DO WE FOLLOW GOD'S LAW OR GOVERNMENT LAW?

Dear friends and readers,


I am receiving requests for my take on scriptures like Romans 13 which begins with "LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES---"!

I am a law abiding citizen of any country I happen to be in at the time. In other words, I would not knowingly break any law of either civil or criminal intent---!

HOWEVER

As a follower of Christ, I am also commanded by the Lord to follow Biblical doctrine and in more and more instances today, man's law and Biblical doctrine are absolutely opposed to one another.

Is it Biblically correct to "smuggle" bibles into China or other countries who have forbidden them?

Biblically correct to "find inventive ways" to get clothing or food or medicine to people in dire need even though man's government forbids it?

Hand out Bible tracts or evangelize where it is forbidden?

Refuse to close churches at the command of elected officials for health reasons even though those commands stand in stark contrast to the Bible and to a countries Constitution?

Those are the very real questions that many followers of Christ are facing today and asking questions about.

As I returned from a two day trip this week, I had planned on writing an article on this blog about that very thing; Much to my surprise and gratitude, I discovered that a colleague from another ministry in our area had just done so. In reading his comments I immediately knew that I could not have done a better job and received his permission to reprint his article here.

Please meet Todd Mike Fink, a fellow biblical scholar, church elder, author and supporter of all things Israel. I wholly support his comments on this subject. He has also published a very good book entitled "ISRAEL, BIBLICAL SITES TRAVEL GUIDE". He can be reached through HolyLandSite.com

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ENJOY!

Following is my understanding of the authority structure and what I believe are common misunderstandings about the role of government and the church. I know some will disagree and that is fine. May God richly bless you! Difference in opinions by God’s people is nothing new. My utmost respect for you if you see things differently. For brevity’s sake I have reduced the following content, I could say much more but will leave it at this for the moment.

Misunderstanding One: The Government Has Authority Over the Church. Therefore, the Church Should Submit to the Government
Many use Romans 13:1–7 and 1 Peter 2:13–14 as mandates that the church should obey the government. However, these verses do not speak of the church but of citizens. Moreover, the context of these verses clearly show that the government’s command from God is to punish evil, praise what is right, and be servants of goodness. It does not teach that the government has absolute authority over the church, or believers. The church and believers have a higher authority and that is Christ. Whenever the government hinders, forbids, or impedes the commands of Christ for His church, then we simply must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29).
Christ said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:18–20). Christ, who is fully God, has maximum authority over the church and the church is to obey God as its highest authority. The church is unique and is not a business, social club, restaurant, sports event, etc. It is the bride of Christ and in whom Christ lives. Therefore, whenever we have a prohibition given by government that impedes us from fulfilling any command given by Christ to His church, then we must obey God rather than government.
Misunderstanding Two: The Church Is Not Being Prohibited from Preaching the Gospel, So It Should Submit to the Government and Stay Closed
Many use Acts 5:29 to claim that because the government is not forbidding the church to preach the gospel, that it’s biblical to obey the government and close its doors. To build a doctrine of whether or not we obey God based on one text is faulty hermeneutics (the science and art of interpretation). We need to look at all of the commands given by Christ to the church and not just one. We have many other commands that cannot be fully carried out when the church does not meet together, i.e., preach & teach, make disciples, evangelize, baptize, Lord's Supper, not forsake assembling together, laying on of hands, anointing with oil, exercising all the spiritual gifts, ministering to the weak, older teaching the younger, greeting one another, and many more. I would also argue that when the church doesn’t meet together that preaching and teaching is greatly hindered and the presence of the Lord that is uniquely manifested when the church gathers together is lost.
The book of Hebrews provides one of the most compelling reasons for the physical gathering of the church together. The theme of the book speaks of how Christ is better than and fulfills every aspect of the Old Covenant. Chapters 1–10 build case after case of why Christ is the absolute and perfect fulfillment of every aspect of the Old Covenant. Then, in Hebrews 10:19 there is a transition. This transition begins with the word, “therefore.” Based upon the truths of chapters 1–10, we now have these commands in Hebrews 10:19–25: “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
The context of this passage sets the setting wherein the truths of the book of Hebrews is to mainly take place. And this place is within the setting of the gathered assembly of the church of Christ the living God in whom resides all power and authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, period! Therefore, I believe that if a church chooses to do so for a short period for health reasons or catastrophes, it can choose to do so voluntarily but is not obligated by the government to do so.
It is within the gathering of the saints that the vast majority of the commands given to the church by Christ take place. Therefore, I believe that whenever we have a prohibition given by government that impedes us from fulfilling any command given by Christ to His church, then we must obey God rather than government.
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I sincerely hope this has clarified for you any issues pertaining to our responsibilities relevant to obeying God's law as opposed to man's law.

God bless you all today,

Pastor Rance.