That headline of your article...very bold of you, sir. Very bold. Yet also very true. God specifically commands Christians to respect the person in the office, no matter who they are. That does not mean we respect anything sinful they do, say, or promote; God never said, "Respect Nero because he persecutes you and is a fornicator, Christians!" He simply said, "Respect Nero because he's the governing authority, I put him in that position, and despite his persecution of you and his immorality he still is my instrument to punish evildoers" (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17; Tit. 3:1-2).
Calling governmental leaders with whose policies we disagree "clowns," "idiots," and "buffoons" -- like quite a lot of Christians do to Biden and quite a lot of Christians did with Trump, Obama, Bush, and Clinton -- is considered to be as American as apple pie due to the First Amendment...but it is not biblical, godly, or Christ-like. God calls upon us to express whatever disapproval we have of governmental authorities in a respectful way, which can be done. Watch this: "President Biden is wrong because he promotes immoral acts like abortion and same-sex marriage and because some of his policies have hurt the economy and thus have hurt the country." See how easy that is? There's no need to violate God's will by adding insults to that sentence. Yet so many of the brethren do so. If they do not repent, they will be surprised on the day of Judgment (Matt. 7:21-27).
I will also not RESPECT anyone that was appointed by God and through free will turns to evil. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” …”abstain from every form of evil. Flee from every evil matter. and don't have anything to do with evil. From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves. abstain from every form of evil. Keep away from every kind of evil. and avoid every kind of evil…”
The governing authorities of Rome that Paul is talking about in Romans 13 had done that very thing - their authority came from God, and they were wicked, pagan rulers. The Roman Emperor at this time was Nero. And yet Paul tells Christians, "be subject," "do not resist," and "honor" them.
So you’re saying that if Nero had ordered you to stone to death a completely innocent man that it is proper to do so? I completely agree with honoring the rank and position of one appointed by God, by I cannot respect the evil human that mean be in that position who has turned from an honorable position to practicing evil.
God ordained three authorities. First was the home, then civil government, then the Lord's church. The man is the authority over his wife and children. Wives are subject to the husband's authority in the same manner Christians are subject to civil government. According to your logic, the husband can order his wife to do whatever he demands of her. And she must submit. He can tell her in America to wear a burka for modesty's sake. She must obey. He can tell her she cannot have any female friends because he does not like them. She must obey. He can order her to do all of the yard work in addition to all the housework. She must obey or she does not love God. He can tell her to stay home on Lord's Day and not assemble with the church because he does not want her to get sick or be looked at by other men. If she does not obey, he can punish her for her disobedience. He can treat her like a dirty slave and she must obey because God appointed her husband the authority over her. Do you believe that? God ordained authorities to do specific acts. A husband has the authority and responsibility to be a woman's protector, spiritual leader and physical provider. He cannot abuse his authority over his wife any more than the civil government can abuse its authority. Civil government is only ordained to be a deacon of God for righteousness. To support good and punish evil doers. Biden is evil personified and is abusing God's ordained purpose by using it to promote evil. No Christian should honor or respect him. If you do, then be sure to respect wife abusers as well.
Your Nov 5. 2024 Post : "If You Don't Respect President Trump, Then You Don't Respect God.” Many Christians do not consider Trump was/is God’s Chosen instrument for a time such as this.
God points all authority. But if those who are appointed exercise God’s gift of“free will” and use it in the opposite direction of what our Lord expects and becomes a negative and evil influence, then how is one supposed to support that? We cannot just support all authority without assurance they will follow God’s Will. God created Lucifer(Satan). But when Lucifer turned to evil, “Satan” was thrown from heaven to the earth…..The same for any authorities that take the same path on earth aka positions of authority turned to evil.
Would you say that to those under Hitler, Stalin, Un or Putin are to “respect” them. Paul isn’t saying turn a blind eye to evil. He is saying to respect the authority behind the leader. That’s Him! Remember Jesus told Pilate that his authority was given by God. Evil leaders will pay the ultimate price for their crimes against humanity. We as Americans get to vote on the person that will respect our beliefs, values and rights. If you don’t like what you have now vote against them!
There's a difference in "respect" and "agree with."
We are commanded by the Holy Spirit through Paul in these passages to respect our governing authorities - because God has given them their authority. That command is true no matter what.
God, because He is the highest authority, will judge evil leaders. We are not called to turn a blind eye to evil or to call evil good. But even in standing for what's right, we must remain respectful of our governing authorities.
That headline of your article...very bold of you, sir. Very bold. Yet also very true. God specifically commands Christians to respect the person in the office, no matter who they are. That does not mean we respect anything sinful they do, say, or promote; God never said, "Respect Nero because he persecutes you and is a fornicator, Christians!" He simply said, "Respect Nero because he's the governing authority, I put him in that position, and despite his persecution of you and his immorality he still is my instrument to punish evildoers" (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17; Tit. 3:1-2).
Calling governmental leaders with whose policies we disagree "clowns," "idiots," and "buffoons" -- like quite a lot of Christians do to Biden and quite a lot of Christians did with Trump, Obama, Bush, and Clinton -- is considered to be as American as apple pie due to the First Amendment...but it is not biblical, godly, or Christ-like. God calls upon us to express whatever disapproval we have of governmental authorities in a respectful way, which can be done. Watch this: "President Biden is wrong because he promotes immoral acts like abortion and same-sex marriage and because some of his policies have hurt the economy and thus have hurt the country." See how easy that is? There's no need to violate God's will by adding insults to that sentence. Yet so many of the brethren do so. If they do not repent, they will be surprised on the day of Judgment (Matt. 7:21-27).
Thank you brother!
Respect evil? Respectfully disagree. Pray for the evil government, yes I do.
It goes with the saying, "You salute the rank, not the man."
I will also not RESPECT anyone that was appointed by God and through free will turns to evil. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” …”abstain from every form of evil. Flee from every evil matter. and don't have anything to do with evil. From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves. abstain from every form of evil. Keep away from every kind of evil. and avoid every kind of evil…”
The governing authorities of Rome that Paul is talking about in Romans 13 had done that very thing - their authority came from God, and they were wicked, pagan rulers. The Roman Emperor at this time was Nero. And yet Paul tells Christians, "be subject," "do not resist," and "honor" them.
So you’re saying that if Nero had ordered you to stone to death a completely innocent man that it is proper to do so? I completely agree with honoring the rank and position of one appointed by God, by I cannot respect the evil human that mean be in that position who has turned from an honorable position to practicing evil.
That's where Act 5:29 comes in: "We must obey God rather than men."
God ordained three authorities. First was the home, then civil government, then the Lord's church. The man is the authority over his wife and children. Wives are subject to the husband's authority in the same manner Christians are subject to civil government. According to your logic, the husband can order his wife to do whatever he demands of her. And she must submit. He can tell her in America to wear a burka for modesty's sake. She must obey. He can tell her she cannot have any female friends because he does not like them. She must obey. He can order her to do all of the yard work in addition to all the housework. She must obey or she does not love God. He can tell her to stay home on Lord's Day and not assemble with the church because he does not want her to get sick or be looked at by other men. If she does not obey, he can punish her for her disobedience. He can treat her like a dirty slave and she must obey because God appointed her husband the authority over her. Do you believe that? God ordained authorities to do specific acts. A husband has the authority and responsibility to be a woman's protector, spiritual leader and physical provider. He cannot abuse his authority over his wife any more than the civil government can abuse its authority. Civil government is only ordained to be a deacon of God for righteousness. To support good and punish evil doers. Biden is evil personified and is abusing God's ordained purpose by using it to promote evil. No Christian should honor or respect him. If you do, then be sure to respect wife abusers as well.
😂
Your Nov 5. 2024 Post : "If You Don't Respect President Trump, Then You Don't Respect God.” Many Christians do not consider Trump was/is God’s Chosen instrument for a time such as this.
The same things from Romans 13:1-7 would certainly apply to President Trump if he is reelected in November.
God points all authority. But if those who are appointed exercise God’s gift of“free will” and use it in the opposite direction of what our Lord expects and becomes a negative and evil influence, then how is one supposed to support that? We cannot just support all authority without assurance they will follow God’s Will. God created Lucifer(Satan). But when Lucifer turned to evil, “Satan” was thrown from heaven to the earth…..The same for any authorities that take the same path on earth aka positions of authority turned to evil.
There is a difference between "respect" and "support."
Right!
Would you say that to those under Hitler, Stalin, Un or Putin are to “respect” them. Paul isn’t saying turn a blind eye to evil. He is saying to respect the authority behind the leader. That’s Him! Remember Jesus told Pilate that his authority was given by God. Evil leaders will pay the ultimate price for their crimes against humanity. We as Americans get to vote on the person that will respect our beliefs, values and rights. If you don’t like what you have now vote against them!
There's a difference in "respect" and "agree with."
We are commanded by the Holy Spirit through Paul in these passages to respect our governing authorities - because God has given them their authority. That command is true no matter what.
God, because He is the highest authority, will judge evil leaders. We are not called to turn a blind eye to evil or to call evil good. But even in standing for what's right, we must remain respectful of our governing authorities.