Civil Disobedience vs. Biblical Submission Where’s the line?
Katie's RamblingsI work for our state non-profit homeschool organization, MiCHN. One of the many things we do for the homeschoolers of Michigan is fight for the legal right to continue to homeschool in Michigan. We build relationships with our legislative officials, and we advocate for homeschoolers of Michigan. You could say we lobby to keep parents as the primary decision maker of their children. Many have fought for these rights, and we do not want to lose what they fought for, so we stay on top of this fight.
Why am I sharing this?
Because it is important to understand how our country works. This country was built on the idea that everyone has the right to freedom, and everyone is equally important. This is the foundational ideas of American government. I get to vote for those who make the law. I get to vote for those who enforce those laws, and I get to play a role in what happens in my state and country. Sadly, we are no longer teaching our children the true purpose of the government. Our children’s textbooks no longer teach civics, but rather a distorted version of socialism.
Those of us who choose to live a conservative, Biblical life style are teaching our children submission to the governmental authorities. We open our Bible’s to the book of Acts 13, we teach our children that during the days of Yeshua and Paul there were cruel dictators, and yet both submitted to the authority of the land. These are accurate truths.
But how do we apply these truths and the reality we live in today here in America?
America is not under tyranny. America has a constitution that says, we the people have the right to speak out against those in power, who abuse that power. We still have constitutional rights in America. This is very different from the time in which Yeshua and Paul lived.
So, what is the proper response during these times. Times when the whole world seems upside down. When our leaders are making excecutive orders that we feel infringe on our rights.
What is the correct response?
I had a really wonderful conversation this week with a friend. She reminded me that not only does the Bible teach us to submit to our government, but it actually teaches us a pattern of submission. The Bible gives us a structure to follow in life. That structure is Yehovah first, then family, church/community, local government, state government, country, then world. The first person we need to humbly submit to is our Creator and Redeemer. When we start there we can easily put aside our own agendas and desires, because He shows us what is more important. The next place we need to focus our attention on is our family. Our parents, spouse, children, siblings, grandparents, etc. are the next priority. We must learn from our parents and grandparents, we must teach our children to humbly submit, respect, and love their spouse and family. If we don’t start at home, we end up with a country of selfish people. The next place, we look to for authority and accountablitiy is our local congregation, our community of believers. We must learn in these more intimate relationships to be humble, and to find peace and unity with one another. When we put these three areas in their proper place, we are ready to go out into all the world. We have the tools we need to stand firm in truth and righteousness. We have the knowledge and wisdom that comes only from Above. We are ready to see the world through the eyes of our Master.
Then, and only then, are we ready for interaction with the world. We are called to be in the world, but not of the world. We are called to be light to the lost. We are called to defend the defenseless. We are called to care for the widow and orphan.
BUT, we can not do any of these things if we are not fully equiped for good work. We must gather all our tools for the job that we are called to do, and we must realize that as we go out into the world to do the good works, to we are entering a war zone. We can not go out into battle without our armor. So, as we head out into our local community, and we interact with our statesmen and countrymen, we must be fully equiped.
As we send our children out of our homes to work, minister, or buy and sell with the world, we must teach them to love and respect all people as God’s creation. We must teach them to love and respect the lost. We must teach them humilty in relationships with their employers, employees, c0-workers, etc. We also must teach our children to love what Yehovah loves, and hate what Yehovah hates. We must teach them that there is a righteous anger that is from God. But we must always remember that vengence is mine says Yehovah. So, get angry, but do NOT sin.
This is the action plan outlined below:
(I hope you will take the time and look up these scriptures. If not all of them, please just read through the book of Ephesians, the letter Paul wrote to the church in Ephesias.)
- Love Yehovah with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and He will guide your steps. Dueteronomy 6:4-5, Ephesians 5:1-21
- Submit to parents, spouse, elderly, and humbly teach your children. Ephesians 5:22-33, Ephesians 6:1-4, Dueteronomy 5:16,6:6-9
- Humility must be within the body of beleivers. Philippians 2:1-11, Ephesians 4
- We must prepare before going out into our neighborhood and comminty to do good work. Ephesians 5:1-21, Philippians 2:12-18
- We must prepare for Spiritual battle before leaving our homes, or sending our children out of our homes. Ephesians 6:10-20
- Respect those whom you work for or who work for you. Ephesians 6:5-9
- We must submit to the authorities that Yehovah places over us, and we should not draw undo attention to ourselves. Romans 13, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
- Lastly, we must love our neighbor as ourself. Mark 12:30-31
So, what is the answer? How do we respond to those in government positions making radical decisions for the peole that we feel are unjust and unconstitutional?
The answer is always, first pray and get your priorities in order. Don’t just run around screaming justice and demanding equality. Get your mind, heart, sould, body, household, and church in order.
Then secondly, be informed.
Know Scripture.
Know the law. Know the constitution. Know your rights.
In our country, we still have the right to disagree and stand up to our elected officials. We still have the right to voice our disgreement. This is still a country where we can disagree, and even demand that our government officials are held to the constitution. If we do not demand this, our country will indeed lose all its freedoms. We will become a socialist, dictatorship, or worse a communist country. As people of Yehovah, we need to learn the proper way to defend the defenseless, to stand up for truth, and to advocate for equality, as defined by Scripture. We need to vote, we need to raise up leaders that know the Word of Yehovah. We need to remember this is NOT the promised land. We need to seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness.
Believers don’t just quietly submit to tyranny, instead submit to Yehovah.
Let Him guide your steps. Prayerfully, consider Truth and stand firm in it!
Shalom
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Written by Katie
Things to know as you visit our site
We are Bible believing, scripture only people. We love to learn about the Hebrew roots of our faith. We believe it is important to not add or subtract from the Divine Word of God. The compiled scriptures that agree with one another and have no contradiction is the 66 books of what is commonly referred to as the Christian Bible, or the Holy Bible.
These writings were originally written by men inspired by God. They were written in the language of the writers and readers of the original documents. Many of the original documents have been lost, but God’s Word is eternal and remains. Therefore, it is important to us to study, learn, and consider the culture, history, and language of the original writers of the scriptures.
In our studies we have learned that the true name of God is Yehovah, and His son, our Messiah, is named Yeshua. Therefore, as you read our posts we will use the Hebrew names of God and our Messiah.
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