Posted on 06/30/2018 8:20:18 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
As the United States readies to celebrate its independence on July 4, a thorny question arises: Does the Bible really grant nations—especially those once labeled "Christian"—the right of revolution, or do the Scriptures forbid it?
Romans 13, now much in focus because of Attorney General Jeff Sessions' appeal to the passage (affirmed by White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders) to support current federal immigration policy and practice, would seem, according to some interpreters, to demand unquestioning submission to "authority."
As already noted in the Christian Post, this passage has been too often used as the proof-text for all kinds of tyrannies. Yet its true principles are essential to healthy governance and stable civilization.
The key to understanding what the Holy Spirit is saying through Paul in Romans 13 is in three Greek words that provide important distinctions not always expressed in English translations. All three terms appear in Ephesians 1:19-21.
Romans 13 is about the differences between true authority (Greek, exousia), mere power (dunamis) and raw might (kratos). There are important differences between those words, based on the original Greek of the New Testament.
Thus, Romans 13 shows the characteristics of true governance: its magistrates affirm and encourage good behavior, but discourage evil actions (Romans 13:3); true authority is a minister of God for good, and enforces justice (Romans 13:4); true authority protects the innocent and prosecutes the evil (Romans 13:4).
The people are to be subject to such legitimate government. However: Any governing system that comes out from under true authority is subject to legitimate resistance, revolution and replacement.
The American founders, somewhat biblically literate even if not all seriously committed Christians, placed this principle in the nation's founding documents.
Thomas Jefferson, in the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, recognized God's transcendence (people "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights"). Governments are given authority to "secure these rights" of the people, not for the purpose of "securing" the interests of tyrants. Finally, "whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall most likely effect their safety and happiness."
The founders thus made provision in the Constitution for the orderly "revolution" of the ballot box, and for amending ("altering") the Constitution itself.
Politically, authoritarianism will gravitate between right and left. I grew up in the Deep South, ruled over by authoritarians on the right. Now, the primary threat of authoritarianism looms largely from the progressivist left.
The principles laid out in Romans 13 and other passages are crucial because the fundamental temptation is power. Lucifer's temptations to Adam and Eve in the Garden and Jesus in the wilderness came down to this: Seize the power for yourself and your own interests!
Therefore, there will always be a clustering of demons around power-holders and their centers of power.
"The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse," said Edmund Burke. Those who govern and the people they serve must be wary of the tyrant in us all. Romans 13 gives us the brilliant light that can save us from becoming authoritarians, and give legitimacy to those who seek to remove us from power when we do.
So let the people revolt when authorities become authoritarians, but let it be through peaceful, non-violent means, lest the revolutionaries themselves become demonized tyrants depending on mere power and raw might.
If revolution is a sin, I thought we were forgiven of our sin?
Isa 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 - Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isa 22:21 - And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
2Pe 2:10 - But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities
Mar 12:17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
My impression now is that Sessions has entered his dotage, and given his time as a prosecutor, has fallen into the position that is familiar and comforting to him: arguing that law enforcement is always right, even the corrupt Mueller and Rosenstein.
The believer stops submitting when government contradicts the Word.
It is one thing to be instructed by a leader of godly teaching to submit to authority, but it is not the place for the government itself to use this Biblical principle in lieu of explaining their actions.
“rebellion”
occurs 9 times in 9 verses in the KJV.
Speaks of rebellion Against God not man !
https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=rebellion&t=KJV#s=s_primary_0_1
Alan Keyes resolved this dilemma nicely.
He claimed that while submission to the king is scriptural, in a democracy, there IS NO King. In effect the electorate is king, elected officials are our chosen stewards. We as kings have the responsibility of insuring that our stewards perform their duties appropriately, reproving and firing them if need be.
Now the American revolution... That was another matter.
Ping
<>So let the people revolt when authorities become authoritarians, but let it be through peaceful, non-violent means, lest the revolutionaries themselves become demonized tyrants depending on mere power and raw might.<>
Yep, Article V.
Onward, Christian soldiers....
Hush now - those who wish to twist the absolute forgiveness given us by Christ on the Cross need to “modify” context/content of other parts of the Bible to suit their opinions. Some even use the “... your body is your temple ...” quote (which deals with sexual impurity) as proof that it is sinful to not eat your veggies and exercise...
Let the prior poster post please! Thank-you!
Thank-you and God Bless.
John 3:16- 18. Did Crist die for nothing? Did you know that Samuel ‘ like the entire Old Testament became irrelevant and replaced after the resurrection. “Legalism “ is Satanic affirmation that one doesn’t accept as true the Christ as God’ Son. Those that don’t not believe go to oblivion at death,
Acts 5:29
We must obey God rather than men.
When the law goes against the Law of God, it is time to go with one’s conscience rather than the powers-that-be. If it means going to jail, so be it.
So let the people revolt when authorities become authoritarians, but let it be through peaceful, non-violent means, lest the revolutionaries themselves become demonized tyrants depending on mere power and raw might.
Again, God will use BOTH for his purposes. It is not one or the other…………………………..
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