Category: Living Daily

Opposing Unjust Laws

“One may ask: ‘How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?’ The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that ‘an unjust law is no law at all,'” wrote Martin Luther King, jr, in a letter from the Birmingham jail.

What then is an unjust law? The Reverend King wrote: “Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.”

“Of course, there is nothing new about this kind of civil disobedience. It was evidenced sublimely in the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar, on the ground that a higher moral law was at stake. It was practiced superbly by the early Christians, who were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks rather than submit to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire,” wrote The Reverend King. (Letter from the Birmingham Jail)

We must obey G-D rather than men.

Acts 5:29

In his article Widerstand: Luther and the Freedom to Resist Unjust Authority, Matthew Phillips, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History, Concordia University, Nebraska, wrote: “According to the New Testament, Christians should follow laws established by temporal authorities for the sake of their consciences (Romans 13:1–7; 1 Peter 2:19–20). However, the earliest Christian church began at odds with both Jewish leaders and Roman rulers. The first persecution of the church in Jerusalem led Peter and apostles to proclaim the primary text for Christian resistance to unjust authority: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).”

It’s a balancing act. We are told we must indeed obey those in authority, leaders, even employers. However, we must “do so without denying Christ or compromising our faith, we must always strive to cooperate with the ruling powers. That doesn’t necessarily mean that we will endorse all of their policies or approve of every specific action they take. This is especially true in a democratic society, where it is the duty of responsible citizens to examine public servants with a discerning and critical eye. Nevertheless, Christians are responsible to uphold biblical righteousness in a hostile culture while also expressing respect for its leadership.” (from A CHRISTIAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH A “GODLESS” GOVERNMENT, Focus On The Family)

No where do I find anything that promotes violent opposition. All true Christian opposition is both respectful and peaceful. Christians do not take to the streets and riot, destroying property, demanding “justice.” It seems to me the best example of opposition to an unjust law is the Boston Tea Party. After boarding the ships and dumping the tea in the harbor, the men cleaned the mess they’d made on the decks and departed. No one was hurt.

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Government: G-D’s Institution

“Man is in a helpless state of sin and depravity as a result of the fall. He is fallen and wholly unable to save himself. The answer to this great problem as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims, is the grace of God. For in God’s love he has not left the world alone in its wickedness and depravity. He has provided a means of salvation in Jesus Christ as the only escape from sin. He has also provided common grace to restrain the sinful actions of men and nations. One of the most prominent forms of common grace is the institution of government. While government does not save the souls of men, it nevertheless restrains their sinful desires and actions. But it is only by the saving power of the special grace of God that hearts and minds are renewed and turned to the light. Outward confirmation of the Law of God can never bring salvation and true life. Listen is as Dr. Lloyd-Jones preaches from Ephesians 6:10-13 and exposes the lie of false religions and teachers who replace the grace of God with human works. But in the Gospel, there is true life in Christ Jesus. This is the only hope that God has given the world, and it is the only hope that the church can proclaim to sinners and fallen men.” From Martyn Lloyd-Jones Trust [emphasis added]

Listen to Pastor MLJ’s sermon here: Common and Special Grace

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Submit to the Government

The Apostle Paul wrote to Roman followers of Jesus: “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.” (Romans 13:1 esv) (note: some translations use ‘submit,’ others use ‘be subject to.’) Apostle Paul was not the only Apostle to call for such submission to rulers. The Apostle Peter wrote: “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution. . .” (1Peter 2:13 esv)

Historically, Rome held control over Israel and the known world of that time. The Roman rulers were pagans, idolators, mostly cruel, and generally despicable. When Apostle Paul wrote to his letter, the Roman Emperor desired to be worshipped as a god. Despite this, Apostle Paul charges Believers to be subject to ALL authorities, and Peter says to do so “for the Lord’s sake.”

How can this be? Am I instructed to abide the edicts and whims of an elected office or a dictator, regardless? I’ve asked this question, and come to my own conclusion. Your conclusions my differ. And that’s the first of four points to consider concerning this topic: 1) It is up to the conscience of each Believer whether or not to be subject a specific individual that represents a governing authority; 2) there are consequences for disobedience, such as getting tossed into a den of lions or losing one’s head, literally; 3) Opposing a specific individual, a king or governor, is different that opposing government. G-D establishes government, in general, for the benefit of all His people, to promote order and happiness [maybe like “life, liberty, pursuit of happiness”] and 4) Any ruler that “departs from this principle, and becomes the protector of the evil and the oppressor of the good, the case is reversed, and the obligation to its support must cease.”

Whether to obey or not to obey is a complex issue. My points are really only starting points on a long quest in which all Believers must decide where the line is that will not be crossed.

One thing: We were created in G-D’s image. We are not animals that follow blindly their instincts. As humans we have an obligation to use the thinking, reasoning, capacities which we were given. Consequently, we are not to follow blindly any exhortation from any source, whether that be within our Christian circles or from our own government and its officials. The choice is ours. May G-D be honored and glorified in our choice and our sacrifice.

Here’s some links to three commentaries from which I base my points:

Ellicott’s Commentary

Barnes’s Notes

Benson’s Commentary

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Today’s Message on a Mug

Coffee in a Cup of Strength

There’s more to this message, however:

For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel,

“In returning and rest you shall be saved;

in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

But you were unwilling. . . (ESV)

Rather than “returning,” the New International Version (NIV) uses “repentance.” Ellicott’s Commentary says this: “In returning and rest . . .—The words describe a process of conversion, but the nature of that conversion is determined by the context. In this case it was the turning from the trust in man, with all its restless excitement, to a trust in God, full of calmness and of peace.”

Before the strength of quietness and trust is attained, there is a turning from our battles, our sin, and a turning to the Creator of the Universe, in Whom we find forgiveness from our sin and rest from our own strivings and attainments.

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .