Praying for Those in Authority

I would like to follow up on yesterdays post.....

I do believe in civil disobedience, i.e. not obeying government leaders that are in opposition to the Word of God.  But that does not negate our responsiblity to pray for that leadership.  We still need to obey the Word of God to pray for those in authority.

1 Timothy 2:1-2  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and [for] all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

When the leadership is evil that is all the more reason to pray more diligently for those leaders. It is even a reason to bless them. 

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you

Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

In the USA at this time the government seems to becoming more and more opposed to Christianity.  Being a Christian is becoming more and more politically incorrect.  As Christians I believe we need to be even more diligent than ever in praying for our leaders and for our nation.  I also believe it is a time to be making a determination in our hearts that we are going to stand for the Lord Jesus Christ, no matter what the cost. 

I believe we are headed into  a time in this country when we as Christians are going to have to make some tough choices and we are going to have to band together like never before.  The body of Christ is going to have to truly become the body of Christ.  Not only do we need to pray for those in authority, but we need to pray for one another, that we may boldly stand for Truth.

Responding to Evil Leadership

As Christians what should our response be to evil leaders?

God has put governmental authorities in place to be His representatives in the earth to maintain order and deal with evil deeds.  But when the leader is the one performing the evil deeds and requiring his subjects to perform deeds contrary to the Word of God, then that evil authority should not be obeyed. 

Romans 13:1 tells us to "be subject to higher powers."  In verse 3 of Romans 13 it says that the rulers are a terror to evil.  When they are no longer a terror to evil and are evil themselves I believe we must stand against that evil. 

When man’s requirements are contrary to God's Word, we must obey God rather than man, (Act 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.)

Recently I have been studying the life and writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  He was a Lutheran pastor in Nazi Germany.  He was one of the few church leaders/pastors who took a stand against Hitler and the evil Nazi policies from the very beginning. Eventually, at the request of his brother-in-law and after much agony over the decision, Dietrich joined the resistance movement within the government who were trying to do what they could to get Hitler out of power.  They hoped to stop the evil that was being perpetrated upon the German people, those being conquered, and especially upon the Jews.  Bonhoeffer spent the last couple of years of his life in prison and was hung just weeks before WWII came to an end, for his participation in the resistance.  This is an example of a Christian who felt he could not submit to the evil requirements of an evil leadership.  I personally applaud his actions within the church.  But I am still wrestling with the idea of his involvement in actively trying to take down the government. 

Romans 13:1-7  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Here is a link to a pretty good article about this by Chuck Baldwin, a pastor, radio broadcaster, and syndicated columnist.  http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20070810.html

Discussion Question Posts

I have been taking some Bible courses through an online Bible Institute.  One of the things we have to do each week is respond to two discussion questions.  So I am going to be taking some of my answers to some of those questions and making them into blog posts.  In fact "Kingdom Perspective" was one such post.  I may or may not indicate whether the blog post is from the courses.  But if the post starts with a question, it most likely came from one of my courses.

I would be glad to have a dialog with you concerning my posts either through your comments or by email.  My email address for this blog is in my profile.

Kingdom Perspective

What is kingdom perspective?  Does behavior matter?

Sometimes I like to get a clearer definition of something before I address it.  So I looked up the words “kingdom” and “perspective” in the Webster’s dictionary.

The definition I liked best for kingdom is:  “the realm in which God’s will is fulfilled”.  The first two definition were 1) kingship 2) a politically organized community or major territorial unit having a monarchical form of government headed by a king or queen

The definitions for Perspective 1) archaic “an optical glass” (as a telescope) 2) a: the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed also: point of view b: the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance

We need to live our Christian lives looking down through the telescope of time, looking forward to the time that the fullness of Jesus’ kingdom is established in the earth.  We need to look forward to the time when Jesus will truly be king on the earth.  Right now he can be king in our individual lives and His kingdom authority can be exercised through our lives where each one of us lives.  But there is coming a day when He will rule the whole earth.  At that time there will be those who rule and reign with Him.  I believe who rules and reigns and in what capacity are determined by how we live our lives now.  Therefore behavior matters.

2 Timothy 2:12 ¹²If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: ¹³If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Rev. 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; ¹⁰And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

 Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

I believe that is what certain of the parables are speaking of, the fact that how we live our lives here and what we do with the giftings God has given us will make a difference in the kingdom to come.  Some examples:  Matthew 24:44-51; Luke 12: 42-48; Matt. 25:1-30;  Luke 19:12-27

To me every Christian should live their lives with a Kingdom perspective. Jesus Christ preached the gospel of the kingdom of God. (Mark 1:14-15)  He spoke much about the kingdom.  Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”  (Matt. 24:13)  Jesus also admonished us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33) So it behooves us to live our lives every day with the kingdom of God in mind.

Preaching Repentance As An Act of Love

Preaching repentance does not seem to be popular.  It may make some people uncomfortable. Although preaching the need for repentance may be unpopular today, it is very scriptural.

-John the Baptist preached repentance in preparation for the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Matt. 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.)

-Jesus preached repentance.  (Matt. 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. )

-On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached repentance.  (Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.)

-Jesus preached repentance again in the book of Revelation, in the letter to the Laodiceans.  (Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.)

It is at this verse I want to stop and say more.  In this letter to the Laodiceans, Jesus is saying that it is because He loves them that He rebukes and chastens in order to bring to repentance.  Our God is always motivated by love, because He is love.  For some reason we seem to get the idea that confronting someone with their sin in order to see them repent is unkind or unloving.  Now it can be done in a very unkind and unloving way. But done appropriately under the leading of the Holy Spirit is truly an act of love.

The Bible says to speak the truth in love. (Eph. 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ)  This speaking the truth in love is for the purpose that we may grow, so that we may mature as the body of Christ. Also in Proverbs 27:6 we are told "Faithful [are] the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy [are] deceitful."  Sometimes the truth hurts.  So does surgery to take out a cancerous tumor.  But that surgery can be the very thing that saves your life and leads to health. 

So we see from these scriptures that preaching repentance and confronting sin is a very loving act that can lead to health and growth.