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See, the way you discern Biblical logic and reasoning is by NOT taking verses out of context to fit your ideology. Verse follows verse for a reason; a passage will go from a starting point to a conclusion. This arguing that Hebrews 10:25 trumps all of Romans 13 = ridiculous.
Not to mention, but those arguing against Romans 13 being applicable to today& #39;s COVID related restrictions seem to stop reading after verse 4. Verses 1-4 give the admonishment to be subject to government; 5-14 give us the reason why, and it& #39;s one that ought to compel Christians.
Yes, we live in the world and are subject to godless* institutions that order our lives. *(But even this is a misnomer, because God states clearly over and over that HE sets up rulers for His purposes, and takes them down for His purposes. HE does; you don& #39;t.)
That being said, the Bible is very clear that we are to cede our rights for others& #39; sake - to hold up their rights ahead of our own. "Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (13:8-9)
Furthermore, Paul reminds us that we are not only to consider this our prime directive for daily living, but to remember and understand the times: Jesus is coming. Who will He take to task: those who worshiped Him in Spirit and truth, living peaceably with his neighbors
following a course of action to ensure (even if they personally think the & #39;pandemic& #39; is fake& #39;) that they don& #39;t infect someone - or worse, cause an unbeliever to profane the name of Christ for their own actions?
Or those who, as Paul says, "behave...in dissension and jealousy"?
Or those who, as Paul says, "behave...in dissension and jealousy"?
Why are we to put up with possibly ridiculous, blind leadership that (as yet) stops short of forbidding us to worship Christ altogether? Why not resist?
"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh." (v14)
"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh." (v14)
1 Peter 2 takes up the problem and states it even more plainly than Paul (something of a rarity, if you are familiar with Peter and Paul).
Peter says, look: God knows, and I know we are living among people who care nothing for God and His directives.
Peter says, look: God knows, and I know we are living among people who care nothing for God and His directives.
He says, don& #39;t look at them. Their lives are not to be motivators or instigators for your feelings and behavior. Remember who is the point of all this! Remember who bought you.
BOUGHT YOU. Let it sink in, in case you forgot. He gets to call the shots.
BOUGHT YOU. Let it sink in, in case you forgot. He gets to call the shots.
Even if you think the government is forcing wrong and unreasonable demands on churches, even if you think "they" have nefarious motives behind it...
SO WHAT?
You cannot get around Peter and the Holy Spirit in this chapter. SUBMIT ANYWAY. This is Christian witness.
SO WHAT?
You cannot get around Peter and the Holy Spirit in this chapter. SUBMIT ANYWAY. This is Christian witness.
1 Peter 2:12: "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us."
He& #39;s coming, and He would prefer that your actions being others into the sheep pen before He gets here.
He& #39;s coming, and He would prefer that your actions being others into the sheep pen before He gets here.
2:13: "Submit yourselves FOR THE LORD& #39;S SAKE to every human authority..." 15: "For it is God& #39;s will THAT by doing good you should SILENCE the ignorant talk of foolish people."
I love this one. This is for the & #39;but our freedoms!!& #39; people in the front row:
16: "Live as FREE PEOPLE, but DO NOT USE YOUR FREEDOM as a cover-up for evil; LIVE AS GOD& #39;S SLAVES."
Remember how you& #39;ve been bought?
Oh yeah, and Holy Spirit be calling your defiance "evil", btw.
16: "Live as FREE PEOPLE, but DO NOT USE YOUR FREEDOM as a cover-up for evil; LIVE AS GOD& #39;S SLAVES."
Remember how you& #39;ve been bought?
Oh yeah, and Holy Spirit be calling your defiance "evil", btw.
17: "Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."
Pretty dang clear.
How many times does Peter have to remind us that being persecuted for Christ (CHRIST, mind you, not your sinful pride) is to be DESIRED, not fought against?
Pretty dang clear.
How many times does Peter have to remind us that being persecuted for Christ (CHRIST, mind you, not your sinful pride) is to be DESIRED, not fought against?
19: "For it is commendable if someone BEARS UP under the pain of UNJUST suffering because THEY ARE CONSCIOUS OF GOD."
He& #39;s not saying there& #39;s no injustice being done. He& #39;s reiterating that this is our course of action. Bearing up. Enduring.
He& #39;s not saying there& #39;s no injustice being done. He& #39;s reiterating that this is our course of action. Bearing up. Enduring.
20: "But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?"
This is what GCC and John MacArthur are advocating you do. In fact, this is what they& #39;re saying you must do. I& #39;m sorry, but did they receive an updated revelation?
This is what GCC and John MacArthur are advocating you do. In fact, this is what they& #39;re saying you must do. I& #39;m sorry, but did they receive an updated revelation?
Now Peter gets to the punchline, which is always Jesus.
"But if you suffer [and I REALLY strain to imagine obeying a few social distancing orders as & #39;suffering& #39;] for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God."
And He& #39;s who we ought to be thinking about.
"But if you suffer [and I REALLY strain to imagine obeying a few social distancing orders as & #39;suffering& #39;] for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God."
And He& #39;s who we ought to be thinking about.
Don& #39;t pervert the concept of worshiping God into a vessel for sin.
21: "To this you were CALLED, because CHRIST SUFFERED FOR YOU, leaving you an EXAMPLE, that you should FOLLOW in His steps."
You cannot get around this, and if someone mentions table flipping I& #39;m gonna scream.
21: "To this you were CALLED, because CHRIST SUFFERED FOR YOU, leaving you an EXAMPLE, that you should FOLLOW in His steps."
You cannot get around this, and if someone mentions table flipping I& #39;m gonna scream.
23: "When they hurled insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. INSTEAD, He entrusted Himself to Him WHO judges justly."
There& #39;s only one just judge, and it& #39;s God.
There& #39;s only one just judge, and it& #39;s God.
Jesus knew better than to seek justice in the hearts of men.
When we do, it demonstrates our profound lack of trust in our Savior, who "Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed."
When we do, it demonstrates our profound lack of trust in our Savior, who "Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed."
