God’s Expectations for the Christian

1.    The Christian’s Duty to Government

A. Pray – An unconditional command (1Timothy 2:1-2)

B. Submit (Romans 13:1) -A conditional command (Be subject to higher powers)

1)       When the government is Godly

a.       Understand- to resist a godly government and godly laws is to resist God Himself (1 Samuel 8:7; Matthew 10:40)

b.       Understand that godly powers ordained of God are not a terror to good works but a terror to evil works

True religion affords Government its surest support – George Washington

2)       When the government is evil/tyrannical (gov’t or law that violates God’s laws)

a.       Keep The Law of God – To obey evil laws is to disobey God (Acts 5:29; Proverbs 28:4)

b.       Abusive or evil authority does not demand obedience (II Chronicles 26:14-21)

c.       We must stand for God (the truth) and against all evil wherever it is found (Ephesians 6:12)

d.       Evil Government and evil laws are to be Biblically resisted (Hosea 5:10-11)

e.       Biblical resistance is in three degrees

                                                                                                   i.      Verbal- Elijah (1 Kings 18:17-18)

                                                                                                 ii.      Flight – the Disciples fled in the face of oppression (Mathew 10:23;23:24, Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt so that Jesus was not killed (Matthew 2:13-14: David fled (1 Samuel) The Apostle Paul (Acts 9:23-25; 1Corinthians 11:32-33; and other Christians through out history (Hebrews 11:37-38)  God’s people throughout all generations have fled oppression for the right to freely pursue God and their faith.   That is how the USA was born.

                                                                                                iii.      Armed Resistance is reserved only to those who are led by a magistrate or proper authority ( Zimri –Numbers 25:6, 14-15; Nehemiah 4:7-17; Elijah in 1 kings 18)  Hostility is a last resort and the Christian should always try to use peaceful resistance to evil or corrupt leadership. 

f.       The Bible condemns anarchy (1 Corinthians 14:33) says, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.  As Christians we should take up arms only as a last resort , only if all other avenues of resolution are exhausted and only if we are directed to by those in authority.

C. Resistance is never commanded but implied

1.      Our form of government demands that if government oversteps Godly law then we should seek to replace those in authority through elections and impeachment

2.       Godly government is more likely with Godly leaders