Authority - How Do We Deal With It

I love the Word of God. I look forward every morning to my time in Bible study. I try and make it the first priority of the day, for if God has chosen to bless me with another day, the least I can do is spend time with Him and make Him first in my heart. And I am committed to reading the Bible from beginning to end, in a complete cycle that goes on over and over.

But as much as I love God’s Word, I struggle to obey it. I agree it’s right. I believe it’s true. I believe I am supposed to obey it. But every now and then I come across things in it, that I really wish weren’t there.

I am rebellious by nature. I don’t like to be told what to do. It’s not that I mind God telling me what to do. I trust in Him being true and righteous. But when it comes to man? Not so much. I struggle with authority. I don’t trust politicians. I don’t trust police officers and the court system of America. My supervisors at work were often poor leaders who made really dumb decisions so I didn’t trust them. But today’s Bible reading smacks me down. Hard.

Take a look.

1 Peter 2:13-17  

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.  Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.  Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

This is God’s Word. It is to be obeyed.

God’s command here is simple. I am to be subject to every human institution. Doesn’t matter at what level. There is no “Yes, but he’s stupid” clause. There is no, “Yes, but I don’t like that” clause. There is no “Yes, but he is a tyrant” clause.

The command is to “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution.” And God made sure we understood the importance of this command as He repeats it three times in scripture. Romans 13 and Titus 3:1 echo this command.

And then we see in scripture, examples of how men obeyed this command, even at great peril to their lives. Stephan is an example of a life that followed this path. Read Acts 6 through to Acts 8:1. Rather than dispute the authorities that came after him, he used their attack as an opportunity to share the Gospel with those who were against him. This would culminate in his death by stoning. Yet, through it all, he stayed the course. He went to his death calling out to God for mercy and forgiveness to come to those who killed him.

Jesus did the same.

As Christians, this life is not meant to be lived for our comfort and our desires to be met. It is to be lived for Christ.

I don’t like what my government is telling me to do. But I need to humble myself before God and simply be obedient. Unless the authorities are directly telling me to not do what God tells me to do, I must obey. For God’s sake, not my own. Even if this leads up to my death, inflicted by an evil regime.

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

God’s words, not mine.

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.  Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

The Christian's Relationship to Government – Romans 13

In Romans 12 Paul addressed how a Christian’s relationships ought to be. Chapter 13 continues the theme as it looks at how we are to relate to the governing authorities of man. Living in the days we do here in America I think we all need to carefully consider the truth of what God expects from us. Paul makes it clear.

Romans 13:1
Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.

The Bible has a pattern of using certain words, words which are very inclusive and absolute such as the word all. Romans 8:28 is one of my favorite examples of using words that are absolute. “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” What makes this promise great is the word all. Live this one out and suddenly faith becomes real in your life. If God works all things out for good then why should we ever be worried or upset? Romans 13:1 is also clear. The word used is another absolute. Everyone, yes everyone must (must is another absolute) submit to the governing authorities.

We don’t like this verse, do we? But Paul gives the reason why we must submit. We must submit because it is God who gave them the authority over us. Next Paul issues a rebuke to those who resist authority.

Romans 13:2
So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.

Paul tells us why we need this authority.

Romans 13:3-5
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.  For government is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.  Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience.

Yes, I can hear the response from all of you out there. I know that sometimes authority does wrong and violates scripture. Yes, I am familiar with Acts 5:29. Certainly there will be times we must choose to obey God and that will come against the governing authority. But when we make those decisions we better be very careful we are walking in the spirit and not in the flesh. Each of us will answer to God for all we do and say, so I always fall back on two scriptures when I consider these types of scenarios. Philippians 2:12, which instructs us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” And 1 Thessalonians 5:21 which tells us to “test all things. Hold on to what is good.” We must be close to God in studying and knowing His Word and in following the Holy Spirit’s teachings and leading in all things. And we must be sure we have spent time hearing from God through prayer. Just as our freedom in Christ is not license to sin neither are the words of Peter license to rebel against authority. We must be very sure before we act, that we are in God’s will. 

Having begun conversation on how to relate to others and to the government Paul gives us the simple answer to relationships. The key word is love.

Romans 13:8-10
Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.  The commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and whatever other commandment—all are summed up by this: Love your neighbor as yourself.  Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.

Paul explains love in 1 Corinthians 13. Read that and it becomes obvious that love is the secret to relationships. Sadly even we Christians usually fail to love the way scripture tells us. Our battle with our old nature, the flesh, is the blockade that keeps us down. Paul wraps up with another admonition as chapter 13 closes.

Romans 13:11-14
Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.

As Christians we must wake up. Most of us have failed to crucify the flesh as we are told to do in Galatians 5:24 which says, “…those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” The secret to good relationships is love, but real love is about others, not self.

So here is the challenge. Each day when we wake up we must put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires. Then our love for others will thrive and they will see Christ in us.

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - Why Does the World Hate Jesus?

July 25, 2014 – Day 2

 Psalm 2

Why does the world hate Jesus? Psalm 2 provides the simple answer. Verse 1 asks the question;
“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?” Verse 2-3 give the answer; “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us."

I think the NLT Bible translation of verse 3 makes very clear the answer. Psalm 2:3
“Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

The world does not want to be told what to do. Let’s face it; for the most part sin is fun and feels good. The world wants to tell us we do not need Jesus judging us. How often as a Christian do you hear that one? “Don’t judge me”, they say. “Who are you to tell me what’s right and wrong.” I don’t know about you but I am tired of hearing that. So what we have now is a fast moving process in our culture that is headed down the path to a day when anything goes. If you do not believe that talk with someone who grew up before WWII. Adultery, homosexuality, pornography, and drug abuse are all examples of how far down the pit we have fallen. Yes, those things were in existence before, but they were kept in the dark and not nearly as available as they are now.

Psalm 2:2
“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his anointed…”

This is a messianic psalm. Jesus is God’s anointed. The world wants no part in Him.

But God is the one still in control. He put those kings and rulers in place. Romans 13:1 tells that “…there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.”

God is not happy with those who plot against Him.

Psalm 2:4-6
He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.
Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying,
"But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain."

God has installed His son, Jesus upon His holy mountain and listen to the prophecy of what will become of these foolish rulers. Here is God’s instruction to Jesus concerning these things.

Psalm 2:7-9
“I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

Next a warning to those, especially those who are in government;

Psalm 2:10-12
“Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled.”

But Psalm 2 ends with good news. “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

So even though it appears the world and its leaders are getting away with all this…this Psalm tells us they will answer for their rejection of Christ and of His Word and ways. I leave you with the words of Daniel that further support this Psalm.

Daniel 2:20-21
Daniel said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. "It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.”

Take refuge in Him…Jesus. The sure and true hope.