| Introduction The Holy Spirit tells us in 2 Peter 1:2-5 that God "has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness." Our Confession based on this passage, and others like it, says concerning the Old and New Testaments, "All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life" (WCF 1:2). The Bible speaks in detail or in principle about all aspects of life, including the relationship of Christians and the civil government. Our God is so good to us. Instead of leaving us to our own devices, he speaks to us through the Scriptures. I would like for us to consider what the Scriptures say concerning the relationship of the Christian and the governing authorities and I want to walk you through some of our thinking in navigating whether the church should physically gather on Sundays. I realize that in saying the things I am going to say this morning will certainly offend many sensitives regardless of what side of the current debate concerning obedience to the civil magistrate one finds himself/herself in. I. The First Volley of Potential Offensive Statements. A. Christianity is not a party religion. 1. Each issue must be examined in light of what the Scriptures say concerning the particular issue. 2. Unfiltered allegiance to any party is unwise. 3. Let us not, therefore, think in terms of blue or red. B. The Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are not the Bible. 1. In a horizontal plane, these documents are the ultimate magistrate in this country. 2. But they are not the Word of God. 3. For example, the reason we worship God is not because the first amendment to the federal constitution says we can. a. We worship God because the Bible commands us to do so. b. That is true for Christians here in the U.S. where they are protected by law and it is true of Christians in North Korea where they do it under the threat of death. C. A constitutional, democratic republic is not the only acceptable form of government to which Christians should submit. 1. The Bible doesn't really prescribe a civil form of government. 2. The Bible, especially in the NT, tells Christians to work with what is there. 3. Christians should work to improve whatever government they find themselves under, but that does not mean they can disregard what the government is if they don't agree with it. 4. Look at what Paul says in Rom. 13:1. a. Though Roman jurisprudence was in place, the practical government was a tyrannical monarchy. b. The emperor was Nero, though he hadn't completely gone off the deep end yet. II. Ultimate Authority Resides in God, 13:1. A. Authority does not ultimately reside in the civil magistrate. 1. His/her authority is delegated by God. 2. But it is real authority that needs to be acknowledged and followed even when the civil magistrate himself/herself doesn't recognize that whatever authority he has comes from God. Jn. 19:10-11 – Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?" 11 Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin." WCF 23:4 – Infidelity or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrate's just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to him…. B. We may the ready to same amen to the statement that ultimate authority does not reside with the civil magistrate, but we may have a more difficult time saying amen to the equally true statement that ultimate authority does not reside with the individual. 1. The Bible teaches three different spheres of government with distinct duties for each: the family (Gen. 2), the state (Gen. 9), and the church (Gen. 15-17). 2. Notice that individuals do have a certain level authority and responsibilities, the emphasis is on the corporate nature of society. 3. Even in our passage this morning the emphasis is on exercising submission by the individual rather than the exercise of authority by the individual – in the second half of v. 3 Paul switches to the singular you to make it more personal. C. Not only the institution of civil government was done by God, but also the people occupying the offices are placed there by God, 1-2. 1. Authority to govern rests solely on divine appointment and not on the approval or consent of the governed. 2. Now, commonwealths can be formed, and processes and procedures can be put in place as to how government is going to work – examples of Magna Carta and Mayflower Compact. 3. But the authority of the magistrate is not based on your having voted for you, but on his being a minister of God, 4. III. The General Tone and Teaching of This Passage Is That You and I Must Obey AND Honor the Civil Magistrate at All Levels of Government, 4-5. A. You read this passage and, if you are like me, your mind goes immediately to trying to enumerate the exceptions. 1. There are exceptions to this rule. 2. Paul is speaking what should be the ordinary life of the Christian – he continues to describe here what he began to explain in 12:1-2 à offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God through Jesus Christ. B. It will do us well to stay on the truth that we are to obey the civil magistrate for a while before moving to trying to figure out the times when we shouldn't. Titus 3:1-2 – Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 2 Tim. 2:1-2 – Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 1 Pt. 2:13-17 – Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. C. These passages are so difficult for us to swallow because we desire autonomy. 1. We want to be our own lawgiver and king. 2. We don't want to live under anyone's authority but our own. 3. And this desire for autonomy is sinful. a. Satan offered autonomy to Adam and Eve when he said that if they ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would be like gods. b. They would become gods to themselves and no longer need the Creator God who walked with them in the garden in the cool of the evening. c. That is a lie, but it is a lie that we are frequently willing to believe. 4. Christ came to free us from the lie that we are autonomous beings. a. He does that by placing his own yoke upon us. Mt. 11:28-30 – Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." b. Don't be blinded by your desire to be your own king and your own lawgiver. c. Place the yoke of Christ upon yourself and serve him. D. Civil disobedience is a serious thing and should be reserved for the clearest circumstances and as a last resort. 1. We are quick to go to the apostles saying that they must obey God rather than man, or to Daniel and his friends when they disobeyed the Babylonian and Persian authorities, or the Hebrew midwives when they disobeyed Pharaoh and allowed the Israelite babies to live. 2. But these are memorable occasions because they are rare. 3. The most common example of disobedience in the pages of the Bible is the disobedience of God's people to his revealed will in the Scriptures. E. It is easy to say that we shouldn't follow the civil magistrate because we don't agree with him. 1. It irks me to no end to hear Gov. Inslee, a man who has absolutely no regard for the life of the unborn, speak of the sanctity of human life. 2. Yet, what we think about concerning our duties and obedience to the civil magistrate must be informed and educated by the Scriptures that include all things pertaining to life and death. a. So, our ordinary course of action is one of submission to the magistrate, 1. b. We obey them so we don't experience the displeasure of God, 4-5. c. We respect them because of the work of the Spirit in our conscience, 5. d. We pray for them as the Scriptures command so that we can have a peaceful life. 2 Tim. 2:1-2 – Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. "There is something wrong if we view authority as a negative thing. Governments are given to guide, defend and restrain, We should desire government and, far from rebelling against it, we should respect and honor it." Chad Van Dixhoorn 3. And on the rare occasions when we are given no other choice, we disobey the magistrate – but we do that we grieved hearts. IV. The Idea That There Are Times We Must Disobey the Civil Magistrate May Be Implied in Our Passage. A. It is possible that Paul is not only speaking to the Christian, but also to the government. "Magistrates may hence learn what their vocation is, for they are not to rule for their own interest, but what is restricted to the wellbeing of their subjects; in short, they are responsible to God and to men in the exercise of their power." John Calvin B. In other words, when Paul describes the role of government in vv. 3-4, he is not describing what the Roman government is doing, but rather what governments everywhere should do. "It is clear, then, that, in writing as he does in Rom. 13:2, the apostle is thinking of the ruler who is performing his duty of preserving order, approving good behavior, and punishing evil. In that case he who opposes the authority is, indeed, resisting the divine ordinance…. That the apostle was referring to normal and not outrageous or mistaken, governmental function is clear from verse [3]." William Hendriksen C. The argument goes that when the government stops doing these things, then it ceases being government and it is not any longer owed obedience. D. I don't think that it is as clear as Mr. Hendriksen makes it sound, especially when Titus 3 and 1 Peter 2 are also considered. E. I think it is a better argument to look at the inspired occasions of civil disobedience that were praise by God. V. When Are We Duty Bound to Disobey the Civil Magistrate? A. When the civil magistrate commands us to do what God expressly forbids. Ex. 1:15-21 – Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; 16 and he said, "When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live." 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?" 19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them." 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. 21 And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them. 1. The midwives were commanded to break the 6th commandment and murder the Israelite babies. 2. They refused doing that and God blessed them. B. When the civil magistrate forbids us to do what God expressly commands. Acts 5:26-32 – Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" 29But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." 1. The apostles had been commissioned by Christ himself to proclaim his name, that is, what that the name Jesus Christ meant. 2. The civil magistrate does not have the authority to forbid that. C. When the civil magistrate dictates unbiblical elements for the worship of God. Dan. 3:8-18 – Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up." 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." Dan. 6:6-10 – So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 1. It is important to notice that the issue that these men were willing to risk their lives for was the biblically accurate worship of the true God. 2. God praised them for doing that. 3. But notice that Daniel didn't seem to think that was the first line of approach – in chpt. 1 he petition the government to change his diet (a lesser issue than the worship of God). D. These are difficult decisions and should not be made lightly. E. One of the reasons Christ gave gifts of elders to his church was to help us make decisions such as this one, which would be wise not to make on our own. VI. Why Did We Do Things the Way We Did? A. The controlling desire and attitude on the part of your elders was submission to what God says in the Bible. B. Let me try to walk through our decision-making process for the last couple of months. 1. We were convinced that we should obey the governor and local officials as much as possible. 2. It was also very important to our thinking that the orders issued by the governor did not target churches. a. All gatherings of any sort were forbidden for reasons other than religious reasons. b. The passage that kept on coming back to our minds was Hebrews 10:24-25 – can we be obedient to this passage and to the governor at the same time? Heb. 10:24-25 – And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 1) We eventually realize that this passage is a general statement. 2) What the Holy Spirit is talking about is an attitude that says that gathering with God's people is not important or necessary. 3) We all here agree that missing a Sunday because one is sick or for a shut-in not to be in church and still be obedient to this passage. 4) So, we concluded that there are times when the church can't gather, and it is not in violation of this passage. 3. When the governor issued his initial orders, there seems to have been a real health crisis where lives were at stake. a. We thought that obeying the governor's orders was consistent with the 2nd commandment – do not murder. b. We also thought that it was consistent with the second great commandment – love your neighbor. 4. During this time, we also spent much time in prayer for the civil magistrate and for our church – more than what we usually do. 5. We also were one of the first churches to join a petition (eventually hundreds of churches in dozens of counties joined it) asking the governor to rethink phase two of his plan and allow churches to meet. a. This petition became the basis of the revised plan for churches and for our meeting here today. b. We had become increasingly convinced that if phase 2 remained as first announced, we would start gathering anyway because churches were being unfairly target in that phase. 6. We also wrote letters directly to the governor and to Thurston County commissioners. C. We in no way claim perfection in the decisions we made, but we do claim a clean conscience as far our desire to honor God in all of them goes.
Why were we being so careful with our decision making-process? Because the civil magistrate is an appointed minister of God and we must honor him.
http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2020/05/obey-king-romans-131-7.html
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