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Biblical Response To Evil Government

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How should we respond to evil governments? We know that the Bible often tells us to Fear the Lord and follow him. We need to be on God’s side of a response. Let’s start by looking at various situations and scriptures.
First off, in America as Christians to follow the government means we are on the side of the constitution and the governing documents. Those founding documents give us religious freedom and right to life. Easy application that both slavery and abortion are in violation of the constitution and those items line up with scripture. Those forces wishing to overthrow and destroy our constitution and government have taken control of almost every area of American life. So while evil government that violates it’s own constitution has taken hold-I believe we are bound to first obey God and second our rightful government (the constitution).
The reasons why it could be right for a Christian to civilly disobey, separate, flee, resist, or secede from an evil government.
A few key starting notes
1. God’s law is above man’s law. If a government commands or forces us to violate God’s law we cannot follow. Some examples could be demands to stop preaching against homosexuality, commands for pastors to have to perform such marriages (in the US has happened), commands that would force doctors to encourage or perform abortions, commands to stop preaching the gospel, etc. Scriptural examples of these are many. Peter, Paul, and the apostles continued to preach when told not to. Daniel continued to pray and worship God when the government told him it was against the law. These verses come after the apostles had been arrested for refusing to stop preaching the gospel.
 
Acts 5:28-29  saying, e“We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you fintend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, g“We must obey God rather than men. 
2. Secondly, God instituted government for our good. The institution of government is always good-while those in power of government are often evil. It’s always right to operate within the laws to try to make the government more godly. Where things get tricky is how people have and should understand this second point. I believe we should consider that God has given Christians options that can all be glorifying to Him in many situations. I draw this conclusion by numerous accounts in scripture of conflict with government and the many different responses that God ordained or allowed. Additionally to this end, Ecclesiastes 3 states.

For everything there is a season, and la time for every matter under heaven:
2  a time to be born, and a time to mdie;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3  a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4  a time to nweep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to odance;
8  a time to love, and a time to whate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Those verses indicate that God allows for a time and a season for nearly everything. Let’s look at a few points.
We should seek to put Godly people in power or people who will uphold justice. God is against lawlessness. Government is to bring wrath on those who practice evil.

Exodus 18:21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. (Additionally Deut 1:15-16)

Romans 13:4 …But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, tan avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer

We are generally to obey rulers (Titus 3:1, Remind them to be subject to rulers….additionally Romans 13 among others), but God is ultimately opposed to evil rulers. (Isaiah 1:23-26, Isaiah 10:1-3)

Protection of an innocent life in defiance of the government is described as faith and this was done by defying and hiding from the government. Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the kings edict. 

God appears to want people to intercede in times of injustice and oppression. We are to defend the oppressed, poor, needy, weak, and vulnerable. 

Isaiah 59:15b-16a The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede;

Psalm 82:3-4 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

Proverbs 31:9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

This application seems to surely apply to something like mask mandates, vaccine mandates, or unlawful lockdowns. Our body is God’s temple and we are to protect the health of our families. If we are convicted and believe that the masks, vaccines, or lockdowns would do harm to our bodies or families whom we are to protect-we I conclude it’s our responsibility to obey God rather than government and not willingly comply with those orders that would be harmful. The believes on where the line is will vary, but let everyone be fully convinced in his own mind as Paul sais and there is plenty of evidence it’s possible those mandates are very harmful to both our bodies and our families.

Self defense has many Biblical examples. This includes defense of homes, families, cities, and peoples. This goes hand in hand with the right to bear arms. The Jews weren’t the ruling class but they were allowed to fight to protect themselves from genocide in the book of Esther. I think we would also be allowed and responsible to fight to protect our families from genocide.

Esther 8: 11 …the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included,

Esther 9:16 Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder.

In Esthers time the people had permission from the government to defend themselves from conflicting orders much as in our time (evil leaders vs rightful constitutional law).

Proverbs 24:11A Rescue those who are being taken away to death;

Additionally, Isaiah 1:23, Isaiah 28:6 speak to these ideas. Abram had no problem rescuing Lot and his people with force (Genesis 14:13-16). In Luke 22:36, Jesus advised His disciples to take swords along with their other provisions. Exodus 22:2, also indicates it is okay to use self-defense.

Nehemiah also had the permission from the king-just as American’s are on the side of the constitution. Nehemiah had local authorities conspiring and perverting justice and had to resist. They took up arms to defend their work and even migrated into one area together. They weren’t overthrowing the entire kingdom-they were preserving their people. This example could be the best Biblical example and closest to America. In Esther they were given permission to rise up and defend against a Jewish genocide. What would it look like today? Secession? Migration to one area? Seperation? 

Neh 4:13-14 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears,and their bows. 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

They attempted to scare Nehemiah but he did not flee. In Chapter 7 the people return to the city and basically migrate or immigrate to the same region. The moved to the same region for reasons of strength and protection. They continue to rebuild and they begin returning to God’s law by reading the law in the public gathering.
Was the American Revolution a violation of Romans 13:1-7?
It’s important to understand that many of those supporting the Revolutionary War were deeply religious and felt biblically justified. Some today say they were wrong in this belief, but they knew their scriptures better than almost all American church leaders today and they may have been right: The colonists supported God’s institution of government. They believed that actions against a specific oppressive government were not a violation of the general principle of Romans 13The colonists saw the war as a defensive action. Peaceful resolution was attempted before the British fired upon unarmed citizens in the Boston Massacre. The colonists, therefore, saw themselves as defending themselves after the conflict had been initiated by the British.
In scripture we see different responses to evil government. Paul fled. Jesus instructed his disciples in Matt 10 to flee from persecution from one city to the next. So from fleeing, defying, resisting, and even overthrowing. It depended on what God’s purpose was. Sometimes he ordained war, defense, etc. Other times such as in Ezekiel’s time he told Israel to not fight back because he was against them and judging them and if they resisted they would fall to the sword. If they went into captivity God would spare their life.
Where are we now in America? How should we apply Biblical principles to our situation? Ultimately God will not allow any action to succeed if it doesn’t fall within his greater plan and purpose. I conclude it falls within biblical guidance to do what is needed to attempt to protect and preserve families, the body of believers, and communities. Even if Christ does not return till the end-after a time of tribulation it appears Jesus gathers a remnant of survivors from the earth. We can seek to be survivors while we are faithful in teaching the gospel to our children and those around us. We can take actions in good conscience and good faith while leaving the outcome of any efforts in God’s hands. 
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Christian Persecution

crossThink about this….
Public gatherings to burn bibles: Okay
Public gatherings to read bibles: Banned in some states
It is believed that modern persecution of Christians is currently at the highest levels in world history. It’s estimated that around 160,000 Christians are murdered for simply being a Christian each year. In the US this week a BLM protest in Portland that included virtually no people of color started burning bibles. What does protesting police brutality and racism have to do with burning bibles?
What realities might we soon be looking forward to in this “new normal”? We can look elsewhere on the globe where trends with the same ideas led to severe persecution. Voice of the Martyrs identifies 52 countries where bibles are (1) difficult/dangerous to obtain, (2) illegal or highly restricted, and (3) strictly illegal and only available through covert smuggling.
In North Korea owning a bible or professing to be a Christian is a death sentence. It’s estimated that at any one time there are 70,000 Christians in concentration camps for the sole reason of being a suspected Christian or a family member of a Christian. In North Korea documented incidents against Christians include being hung on a cross over a fire, crushed under a steamroller, and herded off bridges.
In Somalia you can be executed for just being suspected of being a Christian. Persecution can’t stop Christianity from spreading-in fact it has always led to it’s spread. Could it really get that bad in America? History has shown that once communist, socialist, dictatorships, or islamic oppression takes control of a nation and their government things spiral very rapidly. These true stories depict what Christians often face in these hostile countries.
Richard Wurmbrand
North Korean Christians
How are we to respond to persecution should it come to our doorstep?
2 Thessalonians 2:15 – So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
Revelation 13:10 – If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
1 Timothy 6:12 – Fight the good Fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

MSNBC believes it’s their job to control what we think

Everyone Who Believes

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