Therefore submit
yourselves to every ordinance
Of man for the Lord’s
sake, whether to the king
As supreme, or to
governors, as to those who are
Sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers and
For the praise of
those who do good. For this is
The will of God, that
by doing good you may
Put to silence the
ignorance of foolish men––
As free, yet not
using liberty as a cloak for vice,
But as bondservants
of God. Honor all people.
Love the brotherhood.
Fear God. Honor the king.
1Peter 2:13–17
Peter
reflects upon this subject, as did Paul as to how Christians are to act
according to governing authorities. Paul states that we are to be subject to
governing authorities, and Peter states that we are to submit to every
ordinance of man; so, what does this mean? Are we to do as do the Quakers, the
Amish, or the Jehovah Witnesses? Two things jump out at us from the beginning:
1. Submission. 2. God ordains governments. God has clearly spoken that His
people are to submit to any and all governments, but, and this is important,
does this submission be unconditional submission? Some say yes, others say no,
so how are we to understand this command by God, for it is a command: ὑποτασσέσθω,: third
person singular, present tense, imperative, middle voice. To place
under, to render, or arrange under, to be subordinated, to be brought under a
state of influence, to submit one’s self, be submissive. This word being
imperative expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain action by the
order and authority of the on commanding. Do Christians, anyone for that
matter, have a requirement to submit to government without any thought as to
their authority, purpose, or jurisdiction? If then God ordains governments,
what does this ordination mean? Should submission to any government or de facto
power be limited or unlimited? We must then, for God did ordain governments to
exist understand what constitutes a true and real government, for if they are
real and true, then they would operate as God intended them to operate. For us
to reach any conclusion we must then discover the meaning of Romans chapter 13 and
1Peter 2:13–17 by context and the truths found in all of Scripture. What then
are the revealed natural laws given to us by God? Let us then look further into
Paul’s writing: “Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the
ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For
rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you ant to be unafraid
of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For
he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he
does not bear the sword in vain; for hi is God’s minister, and avenger to
execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not
only because of wrath but also for conscience sake. For because of this you also
pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very
thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs
to whom customs, fear to whom fear, hone to whom honor” (Romans 13:2–7). It
is clear that governments are to be God’s ministers for the good of people. And
people are to have honor, respect for governments, and to not do evil so that
government may use their right to bring upon you wrath (tickets for speeding
comes to mind). Government whatever your political view is limited and no sane
person would say otherwise and admit that government(s), in every regard
unlimited. As Christians we must not make every government action to be
ordained of God, although God does permit government to act in their own will,
but for anyone to narrowly impose limitations on government so that whatever
they say or do is of God is a form or idiocy. For if this was how people are to
act and accept then if government imposed limitations upon religious worship,
or to deem for Christians to stop telling people about Jesus Christ is absurd
for this was never imposed upon people by God. One only has to look back before
1776 A.D., and see that many kings ruled as one who had the divine right of a
king and could do whatever he so desired. As a Christian to accept such ruling
by anyone, or any government is not only foolish, it is unconscionable for some
of what ruling powers do we would admit are evil; therefore are we to accept
evil? No! Evil is any and all actions that are in opposition to the will of
God; therefore if any government is action out of accordance with the will of
God and are doing that which God has revealed as evil, would it not then be our
duty to impose the will of God upon that form of government? Does this not
admit that government(s) are limited and not unlimited in their power? Yes!
Therefore we have unction to not submit to such evil actions of anyone, or any
ruling power, local, state, or national governments included. We must submit
where governments are acting in accordance to God revealed will, and on the
other side of the coin, we are not to submit when government is action out of
accordance to God’s will, and purpose for them to exist.
This is just the beginning on this
subject and I have attempted to set forth questions that need answers and to
set forth why governments exist and what we as Christians, good citizens are to
do in regard to our submission. We must, and I will, continue to expose the
true meaning of Romans 13, and 1Peter 2:13–17.
Come,
and let us return
To the LORD:
For
He ahs torn, but He
Will heal us;
He
has stricken, but He
Will bind us up.
Hosea
6:1
Pray
for our governing powers
Richard
L. Crumb
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