That needs a bit more study in it's Biblical context. What is government? It is men. Nothing more. Who should you obey? Men or God? Jesus addressed this when He asked whose coin this was. In the Roman world, Caesar was god, he owned everything. When Jesus answered his own question and said render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's, He committed treason. This was the reason the Roman's crucified Him. For rebellion against Caesar. What Jesus was obviously saying is that God owns everything and Caesar is but a man.
The Bible instructs us to rspect the OFFICES of civil authorities. Respecting the INDIVIDUALS holding those offices, not so much. Hence Jesus' little run-in with the money-changers in the temple.
How any self-described Christian could respect a man masquerading as a "good Catholic" and a civil authority - one who uses the police power of government to force "gender affirmation" and wholesale infanticide - is beyond me.
Amen Phil. I appreciate the response as I truly do need a better understanding of what this means. I’d love any wise, supplemental texts on this too. Thank you again. 💕
I felt the same until I looked at Romans 13 again. “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.”
That is not a description of our “rulers” and “authorities.” They are clearly not God’s ministers. Instead of bearing the sword against evil, they raise the sword of evil against God’s people. I see no Biblical mandate to subject ourselves to them. We the people are the rulers and authorities under our Constitution. We bear the legitimate sword.
As for rendering unto Caesar, I’d convert every dollar I have to a single and give it to George Washington if he’d run for office again.
Seriously. I know we are to follow the government authorities according to the Bible but I am growing to hate gov.
That needs a bit more study in it's Biblical context. What is government? It is men. Nothing more. Who should you obey? Men or God? Jesus addressed this when He asked whose coin this was. In the Roman world, Caesar was god, he owned everything. When Jesus answered his own question and said render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's, He committed treason. This was the reason the Roman's crucified Him. For rebellion against Caesar. What Jesus was obviously saying is that God owns everything and Caesar is but a man.
The Bible instructs us to rspect the OFFICES of civil authorities. Respecting the INDIVIDUALS holding those offices, not so much. Hence Jesus' little run-in with the money-changers in the temple.
How any self-described Christian could respect a man masquerading as a "good Catholic" and a civil authority - one who uses the police power of government to force "gender affirmation" and wholesale infanticide - is beyond me.
Amen Phil. I appreciate the response as I truly do need a better understanding of what this means. I’d love any wise, supplemental texts on this too. Thank you again. 💕
Well but if they do evil things are we supposed to follow them and enable them? 😕 I would think not in that case.
I totally know. Its a dilemma I have every time.
I felt the same until I looked at Romans 13 again. “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.”
That is not a description of our “rulers” and “authorities.” They are clearly not God’s ministers. Instead of bearing the sword against evil, they raise the sword of evil against God’s people. I see no Biblical mandate to subject ourselves to them. We the people are the rulers and authorities under our Constitution. We bear the legitimate sword.
As for rendering unto Caesar, I’d convert every dollar I have to a single and give it to George Washington if he’d run for office again.