We are called to live above the craziness of the world. As
Christians we are to set an example of love and righteousness. Instead many
times we set an example of bigotry and subversion. One issue we face is the
division of the Body of Christ. Some Christians believe one way, some another,
and the ones who behave contrary to the Bible are always the ones the
unbelievers see. The world then thinks all Christians act badly because of the
few who haven’t read their Bibles. The Jews had regularly used the laws of the
land and the governing officials to argue, to protest and to cause divisions in
the nation because they did not like being under Roman rule. We Christians act
like the first century Jews under Roman rule, but we are not to live that way
at all. We seem to be living in tumultuous times because we are inundated with
immediate news and social media. In one evening we see on the news that there
are Jews holding signs protesting something. There are also Christians holding signs
protesting something. There are also people marching and some people rioting. It
seems that people yelling about their views and opinions, religious or
otherwise, are what the news media wants to focus on. Christianity is not a religion
that is a law, like Islam or Judaism and we should not treat it as such. What
should the Christian response be to one’s own government and what should be the
Christian response to social issues. While we might feel justified in behaving
a certain way, what does the Bible say about our response or behavior to
governmental policies? Clearly the Bible tells us that the ones who despise
governments and rulers are those who are either not believers on Jesus as
Messiah, or not led by the Holy Spirit. How then do we Christians look to the
rest of the world?
Isaiah gives us a prophecy of the coming of Jesus. We see this verse on Christmas cards
announcing Jesus’ birth, however it is slightly inaccurate to use this verse
for his birth announcement. When Jesus was born he wasn’t crowned King of
Kings. When Jesus was born he wasn’t hailed as a king, a savior or an important
person. Jesus was born under scandalous conditions, a young women, a virgin, was
found to be expecting a baby. His “step” father Joseph wanted to break off the
engagement and I’m sure there was lots of chatter in the region about this
happening. However, the Magi knew a king had been born and they looked for him,
traveling many miles to get to see this little baby. Jesus grew up and started
teaching people a new way to live. While the religious leaders rejected him, a
motley group of people started following Jesus. The people who followed Jesus
started to recognize that he was in fact the Messiah. They then understood the
Magi’s visit at his birth. The people who believed Jesus was the Messiah wanted
him to restore the kingdom at that time. The religious leaders even chided him
to restore the kingdom to Israel if he was the Messiah. The shortsightedness of
humanity didn’t take into account the factor of time. There were a few things that had to be accomplished before
Jesus could rule and reign as King. Because Jesus didn’t establish his kingdom
on earth at that time, and did not restore the leadership of Israel back to
Israel’s control, there are many people today who reject Jesus as Lord and
Messiah. In actuality the question we should be asking regarding Isaiah’s
prophecy is when will this happen? When will the government be upon his
shoulders? When will we call him
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace? When will there be no end to peace? We
never ask when.
Isa 9:6-7 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given;
and the government [8280] shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be
called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity],
Prince of Peace. [Isa 25:1; 40:9-11; Matt 28:18; Luke 2:11.] 7 Of the increase
of His government [8280] and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of
David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and
with righteousness from the [latter] time forth, even forevermore. The zeal of
the Lord of hosts will perform this. [Dan 2:44; 1 Cor 15:25-28; Heb 1:8.] AMP
OT:4951 misrah (mis-raw'); from OT:8280; empire: KJV -
government. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
This empire Jesus will establish will come at a time when
certain numbers are fulfilled. The number of people coming into his fold from
all nations is the first number to be met. Then the number of martyrs will need
to be met. The disciples asked him “when” and Jesus’ responded by telling them
they would not know the appointed time. Instead Jesus directed their attention
to Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit would come upon them.
Acts 1:6-8 So when they were assembled, they asked Him,
Lord, is this the time when You will reestablish the kingdom and restore it to
Israel? 7 He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know
what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or
fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has
appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal
power. 8 But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the
Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and
all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth. AMP
The numbers must be fulfilled, and only at the appointed
time. On that day, Jesus will be crowned and the redeemed in heaven will be
there watching the event. When Jesus is crowned and it is announced that the
kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and Christ, Jesus
will then come to earth with his armies to establish his reign. It’s all very
orderly. It is all mapped out for us. If we mess up our timelines we will lead
people astray. The Jews today state that anyone who claims to have been a
Messiah was lying and is a false messiah. That is a very sad reality for Jews,
all because they get the timing wrong. The Messiah’s kingdom doesn’t come to earth
until after the tribulation, it’s that simple. Nevertheless, what we have to
ask ourselves is, if Jesus is not ruling and reigning now, then who is?
2 Cor 4:3 For the god of this world has blinded the
unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them
from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the
Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God. AMP
Who is the god of this world? Is he the elohim of evil?
Yes. The prince of this world, the prince of the power of the air is the one in
charge here on earth. It makes sense that there is so much strife and
tumultuous behaviors that people can’t get along with one another. And the
scheme of the god of this world is to divide the Body of Christ and keep us at
odds with each other and cause us to act contrary to the Bible.
One government official who claims to be a Christian
announced the most horrendous accusation against Yahweh recently when a
mentally disturbed woman attempted to steal an unborn baby from its mother’s
womb. This government official announced this was “God’s” punishment on
America. Really? He’s right and wrong. It’s the god of this world’s punishment
and maybe this government official’s god is the god of this world even though
he claims to be a Christian on his social media video channel. It is not
Yahweh’s punishment on America. This is the stupidity of an individual who is ignorant
of scripture. He not only offended the individuals dealing with this tragedy,
and all Christians in the Body of Christ, he took the liberty to offend Yahweh.
Oh and this individual decided, being such a great Christian and all, to run
for a higher governmental office. I’m pretty sure Christianity doesn’t need
this person’s continued help making disciples.
Let’s note something in Peter, the Lord knows how to rescue
the godly out of trials. Temptations is
not quite the word used here, it is the word that means someone proving you as
in testing your integrity.
2 Peter 2:9-10 Now if [all these things are true, then be
sure] the Lord knows how to rescue the godly out of temptations and trials, and
how to keep the ungodly under chastisement until the day of judgment and doom, 10
And particularly those who walk after the flesh and indulge in the lust of
polluting passion and scorn and despise authority [2963]. Presumptuous [and]
daring [self-willed and self-loving creatures]! They scoff at and revile
dignitaries (glorious ones) without trembling, AMP
NT:2963 kuriotes (koo-ree-ot'-ace); from NT:2962; mastery,
i.e. (concretely and collectively) rulers: KJV - dominion, government. (Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Yahweh delivered Noah, Lot, Abraham, Israel, David, Peter, and
Paul, as well as many others out of societal or governmental persecution. If
you are being wrongly persecuted, Yahweh can deliver you. But most times when we
think we are being persecuted by our governments we are truly not. We simply
don’t agree with the rules or laws in our nation. That is what we want to comprehend
and we need to explore our response to that disagreement in societal laws. We
may have to adjust our thinking to agree with the Bible. But let’s look at this
verse closer. People who walk after the flesh, who are they? Those who are not
led by the Holy Spirit but are instead led by their own thoughts or emotions.
Some of those people may be believers on Jesus as Messiah and some may not be
believers on Jesus as Messiah. But those who walk after the flesh despise
authority. The word for authority is
not the same word for the authority that the believer has, as when Jesus said
“I have given you authority…” It is the word for government or rulers. People who follow their own lusts despise any
and all government, because government restricts people from following their
own lusts and guides people to live in certain established cultural ways. It
doesn’t matter where one lives, all governments enforce laws for citizens to
follow so that by establishing rules people can live peaceably. But it seems
that Christians can go overboard the opposite way and become critical,
judgmental dogmatists, demanding that all people, even unbelievers, behave the
way we say they should. The laws should curb bad behaviors and people who act
badly; people who are not led by the Spirit should be the ones who scoff at the
government, not the Christians. Yet, are all Christian led by the Holy Spirit?
No; therein lies our problem. This is why we have divisions within the Body of
Christ.
Again, Jude notes the same idea but adds that the same
people who despise governments also despise heavenly governing beings.
Jude 8 Nevertheless in like manner, these dreamers also
corrupt the body, scorn and reject authority and government [2963], and revile
and libel and scoff at [heavenly] glories (the glorious ones). AMP
Jesus created all these governing bodies, he established a
structure and an order. The devil stepped in and took Adam’s place as god of
this world, but Jesus was the one who established a ruling order. Remember the
Israelites crying that they wanted to be like the other nations and have a King?
Yahweh gave them what they wanted. Previously, Yahweh set up Judges and
Prophets, but Israel wanted to be like the other nations. Unfortunately, we
know the rest of the story.
Col 1:16 For it was in Him that all things were created, in
heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions
[2963], rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him
[by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. AMP
Whether in heaven or on earth Jesus established a
structure. Just because the devil usurped Adam doesn’t mean there isn’t a structure.
The devil may influence the structure, but there still is a structure. We have
governing authorities on earth and in the heavens. Think of all the types of
spiritual beings in the heavens, they have a structure as well. But sometimes a
bad ruler gets into a ruling position.
Prov 29:2 When the [uncompromisingly] righteous are in
authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked man rules, the people groan
and sigh. AMP
People are doing a lot of groaning and sighing these days,
but we are to live above that. As the Body of Christ we need to be unified in
our behavior towards our governments. What this means is we are obligated to be
good citizens, no matter what country we live in and no matter whether a
righteous person rules or a wicked person rules. Romans makes our role clear. To
understand this lets read the Message Bible. If we want practical application
for our lives, reading the Message will make the Bible real, and if we want to research
we need to use various other versions and translations.
Rom 13:1-7 Be a good citizen. All governments are under
God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it's God's order. So live responsibly
as a citizen. 2 If you're irresponsible to the state, then you're irresponsible
with God, and God will hold you responsible. 3 Duly constituted authorities are
only a threat if you're trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should
have nothing to fear.
Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a
responsible citizen and you'll get on just fine, 4 the government working to
your advantage. But if you're breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The
police aren't there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an
interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. 5 That's why you must
live responsibly — not just to avoid punishment but also because it's the right
way to live.
6 That's also why you pay taxes — so that an orderly way of
life can be maintained. 7 Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your
taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in
Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Remember our study of the book of Revelation, the four
horsemen are on the earth today keeping peace, but when the seals are broken
peace is taken off the earth. This is why Paul says that insofar there is peace
and order it is Yahweh’s order. That seems simple enough. No matter where we
live or when we live, 2,000 years ago or now, we are to be responsible
citizens. Yahweh has an interest in keeping order and he uses the government to
do it. Remember Josiah, or Cyrus, or even Pilate? Yahweh in his foreknowledge
knows who will listen when he asks them to do something. Josiah cleaned up and
restored the temple, Cyrus let the Jews go back to Israel and rebuild the
temple, and Pilate allowed Jesus’ death, even though he disagreed that Jesus
was worthy of death, so that Jesus could free the captives in hades.
Luke 23:13-16 Then Pilate called the high priests, the
other leaders, and the people together 14 and told them, “You brought this man
to me as one who turns the people against the government. And here in your
presence I have examined him and have found him ‘Not Guilty’ of the charges you
make against him. 15 Neither does Herod, because he sent him back to us!
Indeed, this man has done nothing to deserve death. 16 So I will punish him and
let him go.” ISV
Notice how the Jews used the government to push their own
agenda. They caused such a commotion regarding Jesus. We are not to be like
that. Paul reminds us again in his letter to Titus to respect the government
and to be law-abiding. The clear demarcation should be that the un-believers
are known for despising governments while the Christians are law-abiding and
respectful.
Titus 3:1-2 Remind the people to respect the government and
be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand 2 No insults, no fights.
God's people should be bighearted and courteous. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary
Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
We must remember the time frame these people lived in.
Israel was under Roman rule, previously under Greek rule, and prior to that
Assyrian and Babylonian rule. Even before the captivity, Israel was under many
bad rulers. Even Israel’s first King, Saul, did things that he should not have
done. But under Roman rule, Jesus and Paul encourage people to live peaceably.
The Romans were harsh and oppressive in Israel and the Jews were always
stirring up trouble because they wanted to have rule over their own country.
Paul was imprisoned because the Jews accused him of violating the law and
causing trouble, and yet he was writing to tell us to live as law abiding
citizens. Understand that the Romans were not causing trouble for Paul; the
newly Christian religious leaders sold Paul out to the religious Jewish
leaders. Paul was released after two years and traveled to Spain and to the
British Iles. He came back to Rome and was executed by Nero. The Christians are
to look different than the Jews. It is unfortunate that today we look just like
the first century Jews, but that was not to be the case. Let’s read what Peter
says, it is surprising.
1 Peter 2:13-17 Make the Master proud of you by being good
citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; 14 they are God's
emissaries for keeping order. 15 It is God's will that by doing good, you might
cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. 16
Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. 17 Treat
everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect
the government. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by
Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
If we do well we will cure the ignorance of the fools who
think we are a danger to society. Really, that is in the Bible? That is what we
are failing at. We continue to try to impose rules and laws on non-believers, not
by winning them to Christ, but by hammering them with the legal system. The
government is not our tool for witnessing or making disciples. We need to stop
being ridiculous; if people make Jesus Lord they will live according to the
Holy Spirit’s leading, not by men’s leading. Again Christianity is not a legal
system it is a belief system, Judaism and Islam are legal systems that impose
spiritual practice. We can live like Christians anywhere, without a temple,
without sacrifices, and without special clothing. We don’t need to make
everyone carbon copies of ourselves as we studied last week.
Let’s think this through in practical terms. We know that
abortion is the killing of a human life. But what if a woman had an abortion when
she was not a Christian? Instead of sharing the love and forgiveness of Jesus
with people, we hammer women so that no women would ever admit to having an
abortion and very few would want to come to Jesus because of our angry
protests. Now let’s take that one step further. How many Clergy, Pastors,
Ministers, Rabbi’s, or Priests have impregnated women and then convinced them
to have an abortion so that no one would know what improper behaviors were
taking place with that Clergy? We are so very nearsighted aren’t we? If we
actually walked in love and compassion, women who had abortions would flock to
the Christians for healing of their emotional wounds. Instead, we condemn women
and act like the men had nothing to do with it. Just like the religious leaders
who condemned the women caught in adultery, but somehow didn’t condemn the man
who was with her. All the angry signs
and vehement protests will not make disciples of others, including the victims
of such abuse.
At one time, along with the male and female prostitution in
the temple, abortions were performed as well, sacrificing babies to Moloch. As
we have studied previously (and sometimes I feel a bit repetitive), for 337
years the Glory of the Lord resided in the temple alongside all kinds of crazy
things such as male and female prostitution, abortions, passing babies through
the fire (which Jews still do today) incense burned to other gods, worship of
the stars and the Cherubim. We have to look at the reality of the Bible and not
the Pollyanna version we have been told with flannel-graphs in Sunday school.
Christians protesting in anger will not make anyone a disciple. We should start
walking in love and compassion, and stop looking like enemies of the state. It
is the scheme of the devil to keep people from becoming disciples of Jesus.
Let’s read 1 Peter 2:15 again.
1 Peter 2:15 It is God's will that by doing good, you might
cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary
Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Are we Christians portrayed as a danger to society? Yes.
Are we behaving as the Jews did in the first century? Yes. Are we condemning
those who don’t live like us, or the way we think they should? Yes. Are we
taking on the role of the Holy Spirit for everyone in the entire nation? Yes. It
is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict people of sin, not ours. We truly are a
divided body of Christ aren’t we?
When watching the news last week I saw a group with signs
saying that the thing they were protesting was against the Torah. So what?
Should this group legislate their religion to everyone in a nation? Not doing
that is what should make Christians different. We are to make disciples not
laws. We are to love not protest. What if a Muslim group wanted to legislate
something for a nation, such as banning dogs. Would we all have to euthanize
our dogs because they held up signs and protested? I don’t want to live the way
other groups legislate. Jesus came to make us free, but Christians look like
bullies when they attempt to use the government to force others to live like
Christians. In our time Christians do in fact look like a danger and the people
saying so are not persuaded to become Christians by our behavior. Paul wants us
to pray for our governments and leaders. Not witchcraft prayers demanding those
leaders do what we want, but instead, praying so that they will rule well so
that we can live in peace.
1 Tim 2:1-6 The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray
every way you know how, for everyone you know. 2 Pray especially for rulers and
their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of
living simply, in humble contemplation. 3 This is the way our Savior God wants
us to live.
4 He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know,
everyone to get to know the truth we've learned: 5 that there's one God and
only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us — Jesus, (from THE
MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All
rights reserved.)reserved.)
By doing things the way the Holy Spirit has dictated to us,
we will encourage others to become disciples. Isn’t that the point? Christians
should be led by the Holy Spirit, not the flesh. Paul goes on.
1 Tim 2:8 Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I
want mostly is for men to pray — not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising
holy hands to God. (from THE MESSAGE:
The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
I think this describes it well. Pray, not shaking angry
fists at enemies (or perceived enemies), but instead raising holy hands to God.
What do we Christians look like when we raise angry fists? We look like the
first century Jews. When we hate the government we look like the unsaved. We
Christians have an image problem, and we feel justified to push and demand our
beliefs and impose our religious ideas on others. We must be led by the Holy
Spirit and not do what we think in our flesh, but do what the Spirit has told
us to do. We do not like other religious groups imposing their beliefs on us,
but we believe that since we are “right” we must impose our ideas on others.
The problem is that we are not exemplifying love and compassion towards other people
who are different than we are because we are not led by the Spirit. If the
Christians were the examples that the Holy Spirit has asked us to be, we would
be making disciples rather than enemies.
Next we will look at our Christian response to unjust
governmental persecution.
