Authority without wisdom is like a heavy ax without an edge, fitter to bruise than to polish.
Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672, British puritan poet)
Romans 13:3-5
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but too bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do good and you will have its approval. For government is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience. (HCSB)
The way that Christians interact with authority is many times determined by our own actions. In The Word of God the interactions that I see are not open rebellion. What I see in most cases is an interaction with authority that says God tells me to do thus, and I can do no other, but it is never an intentional breaking of established peaceful governance.
If you and I get a speeding ticket it is because we have exceeded the limits of peaceful governance; we have broken the law. God expects us to conduct ourselves reasonably before the world, because we are his witnesses. It is only when law intercedes in spiritual governance, that we run into conflict with the authorities that help give us a calm and reasonable society.
If they break God’s spiritual laws, He “WILL” deal with them, and we will have God on our side. But, if we break the laws of society, we do not have God on our side, God is on the side of peaceful governance, or will uphold our authorities. We will be forgiven for transgressing the law, but the penalty will be upheld…it’s something to think about in the way we conduct ourselves in this world…God’s Blessings.
Pastor William
Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672, British puritan poet)
Romans 13:3-5
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but too bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do good and you will have its approval. For government is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience. (HCSB)
The way that Christians interact with authority is many times determined by our own actions. In The Word of God the interactions that I see are not open rebellion. What I see in most cases is an interaction with authority that says God tells me to do thus, and I can do no other, but it is never an intentional breaking of established peaceful governance.
If you and I get a speeding ticket it is because we have exceeded the limits of peaceful governance; we have broken the law. God expects us to conduct ourselves reasonably before the world, because we are his witnesses. It is only when law intercedes in spiritual governance, that we run into conflict with the authorities that help give us a calm and reasonable society.
If they break God’s spiritual laws, He “WILL” deal with them, and we will have God on our side. But, if we break the laws of society, we do not have God on our side, God is on the side of peaceful governance, or will uphold our authorities. We will be forgiven for transgressing the law, but the penalty will be upheld…it’s something to think about in the way we conduct ourselves in this world…God’s Blessings.
Pastor William
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