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Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Obey God Rather Than Men

Acts 5:27-39 give Christians the biblical and Godly reason for rejecting civil government when it comes to preaching the Gospel:

27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, F43 yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us." 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. F44 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." 33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. 35 Then he said to them, "Fellow Israelites, F45 consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!"

This does NOT give Christians license to disobey every law or ordinance that doesn't suit them. Throughout the Holy Bible, God gives us clear direction that we are to obey the governing authorities. But there is a limit. Given the example of Daniel (Daniel 6) praying against Darius' decree, and the example in Acts, we have biblical authority and freedom to pray and preach.
Jesus tells us to "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" (Mark 12:17). This has two levels of meaning: 1) The state (Caesar) will require taxes -- we are to pay those. But the state does not have our hearts. Our souls, our hearts, our object of worship, is for God alone. 2) Not all of our money goes to the State. Pay your taxes, but also pay your tithe.

Christians in America are losing more and more freedoms, and some of those are OK to live with. The Declaration of Independence reads, "Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed." So it's wise not to leave the country for every inconvenience and evil that pops us. BUT, being denied the rights to prayer, worship and preaching are unacceptable. The State is not God, and it may not dictate these practices.

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