Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. - Romans 13:1
Christians down through the generations have asked questions about their allegiance to national leaders, particularly when the leaders have not represented a godly view of the world and, more particularly, have severely persecuted Christians. From the Romans to the World War II and Cold War eras with Germany and the Soviet Union, even to modern day with dictatorial regimes worldwide, the question is a good one. And no one handled it more accurately than the Apostle Paul, given the wisdom and power granted to Him by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Today many Christians around the world, including America, question the authority of the state to dictate actions that clearly violate their freedom of religion and their moral compass. While Christians try to leave each to his or her own free will, they cannot silently sit by when they are told to violate the teachings of Christ and their responsibility to live for him. So what should they do and what can they do and what are the ramifications thereof? These are some heady questions.
Well, we know that God's law is greater than man's, but God has given man authority to govern other men while expecting leaders to reflect His guidance and grace. When they don't, believers have the choice of submitting to man or honoring God and they have to be willing to suffer the consequences. And if that means going against the social order under which we find ourselves, we are expected to do so in a a non-violent way excepting the most extreme circumstances for remember, God expects us to love our neighbors, even those who might hate us. So here is where civil disobedience, sometimes called passive resistance, comes into play. And it has been done over the ages by Christians and other moral men who will not accept living under rules that are abhorrent to their concept of good living.
We'll talk about these things on our Sunday Morning Coming Down devotional this week. I hope you will tune in at your convenience for it will be available on demand when Sunday morning is coming down. Here's he link:
tobtr.com/s/7869561
God bless each and every one of you and have a blessed Lord's Day.
Christians down through the generations have asked questions about their allegiance to national leaders, particularly when the leaders have not represented a godly view of the world and, more particularly, have severely persecuted Christians. From the Romans to the World War II and Cold War eras with Germany and the Soviet Union, even to modern day with dictatorial regimes worldwide, the question is a good one. And no one handled it more accurately than the Apostle Paul, given the wisdom and power granted to Him by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Today many Christians around the world, including America, question the authority of the state to dictate actions that clearly violate their freedom of religion and their moral compass. While Christians try to leave each to his or her own free will, they cannot silently sit by when they are told to violate the teachings of Christ and their responsibility to live for him. So what should they do and what can they do and what are the ramifications thereof? These are some heady questions.
Well, we know that God's law is greater than man's, but God has given man authority to govern other men while expecting leaders to reflect His guidance and grace. When they don't, believers have the choice of submitting to man or honoring God and they have to be willing to suffer the consequences. And if that means going against the social order under which we find ourselves, we are expected to do so in a a non-violent way excepting the most extreme circumstances for remember, God expects us to love our neighbors, even those who might hate us. So here is where civil disobedience, sometimes called passive resistance, comes into play. And it has been done over the ages by Christians and other moral men who will not accept living under rules that are abhorrent to their concept of good living.
We'll talk about these things on our Sunday Morning Coming Down devotional this week. I hope you will tune in at your convenience for it will be available on demand when Sunday morning is coming down. Here's he link:
tobtr.com/s/7869561
God bless each and every one of you and have a blessed Lord's Day.
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