Fearing God More Than Government
God has ordained human governments to keep peace and order, so they are His authority over us. The Bible is clear about this. However, when the government tells us to disobey God, we are to obey God instead of the government. This was exactly what the Egyptian midwives did when Pharaoh ordered them to kill the male babies of the Hebrews at birth.(Exodus 1:17) They feared God or respected God more than they did the government.
This is an important Scriptural principle for all of us, as believers. Romans 13 is very clear about God ordaining our leaders and how we are to obey them. However, we see believers not obeying the governing authorities in Acts, when they are commanded not to preach in the name of Jesus. It may seem like a contradiction, but it is really pretty simple. Peter said it well in Acts 4:19-20, when he declared to the Jewish authorities, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than God, you judge, for we cannot help but speak the things which we have seen and heard." The dictates of government do not prevent us from upholding the commands of God to witness. Also, we are not to sin because of what a government tells us to do either by doing the wrong thing or by failing to do other good things God has commanded.
It is not that we are to be openly rebellious toward the governing authorities, but we are to live quiet lives, working hard, and doing things to relate to unbelievers well.(I Thessalonians 4:11,12) Yes, we stand up for what is right, but we do it with respect, all the while praying for kings and all who are in authority.(I Timothy 2:1,2) The main thing is for us to be godly. If we oppose our government and act in an ungodly way, we are defeating the purpose of God for us to be a good witness to those who need Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 3-6.
This is an important Scriptural principle for all of us, as believers. Romans 13 is very clear about God ordaining our leaders and how we are to obey them. However, we see believers not obeying the governing authorities in Acts, when they are commanded not to preach in the name of Jesus. It may seem like a contradiction, but it is really pretty simple. Peter said it well in Acts 4:19-20, when he declared to the Jewish authorities, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than God, you judge, for we cannot help but speak the things which we have seen and heard." The dictates of government do not prevent us from upholding the commands of God to witness. Also, we are not to sin because of what a government tells us to do either by doing the wrong thing or by failing to do other good things God has commanded.
It is not that we are to be openly rebellious toward the governing authorities, but we are to live quiet lives, working hard, and doing things to relate to unbelievers well.(I Thessalonians 4:11,12) Yes, we stand up for what is right, but we do it with respect, all the while praying for kings and all who are in authority.(I Timothy 2:1,2) The main thing is for us to be godly. If we oppose our government and act in an ungodly way, we are defeating the purpose of God for us to be a good witness to those who need Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 3-6.