What about obeying the government?

Exodus 39; Proverbs 15; John 18; Philippians 2

Some Christians claim that God will not allow them to experience a plague. They quote Scripture and continue to meet in large numbers. In contrast, a friend said that we trust God yet wear a bicycle helmet, drive the speed limit, take our vitamins and so on. God promises protection but is it okay to play in traffic? One of the devil’s temptations to Jesus encouraged Him to jump off the top of the temple because angels wouldn’t let Him be injured. Jesus replied that this was putting God to the test.

God’s people, me included, need to remember that God’s protection goes hand in hand with obedience including this passage:

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (Romans 13:1–2)

God is sovereign. That covers all authorities, even those we don’t like. Agreeing with separation of church and state does not include ignoring political authority during this crisis. That attitude is deadly.

My hubby once took a course called “Christ and Government” which suggests there is much to consider on this topic. I am challenged to think more deeply by this passage:

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. (John 18:33–38)

The kingdom of God is not like those of the world. It is not defined by boundaries. It has no flag or logos. Its citizens are not governed by military might, nor according to how much money they donate to their current political party. Jesus’ kingdom is about allegiance to Him and having a personal relationship with Him. All our ‘laws and rules’ are in the Bible.

My devotional book offers additional thoughts. It says that Jesus’ servants will not fight to advance His kingdom the way the kingdoms of this world achieve success — using military drive or human armies. Apparently, Pilate believed at least this part of what Jesus was saying, and therefore saw him as no political threat . . . . But this does not mean that Jesus is making no claim whatsoever with respect to the kingdoms of this world. He insists He is King Jesus, even if His source of authority is not in this world, and His servants will not defend Him by resorting to arms. However, the time will come when all will acknowledge that He alone is Lord of lords and King of kings and all the kingdoms of this world are destined to become His.

How does this work in a practical sense? Again, my heart says to obey those in authority, not because I trust them, but because I trust the One who tells me to do it.

What if they order something contrary to the Lord’s commands? The Bible answers that also. The authorities were worried that the Gospel would spread so they decided to warn the disciples:

So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:17–20)

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:27–29)

APPLY: Pay close attention to both the Bible and governing authorities. This could mean the difference between life or death even as God gives me a means to stay alive at this time. I am a citizen of heaven living as an ambassador for Jesus in a worldly kingdom. As long as I’m here, I’m to trust Jesus and obey His Word, especially concerning those in authority.

Speak up? Or shut up?

Someone in my family has good news, but she told me, “Don’t tell anyone yet, until it is official.” 

It’s not easy to sit on her good news. I want everyone to know. Yet am I like that with the good news about Jesus Christ? Or do I sit on it? Could I learn something from the shepherds who were the first ones to hear it?

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (Luke 2:10)

When I hear something that sounds too good to be true, my nature is to check it out. Is this wishful thinking? Some sort of fraud? Overblown? After years of checking out many things and being disappointed, I’ve concluded if something sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true. 

The shepherds may have been skeptical too. After an explanation and seeing a host of angels, the shepherds could have wondered if they were dreaming. They decided to check it out before telling anyone what they heard and saw. Perhaps they didn’t want anyone to think they had made it up or find out later that they were wrong. So after “the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’” (Luke 2:15) They were not disappointed.

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:17–20)

I notice two things here. The shepherds were told this news was for everyone so as soon as they checked it out, it was “made known.” They did what they were told and those who heard it marveled at what they said.

But Mary had not been told to tell everyone. Even though she treasured the good news, she pondered what was said in her heart, not saying anything to anyone, at least not at that time.

As for me, I’ve checked out the good news of Jesus Christ. I know it is true and I know that I am supposed to tell others. However, there are times to be quiet. Jesus spoke of “not casting my pearls before swine” meaning that I should not share with those obviously belligerent to the message. He also said that I must allow the Holy Spirit to put words in my mouth. From that, I conclude if the words are not there, then I must be silent. 

I’ve also noticed that I tend to get this backwards. When I should speak, I tend to shut up, and when I should shut up, I tend to speak. 

I’m not alone in that regard. For instance, Jesus healed a man and said to him, “'See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.' But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town….” (Mark 1:44–45) 

Some Christians talk too much, but most of us are more guilty of being silent when we should speak. We have good news, first shared by the angel to the shepherds, then given to us through the Word of God and the enlightening power of the Holy Spirit. After Jesus rose from the dead, the disciples shared that good news. They were even told by religious authorities to stop talking about Him. By this time, and because they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they knew how to respond and their response is a lesson to me…

So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:17–20)

May I be more like them.