Christians concerned about speaking out publicly about a
corrupt government NEED to read this post by Bob Livingston. Mr. Livingston
very effectively contrasts and balances the concept of making a difference in
government when the Bible also tells us to be subject to those in authority
because earthly authority exists to thwart evil and protect community peace.
JRH 6/19/17
******************
The Christian’s relationship to U.S. government
Posted on June 19,
2017
“We must obey God rather than men…”
And
thus spoke the Peter the apostle to the council, (Luke 5:29 NASB) in response
to the high priest’s questioning about why he and the apostles were teaching
Christ in the temple in defiance of the council’s instruction the day after an
angel of the Lord released them from their prison.
And
that’s the example the Christian must follow.
But
in Romans 13, Paul tells us that we must be in subjection to the governing
authorities.
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing
authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist
are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the
ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon
themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil.
Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have
praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you
do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it
is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices
evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath,
but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for
rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to
all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to
whom fear; honor to whom honor. Romans 13:1-7 (NASB)
Some
of our more conservative brethren would tell us that there is little we can or
should do or say in response to an abusive government because it is
“established by God.” In fact, I know many of our conservative brothers and
sisters who don’t even bother to follow politics at all or even vote,
preferring instead to be content with being “in subjection.”
I
have even seen some claim that if we so much as question the authority of our
“leaders” or point out the corruptions of the politicians and government
institutions that we are engaging in a spirit of rebellion; and not just
rebellion against earthly authorities but against God. But is it? If we write
or speak about corrupt government institutions, politicians or bureaucrats, are
we acting contrary to God’s word in Romans 13?
To
be a Christian, we are to be like Christ. In Matthew 23, Christ told His
disciples that the scribes and Pharisees had seated themselves in Moses’ chair
(had taken for themselves Moses’ authority) and they (the disciples) were to do
what the rulers told them to do, but not do as the scribes and Pharisees did,
because they were hypocrites. The scribes and Pharisees claimed to follow the
law and held the people to the law but did not follow it themselves.
That
sounds very much like the political class of today who walking the halls of
power in the District of Criminal and in most state capitols.
Then
Jesus called out the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites in the eight “woes” he
uttered as recorded in verses 13 through 29, pointing out their wrongdoing.
The
Apostle Paul was imprisoned, stoned, beaten and left for dead for obeying God
rather than man. In Acts 22 we read that after Paul was seized in Jerusalem
because he “preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and
this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has
defiled this holy place (Acts 21:28 NASB),” he was taken away by Roman guards
at the direction of the Jews and stretched out with thongs so as to be
scourged. The text reads:
But when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul
said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a
man who is a Roman and uncondemned?” When the centurion heard this, he went to
the commander and told him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is
a Roman.” The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And
he said, “Yes.” The commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a
large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.”
Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him; and
the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and
because he had put him in chains. Acts 22:25-29 (NASB)
What
Paul did here was to invoke his rights as a citizen. He did so again in Acts
25:11 when he appealed to Caesar over his imprisonment, defying the Jewish
ruling authorities, who he believed he had not wronged.
So
clearly our example in Scripture is we can use the legal rights available to us
under the laws.
Now
back to Romans 13. America’s is designed as a citizen-oriented representative
government, not a monarchy or dictatorship. The Constitution was created as
chains to bind men’s powers. Every politician in America swears an oath to
abide by it. The powers they have they get from the Constitution.
So
understanding Romans 13 in context of American government we should read Romans
13 this way, as Chuck Baldwin has
pointed out:
Every person is to be in subjection to the [U.S.
Constitution]. For there is no [Constitution] except from God, and [it is]
established by God. Therefore whoever resists [the Constitution] has opposed
the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed [the Constitution] will receive
condemnation upon themselves. For [the Constitution is] not a cause of fear for
good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of [the Constitution]?
Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for [the Constitution]
is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid;
for [the Constitution] does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a
minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
Therefore [the Constitution] is necessary to be in subjection, not only because
of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay
taxes, for [the Constitution is a servant] of God, devoting [itself] to this
very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to
whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Romans 13:1-7 (NASB)
The
1st Amendment protects (to some extent) our freedom to engage
in speech and to petition government for redress of grievances. When we point
out in speech or writing the corrupt nature of politicians and government
institutions, and how they have exceeded the authority granted them under the
Constitution, we are doing no more than Christ did when he called out the
scribes and Pharisees, and no more than Paul did when he invoked his rights as
a Roman citizen under Roman law.
So
we can be politically active and not be in violation of God’s law. Telling our
friends and neighbors that our institutions and politicians are corrupt is not
a violation of God’s law. Guaranteeing our ability to inform others of the
government’s transgressions so they can petition their representatives
intelligently is precisely one of the 1st Amendment’s purposes. Engaging in
political discourse or pointing out corruption is neither a violation of man’s
law nor God’s. And we are to obey the law whether the “leaders” do so or not,
as Christ told his disciples.
But
we should also remember Paul’s admonition in Titus 3:2-5.
“…to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing
every consideration for all men. For we also once were foolish
ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts
and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating
one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love
for mankind appeared, He saved us…”
________________
Bob Livingston founder of Personal Liberty Digest™, is an ultra-conservative American author and editor of The Bob Livingston Letter™, in
circulation since 1969. Bob has devoted much of his life to research and the
quest for truth on a variety of subjects. Bob specializes in health issues such
as nutritional supplements and alternatives to drugs, as well as issues of
privacy (both personal and financial), asset protection and the preservation of
freedom.
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