Sittin' Up with the Dead Blog - Post 012 - Bearing the Sword
Bible sanctioned excuses for ignoring rogue governments.
In the "Great minds think alike" department, I note that @RobSteady has launched a series on the exact same topic I've been preparing for this Blog. Perfect timing! Lets compare notes.
One of the hardest Bible verses for me to accept is Romans 13:1-7 where Paul seems to tell the Roman Christians that they need to faithfully obey Emperor Nero, one of the most despotic rulers of all time!
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.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 want 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 he is God’s minister, an 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, honor to whom honor.
I presume Paul would also say “respect to whom respect is due.”That much is easy concerning our current government, “with all due respect.”
Alas, Peter agrees with Paul in 1 Peter 2:13-21:
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.
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps…
I am very grateful to Peter for providing a reason for this hard teaching that I can actually understand. Not that God owes me any explanation, but with understanding comes a much better chance that I will be able to obey what seems to be in stark contrast to the position taken by our Founding Fathers on July 4, 1776:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Whoa! The two documents I revere most appear to be in open conflict!
Do governments derive their just powers from God or from the consent of the governed?
Are there no limits on the evil to which we must submit?
Surely there must be a loophole somewhere...