Mathew 8: 9 & 10
…8The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” 10When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.......
Some people seem to think that it is OK to reject civil authorities. Under what circumstances is this acceptable to God? I think it is rather more restrictive than some Christians would like.
What did Lord Jesus say to the Roman? To hell with you, you are oppressing my people, a representative of a pagan empire that is founded on blood? Obviously not.
There is a principle here that transcends the obvious mercy and grace that Lord Jesus showed to a sinner. The Centurion first said that he was under authority. I served in the Navy for nearly 9 years. I know what that means. You go where you are told, you do what you are told, you wear what you are told and have no say in the matter. If you rebel, there are consequences.
My father was also a military man. He was a troublemaker. He knew enough not to get discharged - four kids made him more responsible than that. But he also got himself and the family sent to what was known as a punishment posting. It was a place called Aden, in Yemen. You might have read about the ongoing civil war there.
Rebellion is in the heart of all people. It's Satan's nature and it's evil twin is pride. The first sin was simply an act of disobedience (Romans 5:19). Obviously obedience is the opposite of disobedience.
You do not have to teach children to rebel. It's in their nature. Some kids hide it better. But it lurks there, ready to surface at any time. What exposes rebellion is requirements that displease people. When a child is permitted to do as it pleases, without consequences, rebellion becomes entrenched. It does not leave just because the person gets older.
When a person is born again, the old nature is crucified and God gives us a new nature that is not sinful in itself. However, we bring the old, worldly and selfish attitudes with us into the new life. God will work to rid us of the rebellion because it is harmful to us, makes us ineffective in His Kingdom and offends His Holy character.
When we study God's word, it becomes obvious that there is a hierarchy in God's kingdom. "Submission" is a word foreign to many, yet it is central to church life. Only those who are willing to submit to authority are worthy to exercise it.
Let's look at a real life example. Saul was King, appointed by God and seemed the ideal choice. Samuel was judge/prophet at the time and he was impressed. However, being king went to Saul's head. And like most proud people, he could not bear to look bad before men. He disobeyed Samuel's instructions. The account of Saul's folly is found in 1 Samuel 15.
As a consequence of his disobedience, God took away Saul's kingship and gave it to David. In chapter 16, we see David anointed as king for the first time. David was 16 at the time. Yet God did not immediately allow David to take the throne. In Israel's culture, a man was not considered truly mature until he was 30. David was not ready.
The contrast between Saul and David is stark. David was close to God. You won't read too many psalms of Saul. David treated Saul with great respect. He never treated Saul as an enemy, even when Saul attempted treated David like an enemy to be hunted and killed. David had the opportunity and even motivation to kill Saul. He refuse to lift his hand against Saul. David took the throne righteously, having demonstrated that God was with him and that he was indeed God's choice to replace Saul.
There are many rules made by worldly rulers that I find troublesome. My father was a brilliant driver who treated speed limits as optional guides. He never had an accident, yet traveled flat out most of the time. I loved to go fast. I discovered that speed limits are not optional, unless you have a better bank balance than I've ever had. So I learned (eventually) to obey the speed limits. Are they justified? No. Do they help reduce the road toll? Not necessarily - they may even contribute to driver fatigue, a common cause of accidents. Yet I obey. I've learned that there is a cost to disobedience. Are taxes fair? No. Some of the money goes to educating children to believe that they are descended from a microbe in some primeval swamp. I don't get to choose how my money is spent. Yet I pay tax (not so much now I'm retired), because it is the law.
There are very few occasions when disobedience is justified. Some rules are ridiculous and arbitrary. Yet God requires us to obey. the only time that we are required to disobey is when it hinders the work of preaching the Kingdom of God. We are also required to obey our boss, even if it seems unreasonable at times. (Ephesians 6:6). Wives must submit to their husbands, unless it something obviously immoral or ungodly. Christians should submit to the elders of the church. It may go against the grain, but that's not the point.
I know someone who was stood down from the music ministry of her church when a new pastor took over. She spat the dummy and left. She still confesses Christ, but she is out of fellowship. It's been 20 years of bitterness and resentment. I've tried to help, but she's adamant. How much different her life could have been.
For those who think that I'm making this up, I would point you to Romans 13:
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. 2Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. 4For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
5Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. 7Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
…8The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” 10When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.......
Some people seem to think that it is OK to reject civil authorities. Under what circumstances is this acceptable to God? I think it is rather more restrictive than some Christians would like.
What did Lord Jesus say to the Roman? To hell with you, you are oppressing my people, a representative of a pagan empire that is founded on blood? Obviously not.
There is a principle here that transcends the obvious mercy and grace that Lord Jesus showed to a sinner. The Centurion first said that he was under authority. I served in the Navy for nearly 9 years. I know what that means. You go where you are told, you do what you are told, you wear what you are told and have no say in the matter. If you rebel, there are consequences.
My father was also a military man. He was a troublemaker. He knew enough not to get discharged - four kids made him more responsible than that. But he also got himself and the family sent to what was known as a punishment posting. It was a place called Aden, in Yemen. You might have read about the ongoing civil war there.
Rebellion is in the heart of all people. It's Satan's nature and it's evil twin is pride. The first sin was simply an act of disobedience (Romans 5:19). Obviously obedience is the opposite of disobedience.
You do not have to teach children to rebel. It's in their nature. Some kids hide it better. But it lurks there, ready to surface at any time. What exposes rebellion is requirements that displease people. When a child is permitted to do as it pleases, without consequences, rebellion becomes entrenched. It does not leave just because the person gets older.
When a person is born again, the old nature is crucified and God gives us a new nature that is not sinful in itself. However, we bring the old, worldly and selfish attitudes with us into the new life. God will work to rid us of the rebellion because it is harmful to us, makes us ineffective in His Kingdom and offends His Holy character.
When we study God's word, it becomes obvious that there is a hierarchy in God's kingdom. "Submission" is a word foreign to many, yet it is central to church life. Only those who are willing to submit to authority are worthy to exercise it.
Let's look at a real life example. Saul was King, appointed by God and seemed the ideal choice. Samuel was judge/prophet at the time and he was impressed. However, being king went to Saul's head. And like most proud people, he could not bear to look bad before men. He disobeyed Samuel's instructions. The account of Saul's folly is found in 1 Samuel 15.
As a consequence of his disobedience, God took away Saul's kingship and gave it to David. In chapter 16, we see David anointed as king for the first time. David was 16 at the time. Yet God did not immediately allow David to take the throne. In Israel's culture, a man was not considered truly mature until he was 30. David was not ready.
The contrast between Saul and David is stark. David was close to God. You won't read too many psalms of Saul. David treated Saul with great respect. He never treated Saul as an enemy, even when Saul attempted treated David like an enemy to be hunted and killed. David had the opportunity and even motivation to kill Saul. He refuse to lift his hand against Saul. David took the throne righteously, having demonstrated that God was with him and that he was indeed God's choice to replace Saul.
There are many rules made by worldly rulers that I find troublesome. My father was a brilliant driver who treated speed limits as optional guides. He never had an accident, yet traveled flat out most of the time. I loved to go fast. I discovered that speed limits are not optional, unless you have a better bank balance than I've ever had. So I learned (eventually) to obey the speed limits. Are they justified? No. Do they help reduce the road toll? Not necessarily - they may even contribute to driver fatigue, a common cause of accidents. Yet I obey. I've learned that there is a cost to disobedience. Are taxes fair? No. Some of the money goes to educating children to believe that they are descended from a microbe in some primeval swamp. I don't get to choose how my money is spent. Yet I pay tax (not so much now I'm retired), because it is the law.
There are very few occasions when disobedience is justified. Some rules are ridiculous and arbitrary. Yet God requires us to obey. the only time that we are required to disobey is when it hinders the work of preaching the Kingdom of God. We are also required to obey our boss, even if it seems unreasonable at times. (Ephesians 6:6). Wives must submit to their husbands, unless it something obviously immoral or ungodly. Christians should submit to the elders of the church. It may go against the grain, but that's not the point.
I know someone who was stood down from the music ministry of her church when a new pastor took over. She spat the dummy and left. She still confesses Christ, but she is out of fellowship. It's been 20 years of bitterness and resentment. I've tried to help, but she's adamant. How much different her life could have been.
For those who think that I'm making this up, I would point you to Romans 13:
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. 2Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. 4For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
5Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. 7Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
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