[Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Saturday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my recent files:

GOD HAS SPOKEN

     What is the authorized relationship between Christians and the 
government under which they live?  Remember that
authorization comes through revelation and not by the silence of the 
Scriptures (Col. 3:17; Heb. 7:12-14; 8:4-13; Acts
15:24).  Christians are charged to be in subjection to the gov-
ernmental authorities over them (Rom. 13:1; 1 Pet. 2:13,14).
They are to obey such authorities within the scope of Christ's
authority; and if governmental demands contradict the autho-
rity of Christ, "we must obey God rather than men" (Titus 3:1;
Acts 4:13; 5:29).  Particular obligations are: doing good, pay-
ing taxes and customs, having proper fear of their power, giv-
ing them proper honor, paying one's debts, etc. (Rom. 13:3,6-
9).  This authorization was first given to people under a pagan government 
that was sometimes cruel and harsh.

     The authorized relationship of an American Christian to
this government is the same as that of Russian or Chinese
Christians to the  government under which they live.  A Rom-
an Christian was not authorized to start or abet an insurrect-
ion against the government, and Jewish Christians were not
authorized to try to cast off the yoke of Roman domination.
Christians today  are not authorized to participate in efforts
to overthrow governments.  Neither are they authorized by
God to hate their enemies, but rather to love them (Matt. 5:43-
48).  Love works no ill; therefore love does no allow Christia-
ns to shoot, hang, or abuse their enemies (Rom. 13:10).  We
must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).  If American Chri-
stians are authorized to participate in military conflicts, then
so are Christians in every other nation.  Those other Christ-
ians have as much authority from God to kill Americans as
American Christians have to kill those of other nations.  Per-
haps we, as Christians, get caught up so in nationalism that
we forget that we are a separate people with a heavenly citiz-
enship and a heavenly King and that we are strangers and
pilgrims on the earth.  Christians everywhere must not be-
come entangled with the affairs of this life so that we disre-
gard the greater authority of Jesus Christ and so fail to please Him (2 Tim. 
2:3,4).

     This is a touchy subject with some, and a subject that stirs wrath in 
some, but we need to search the Scriptures
calmly, wanting truth, and humble enough to accept it when
we find it, regardless of the consequences.  Remember Paul.
If you find this article to be erroneous, please fell free to point out the 
Scriptures that authorize Christians to do any sinful
thing at the behest of civil government.  ----- Gilbert Alexander.   </HTML>
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