Posted on 12/29/2009 10:19:57 PM PST by myfreepress
Tonight was an interesting night at Bible study. Our discussion was about how God wants us to Pray and treat those in Authority over us.
We basically talked about how it is counterproductive for the Church to be at odds with civil Government. God has given the church spiritual authority, and the Government civil authority (Romans 13:1-8).
Romans 13:1-8
Submission to the Authorities
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
This raises some questions in my mind. What do we do when we disagree with those who have been appointed over us? What if the people appointed over us are of evil? Should we rebel against them and ignore this part.....
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I'm not a pastor but I can answer that question. No.
A lot of things in the Bible are for us to discern. For instance it tells us that Solomon had many wives and concubines, but doesn’t tell us whether or not that was a good thing. Today we assume it’s a bad thing. In fact David and Solomon were pretty rotten guys in a lot of ways by modern Christian standards.
Yes, I too up until tonight thought Fight Fight Fight. Once I read these passages again, I realized I have not asked a single representative how I could pray to help them. I think tomorrow I will write my Congressman and Senator to ask them how my Church and I could pray for their success. Maybe God will be on my side if I follow what He wants?
If you read The Bible that question was answered many times.
I pray for the sick and weak. Never for despots.
Doing unto the left as the left has done unto us, question authority.
I’m bumping this for when I’m awake.
Those passages are directed at all christians around the world in every form of government that has been established.
It is no different for us. However, the United States is unique in it’s form of government in that the “Authority” is clearly placed in the hands of the governed... It is “We the People” that our constitution places that authority and power in. And, in view of an oppressive government that would rob us of certain freedoms, our constitution not only authorizes rebellion, it demands it from the people as their constitutional duty.
Once that constitution is gone, and another form of government and constitution is established, then your point is valid... So RISE UP AND DEFEND IT while you still can!!! God never forbade self defense... and that is exactly what this is. Our very lives and freedoms are at stake. BIG DIFFERENCE!!!!
Be careful what you wish for. It may come true. However I sense there is a joke going on in this post.
Our nation was founded in rebellion against injustice. and the hand of God was evident in that founding. It’s been evident in the blessings bestowed upon us as well. It’s also evident in this nation now getting the sort of leadership that the majority deserve, which is almost Biblical in and of itself. They got their king.
Nineveh avoided destruction because of God’s mercy toward the animals and cattle there, in large part. There were few righteous there among men. Sodom and Gomorrah were utterly destroyed for all time. There were no righteouos there among men, after the departure of Lot and his family.
So, there are degrees of offense leading to judgment of nations, and the faithful within the nations determine the outcome when weighed in the balance.
Take that however you will, but it’s Biblically sound.
That is a really good point. We are the law not the politicians. Haven’t thought about that.
This Earth is riddled with pits full of rotting human bodies, most of them innocent. I will not submit to slave drivers and murderers! If I sin, so be it!
Granted I do believe GOD does in fact allow us the rulers we as a people or rather we as a nation as a whole deserve. Governments can be ran by tyrants of by wise benevolent leaders. That choice is based on the hearts of the people.
I also believe when GOD see it as His will leaders should fall nothing will stop it nor if He wishes them to rise for His will for reward or punishment nothing will stop it but changed hearts. We should never stop speaking out against even in our leaders nor be silent of their wrongs especially when they act in a manner against GOD's Word.
If GOD wants leaders of nations or people gone GOD can make them such. Just look at Herod as one of the later examples in the Bible. Specific men in the Bible knew and understood that their people were enslaved or exiled by the Will Of GOD for a time. Among such was Jacob, Daniel, and to a certain extent King David who as you'll recall survived several attempts by Saul to kill him as a youth before he took Saul's place. It was not David who killed Saul though as he refused to do so as he stated Saul as GOD's anointed leader which even the Bible says as much.
The only way to meet the violence of evil is with the violence of righteousness, justice, love and grace. This is the principle of law enforcement and military establishment.
We were told not to bow down to idols. Obama is a false idol.
BINGO!
We are in charge.
Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms. Ratified 12/15/1791.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
If they take our freedom. We have the God given right to take it back.
We are the ruling authority.
I guess my point wasn’t what we do if they take our Freedom, but more what the Power of Prayer can change.
Sin has already been judged at the Cross, but judgment of good and evil has not yet been concluded.
(This is one reason why sins may be forgiven in an instant, upon our facing Him through faith in Christ and confessing them to Him, while the consequences of good and evil are still to be resolved in time, but rarely in a split second as the issues of sin may be resolved in a moment’s notice.)
There remain many an issue being evaluated in the angelic domain, upon which human testing manifests His righteousness and justice.
For this reason, adversity is inevitable, in life and in death, but stress is optional through faith in Christ.
Paul was a very fallible man the same as you or me. He is not a part of the Trinity, is not God and is not the final authority for anything, no matter what your pastor or Church might tell you.
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