“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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.” (Romans 13:1-5 ESV)
As a general rule, we who believe in Jesus Christ are to be abiders of the law and not law breakers. We are to obey those who are in positions of government and authority over the people. But do we have people in positions of government within our nations who are evil people who truly are NOT looking out for our good? Absolutely! So do we still have to obey them? Yes, but with biblical exceptions like what are mentioned for us in Revelation 13:1-18, which truly describes where we are in the world right now.
So we obey the rule of law unless the rule of law conflicts with God’s rule of law, for God’s commandments always trump those of man. Thus we do not have to bow to any false gods or any golden statues, and we do not have to vow our worship (loyalty, devotion, fidelity) to the government with hand over heart, and we do not have to sing songs of worship to our government, nor do we have to honor our military as our heroes. And we do not have to stop speaking in the name of Jesus or to stop sharing his gospel message.
Our worship and our loyalty and devotion and fidelity belong to God, and to God alone, and not to man, except in a marriage. But we don’t worship our marital partner (spouse). And we need to be discerning about what we are to obey and to not obey, for there are a lot of people in positions of rule and authority, even within the gatherings of the church, who will try to persuade you to sin against the Lord and to compromise holiness and righteousness and moral purity for the sake of conformity to the ways of man.
And we are not to trust our government heads nor anyone in any leadership position or in the position of pastor or elder or deacon or evangelist just because they are in positions of authority. We especially are not to blindly trust them just because of their position and/or title, for they are all human, and many of them are our enemies who are doing what is harmful to us and not for our good. For we live in an age of massive deception where so many people are not who they claim to be and who are telling us many lies.
So, we can resist any authority which is telling us that we must obey them over (on top of, in place of) God and his commandments to us. If they are requiring in any way that we sin against the Lord, we can refuse, and we should refuse. Even if they threaten some evil action against us if we do not submit to their commands, we are to remain faithful to our Lord as did Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and as did Jesus and Peter and John and Paul and many of the prophets before them and the saints of old.
And please know that many people in positions of authority who abuse their authority over the people will use such passages of Scripture as this to try to strongarm people into obeying them in ways that they should not submit to, as followers of Jesus Christ. And please know, in these exceptions to the rule of thumb, you might find that in the church and in the world today that if you do what is good, that you will not only not receive approval, but that you will be disapproved and mocked or cast aside as unwanted.
But in an ideal world, where right is right and wrong is wrong and where justice rules and not evil, if we are law keepers and not lawbreakers, we should be approved. But we don’t live in an ideal world, and so we are often put in situations to where if we do right, and not wrong, we might face the wrath of man, not of God. For it seems that everything is being flip-flopped these days, and people are exchanging good for evil and evil for good, and so evil is being praised and good is “getting the shaft,” so to speak.
So, do good and not evil. Obey the law of the land unless it conflicts with God’s moral laws, and then obey God, not man, even if it costs you your reputation, friendships, family relationships, and/or your life. And do not be afraid of those who do evil or of the evil that they might do to you, but surrender your lives to Jesus Christ, and then trust in his sovereignty over your life and submit to his will and purpose for your life. For he promises us that we will be hated and persecuted just like he was.
[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-25; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 6:22-23; Lu 21:12-19; Jn 15:1-21; Jn 16:33; Jn 17:14; Ac 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17; Rev 11:1-3; Rev 12:17; Rev 13:1-18; Rev 14:1-13]
Why Are You Afraid?
An Original Work / December 5, 2013
Based off Various Scriptures
Do not be afraid.
Your Lord is always by your side.
Serve the Lord in righteousness
Before Him all your days.
Those who hate the light
Will not come to the Lord.
They fear their deeds
Might be noticed.
So, they hate the light,
And they embrace the night.
Do not be afraid,
Although your enemy attacks.
Dare to share your testimony
Of God’s saving grace.
Do not fear their threats,
But honor Christ, your Lord.
Be prepared to give an answer
For the hope you have,
With gentleness; respect.
Why are you afraid?
For all that’s hidden will be shown.
What I tell you, speak in daylight.
Let the truth be known.
Do not be afraid
Of those who’ll take your life.
Fear the Lord with understanding.
Trust Him with your life,
And give not up to strife.
Do not be afraid.
Take courage, it is I, your Lord.
Bow before Me; now adore Me.
Oh, why do you doubt?
Listen to the Lord.
Get up and bear His name!
Run and tell the world He loves them.
Jesus came to save.
Give Him your all today.
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