But his active public participation in law enforcement runs counter to the pacifist strain often found in Restoration Movement thought. To ground his work in the teachings of the Bible, John cites cases from the New Testament where Christians seemed to legitimize the political system. He refers to Paul’s dependence on Roman jurisprudence in his appeal to Caesar, and Cornelius, a military officer portrayed as an exemplary convert to the faith. While the New Testament prioritizes allegiance to God over civil obedience when the two conflict, it is not accurate to say that “Because it’s government it’s bad,” John argues.