Are we wrong to object? Are we wrong to protest? What does the Bible say?
Unless you can point me otherwise, I've discovered we are to pray for our leaders, submit to their authority, and obey the government in all things. Read "in all things". Could it be that we are ignoring scriputure teachings? Are we wrong in protesting, wrong in objecting, wrong in criticizing, and wrong in desiring a change in government?
Romans 13: 1-7 says we have to be submissive to the government, that God appointed our government and rulers, and that anyone who resists the government is fighting against God:
"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".
Essentially that's all I've found...nothing about 'political action committees', 'tea parties', or anything AT-ALL concering a Christian's involvement in civic affairs. Period.
Paul penned his comments (Romans 13) while NERO was sacking Rome, burning people, throwing Christians to the lions, etc etc). I could NOT find any scripture that even hinted at "removing a corrupt official"...and of course, "democracy", as we know it, wasn't even invented at the time of Christ. At the end of all my poring-over-scriptures and research, I could only deduct once again that scripture says nothing specific about "voting", or "getting rid of a corrupt official" other than a general thought that we are to 'follow God, and not man'.
Actually, if Christians just "sat back" over the years, there would BE no Christianity today. Everyone would have been martyred.
The other day, I picked up on the fact that at least three times Jesus "escaped", or "disappeared" or "got outa there" when he was threatened...BUT he wasn't threatened by the government, it was the 'crowd'...
God is in control. I agree...but to discuss this statement, may I comment that with God in control, why do we try to change things (vote someone out), or do ANYTHING at all...if, indeed, 'God-is-in-control'? If God is in "control", aren't we just puppets? Perfect will? Submissive will?
Lots of questions here...please try to share your thoughts on all the points I'm trying to understand. Remember...if we believe ONE scripture, shouldn't we believe all the rest?
I am sincerely, humbly seeking answers here.
Where are the scriptures that tell us to object to our government, complain about our president, etc???
This is the verse I think of when I think about the evil and corrupt people in government positions. Ephesians 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. So, I think that because we have a right to vote (thought they didn't back in the bible days) that we can and should in order to expose evil and remove it from our leadership.
ReplyDeleteProv.29:2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;when the wicked rule, the people groan. This is pretty much a statement of fact that it is going to be how it's going to be. Of course we don't just sit back and let things happen. We put on the armor of God (Eph.6) and fight the spiritual evil that is around us...that includes (when we have the ability-which we do in the U.S.) the government, by voting. I think there is a lot of bad-talking about candidates, and though it may be true, that should be curbed. Not that we shouldn't show others the truth, for instance, rather than badmouthing a lying candidate, I try to share videos of them speaking, or other factual information that shows them in the lie.
I'm struggling with this presidential campaign. I can't morally vote for the two candidates that we have running. It would be voting for evil. Both of them (though one says he doesn't anymore) support abortion. The bible says that we only have to support those who do evil to be a part of it. (Romans 1). So I was settling on the fact that I would either not vote for president this election or I would write in somebody. But yesterday I came across two candidates, Hoefling and Goode, that are both Christian and not corrupt (as far as I can tell). But when I tell my Christian friends, they tell me I am throwing away my vote and I should vote for Romney so that Obama won't win. I feel that if Christians truly cared about God they would try to rally everyone to vote for one of these guys instead of Romney. Sad thing is that they don't care. And to be honest, I feel that it's God's plan for Obama to win if we don't repent and turn from our evil ways of abortion, pornography, corruption, greed, etc. Because my opinion is that the only way that people will fall to their knees and repent is to be ground so far down into the dirt by this government that they will regret even the smallest of sins and beg God to save them. It's sad, but I think that is exactly where we are going.
So, back on topic, I don't think that God really is in control of everything. We have to be very careful and even sometimes weary of the doctrines that the church teaches. here is a video that explains this better than I can (from the bible) http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=368 The devil controls the world (1 John 5:19) We give control back to God by giving handing over our lives to Him and fighting the spiritual forces using the full armor of God. Just by reading Eph 6 you can see who our fight is against. Rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. But we can only fight this using spiritual armor. I think that when we vote for a God-fearing man for our president, and vote out someone who is corrupt and evil, that is a spiritual fight. We are not going in there with swords and guns but with truth, righteousness, readiness, peace, faith and the word of God. And that is what gets the job done. :)