Hoping to open up some discussion on this.
The Doctrine Of Unconditional Submission
Lets discuss the doctrine of
unconditional submission. Or simply put, that God requires us to submit
unconditionally to the governing powers, regardless of what they ask. I don't
believe such a doctrine is biblical.
Many Christians are uncomfortable with the idea that they
would ever have to refuse to obey a law, much less actively resist authority,
but that may be what is needed in some situations. Rom 13:1 Let every soul be
in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the
powers that be are ordained of God.
Where there is conflict, we stand
on God's word as the basis of our beliefs and are no longer subject morally or
ethically to do what the government says. God is the ultimate authority, and
whatever we do must be in line with His will. As long as His will and the
governments is the same, no problem. But when there is a difference, we ALWAYS
stand on the word of God. God is sovereign and omnipotent and rules all.
Don't believe it? Consider Hitler.
Would it have been proper for a Christian to have submitted to Hitler?
Absolutely not. Consider something as minimal (in today's context) as King
George's taxes on the American Colonies. When compared to today, few of us
would even blink an eye about something so minor. Yet in those days it
was enough to go to guns. And had American Patriots not resisted we would
not now be a nation today. Today we see the glimmerings of anti-Christian
laws (illegal to pray in school, illegal to invoke the name of Christ,
etc.). How will you resolve to submit to that oh, Christian??
The Bible is full of examples where
good people of God directly disobeyed the orders of their ungodly kings.
Examples include the Hebrew
midwives who disobeyed Pharaoh's order to kill babies in Exodus 1:16-17, the
flight of Moses from Egypt after killing the Egyptian in combat, Rahab lying to
the king in Joshua 2:4, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego disobeying the king in
Daniel 3:13-20, and Daniel disobeying the king in Daniel 6:10. And lets
not forget Joseph fleeing to Egypt with Mary and Jesus in direct disobedience
to Herrod in Matthew 2:14. And our Lord Jesus was certainly not an
unconditional submissive when He challenged the Pharisees, cleansed the Temple,
and taught His people.
Clearly God also allows evil men to come to power as chastisement for a people. Insofar as these men do not trample the word of God, or make it illegal, we can continue under their control. (Consider Hitler, Stalin, PolPot, Hussein, and Chavez) The moment they compel you by force (how else does ANY government get people to obey?) to deny the faith or compel you to do things contrary to God's will, the submission role is over and the sword of Luke 22:35 must come out to play.
Clearly God also allows evil men to come to power as chastisement for a people. Insofar as these men do not trample the word of God, or make it illegal, we can continue under their control. (Consider Hitler, Stalin, PolPot, Hussein, and Chavez) The moment they compel you by force (how else does ANY government get people to obey?) to deny the faith or compel you to do things contrary to God's will, the submission role is over and the sword of Luke 22:35 must come out to play.
Did you know the laws of our own civil government adopt this
view? According to the Declaration of Independence, the "laws of nature
and of nature's God" are laws higher than the laws of England (and, by
implication, higher than the laws of any human civil government). The laws of
nature are God's moral law written on the heart as the conscience, and the laws
of nature's God are the laws of God revealed in the scripture.
The Declaration of Independence also says that it is not
merely our right, but also our duty, to throw off civil authority when that
civil authority shows that its goal is to reduce the people under absolute
despotism.
Unconditional submission to anything or anyone except God Himself, amounts to idolatry. This includes good things as well as bad ones. Remember Peter's bold answer to the ruling Council: Act 5:29 And Peter and the apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Seems very clear to me. So why do so many churches and so many pastors ignore this? One reason...it is easy. It is easy to simply go along. It is easy to not make waves, not lose any tithe money, and simply bow the head and do as you are told. I say no!
This ill-conceived and
misinterpreted doctrine must be purged from the minds of believers. Under
normal circumstances we should submit to just and necessary laws and rules, but
when those same rules become ungodly and unjust, we must make a choice -
follow God or follow man.
5 comments:
I'd like to see some examples of pastors telling people to submit to the government unconditionally.
I have heard Alex Jones say the government is training pastors to teach congregations to obey the government based on Romans 13.
But anybody who has seriously studied Romans 13 ought to know we ought to obey God rather than men.
Yes, if the Gov contradicts God. As long as it does not contradict his principles, then I would say we should obey and can give scripture to support. I Have heard that concept and even have heard some discussion on it. It does appear that some church's have been given the duty of keeping the mass's calm if a calamity happens, but I don't think most pastors think of it the way the gov probably does.
On the determinist (Reformed Calvinist) world view , everything that happens is "ordained of God".
This would include all the sins ever performed . Whether : the fall of Lucifer; Adam and Eve ; Cain murdering Abe l; All the horrors of the slaughter imposed by Domitian ; to the Catholic Popes exterminating the Reformers for holding to "sola fide , sola scriptura , and sola Christe"; to the genocidal madness of Hitler , Stalin , Lenin , Mao , and Pol Pot .
Indeed , to the very last sin committed before the Parousia.
So , on their view , Obama ; the overt and unconstitutional tyranny of the IRS ; NSA surveillance ; CIA torture and drug running - are merely the latest outworking of this clandestine "Sovereign Decree". Unhappily , we are not told how this squares with the attribute of Omnibenevolence , but we must implicitly trust in this seemingly capricious and "secret Will".
Minus volitional agents other than this "Sovereign" one , history reduces to just such an absurdity . A consistent Calvinist Has to admit to this "trade secret".
For them , Romans 13 can mean nothing other than Unconditional submission . They may even say that they were "predestined' to hold that view
The "TULIP" package deal logically necessitates it .
actually, I was going to sleep the next week, and if it was successful, obviously it was decreed of God, right? :)
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