word.”

The US Constitution did declare that the State had no control over religion, but that religion was to direct the State. While no religion was to be excluded, it was the Christian religion that was used as the basis for the law of the land.

Consider these deeply insightful words of a Founding Father, John Adams:

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Adams, Charles Francis Adams (1854). “Works: with a life of the author”, p.229

“Power always thinks... that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws.”             The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams. 1812-1826

“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” [Emphasis added] Letter from John Adams to John Taylor, April 15, 1814

“There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt.”

I think that we can agree that Adams and Cardinal Pie could have just as easily written their observations today. Surely, our governments no longer recognize divine law. Governments have become irrational: promoting over 100 genders, promoting open borders, promoting no bond bail, spending by simply printing money, etc.

The suffering of the people that is happening today is the natural consequence of people no longer taking God at His word. They no longer want to know His Word. Satan has blinded them and they have become so secularized that they act irrationally. 

Cardinal Pie was writing in his time (1849-1880) with a French mindset, and in the translation to English his intent might possibly be misunderstood. He equated “freedom” with “liberty”. On this point I would disagree for the sake of a modern context, although for him it might simply be semantics.

What is the difference between the two words? Consider a person released from prison. Once released, they are experiencing freedom, they are no longer confined. But freedom may go in one of two directions. Freedom from authority leads to anarchy and sin. Freedom with discipline leads to liberty and the exercise of Christian self-governance. It was freedom with discipline (“obedience and submission”) that was spoken of by Paul and modeled for us in the life of Jesus.

Cardinal Pie was writing after the American Civil War. He was a serious student of Church History along with the histories of the American and French Revolutions. In his writings he echoes ideals found within the founding documents of the United States. He reflections are as needed today as they were when he wrote them.

“During [the first] three centuries you behold this first crusade of Christianity against the domination of brute force. The Caesars discovered a new resistance within the consciences of their subjects. Rather than bend the knee before gods of flesh or earth, Christians spilled their blood to the very last drop. This was a period of passive resistance during which the cross of Jesus was engraved on the bodies of the martyrs by the sword of their executioners.”                             

“But soon the face of the world changed. New people arose whom the Church marked from their birth with the sign of the cross, baptized with the baptism of water and the Spirit. Then Christianity entered into a new phase. No longer was it a stranger suddenly arriving on the scene of an old idolatrous society; it was a citizen, a child in the midst of its own country and family.”                

“These new people wore the cross on their standard; the religion of Jesus Christ was their national religion; the Gospel formed the foundation of their constitution. Woe to the barbarous people who insulted the banner under whose shade the Christian nations assembled together!”               

“Though they served God in spirit and in truth, they were armed with the sword no less, and they knew how to defend what every nation has always defended: they knew how to battle for their altars and their homes, to protect their faith and save their independence.”

“For three centuries Christians knew no other response (and couldn't know any other response) than to offer their neck to the sword, but today Christians take up the sword and martyrs have become soldiers because they are a nation and a people, and every nation and people have always armed themselves to defend their religion and their homeland.”

In the Western World, Europe, North and South America, a world that used to be called “Christian”, complacency and apathy have become the norm. As Christianity spread across the West it became dominant for a time. This dominance caused great prosperity for all the people.

But what happened? Once having fought to reach the top of the hill, Christians were tired and decided to get some rest and sleep. Next, non-citizens of the Kingdom infiltrated the Christian realm and brought with them their false religions, perverse evil dehumanizing laws, and enforced slavery to their religious teachings and government.

What then is the role of the Church in society?

“By creating nations and people, by raising up kings and princes and rulers and magistrates among them, God in no way intended to relinquish His supreme authority or to renounce His rights over the creation that issued from His hands.”

This statement by Pie is consistent with the Creation Mandate given by God in Genesis Chapter 1.

“To say that Jesus Christ is the God of individuals and families and not the God of peoples and societies is to say that He is not God. To say that Christianity is the law of the individual man and not the law of the collective man is to say that Christianity is not divine. To say that the Church is the judge of private and personal morality but that it has nothing to do with public and political morality is to say that the Church is not a divine institution.” [Emphasis added] Etienne Catta, La doctrine politique et sociale du Cardinal Pie (Nouvelle Editions Latines, Paris, 1991 [1957]), P. 9.]

What is the principal crime of mankind that causes the loss of Christian values in our societies?

“The main error, the capital crime of this century [mid-1850] is the pretension of withdrawing public society from the government and the law of God. …The principle laid at the basis of the whole modern social structure is atheism of the law and of the institutions. Let it be disguised under the names of abstention, neutrality, incompetence or even equal protection, let us even go to the length of denying it by some legislative dispositions for details or by accidental and secondary acts: the principle of the emancipation of the human society from the religious order remains at the bottom of things; it is the essence of what is called the new era.” [Emphasis added] (Cardinal Pie, Pastoral Works, vol. Vil, pp. 3, 100)

Jesus Christ is the King over all the creation, but He uses humans to administrate His government on earth. Before the Flood, God dealt directly with criminals, such as Cain or Lamech; but, after the Flood, He empowers people to deal with criminals in His stead. This transfer of power from the direct governance of God over people to His indirect administration by humans was decreed in Genesis 9:6. “Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.” [Emphasis added]

Cardinal Pie wrote about this fact in an eloquent way:

“Jesus Christ has been constituted the King of kings. Yes - and the true glory, the true nobility of kings, ever since the preaching of the Gospel, has consisted in being the lieutenants of Jesus Christ on earth. Has the greatness of kings been diminished by the crosses glittering atop their diadems? Have their thrones been less renowned or less secure on account of their kingship being recognized as an emanation of, and participation in, the kingship of Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is King, and the true dignity, the true liberty, the true emancipation of modern nations lies in their right to be governed in a Christian manner. Have such nations fallen short of their glory? Has their fate been less noble, less happy on account of their ruling scepters being bound to submit to the scepter of Jesus?” [Emphasis added]

“Let it be repeated, brethren: Christianity does not reach its full development, its full maturity, where it does not take on a social character. … When the Christianity of a country is reduced to the bare proportions of the domestic life, when Christianity is no longer the soul of public life, of public power, of public institutions, then Jesus Christ deals with this country in the manner he is there dealt with. He continues to give his grace and his blessings to the individuals who serve him, but he abandons the institutions, the powers which do not serve him; and the institutions, the kings, the nations become like shifting sand in the desert, they fall away like the autumn leaves which are gone with the wind.” [Emphasis added] (Cardinal Pie, Works, vol. II, pp. 259–60)

“The main error, the capital crime of this century is the pretension of withdrawing public society from the government and the law of God. ... The principle laid at the basis of the whole modern social structure is atheism of the law and of the institutions. Let it be disguised under the names of abstention, neutrality, incompetence or even equal protection, let us even go to the length of denying it by some legislative dispositions for details or by accidental and secondary acts: the principle of the emancipation of the human society from the religious order remains at the bottom of things; it is the essence of what is called the new era.” [Emphasis added] (Cardinal Pie, Pastoral Works, vol. VII, pp. 3, 100)

RESTORE ALL THINGS IN JESUS CHRIST

“What characterizes the modern age is that, by a division and an opposition more distinct than other time, the world has been separated into two parts: God's part and man's part - or, if you prefer it, the prideful, arrogant spirit of man which drives him. …”

“If you ask who I am, to which part I belong, I'll respond without hesitation, ‘I am, and I will be among you a man of God; I give my allegiance, and I will always give my allegiance to God's side; I will devote all my efforts, I will dedicate my entire life to the service of the divine cause. And if I must employ a watchword, it would be this: Instaurare omnia in Christo: Restore all things in Jesus Christ. …’” [Emphasis added]

...

“To restore all things under the legitimate rule of God, of Jesus Christ, and of the Church, to wage war in every place against the sacrilegious substitution of man for God - which is the capital crime of our modern times - such is the mission that I must pursue among you to the extent of my ability.” [Emphasis added] [Etienne Catta, Saint Hilaire el le Cardinal Pie (Les Editions du Cedre, Paris, 1970), pp. 11-14.

A challenge for all of us today is whether we are willing, are we committed to do, do we have the determination, to do the same thing? Or, has the salt lost it savor? May each of us draw up within us any savor that we may have lost and go boldly forward to retore Jesus Christ within our nations.

RELIGIOUS NEUTRALITY

More and more, the Elites on the Left promote the idea that religion and government are two different realms and neither the two shall meet. They dogmatically state the there is a wall of separation between Church and State. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Throughout history, in every century, religion was the overriding, the superior guiding mechanism, to the government. It was the religious entity of a society that crowned and gave authority to the head of government. It does not matter whether it was ancient Egypt or medieval Europe, it was the religious leaders that crowned the monarch. It was not until the rise of modern atheism that men like Napolean, would crown himself.

Cardinal Pie wrote: “The Lord taught us that no hope of salvation can be brought to the world by those who, in the full light of the evangelical era, and after the coming of Jesus on the earth, withdraw and shrink from the faith as if Jesus were absent. …”

Cardinal Pie was writing 150 years ago about the turmoil within France and the human condition in general, but his clear sight of human politics and what our response to it today should be is as valid now as it was then.