A bright young man posted a thoughtful comment re: my post previous post about government, rights and Covid-19 etc. I wanted to answer here so that more might see it as he has some great observations and implied questions or statements which I believe are well thought out. He posts:
"I try my best to respect the beliefs of those who legitimately educate themselves, but sometimes I feel as though another point of reference is needed... So take this with a grain of salt, as I know for a fact you are more educated than most. I can’t help but point out that many (read this carefully, I said many; not all) of the same people who say, “just do as you’re told and the officer won’t shoot you,” are also saying, “these leaders are violating MY rights to a free and liberated future”.... What happened to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s? From where I sit, it looks like the only God-given right we have is the right to our faith. Why are so many CHRISTIANS acting like the constitution is in the Bible, showing so much hate for the leaders that were placed by God? I am appalled that so many Christians throw this Biblical principal out the window because the proverbial ceilings on their American rights have been lowered.
First—I get what I think you’re trying to say with the situation with a police officer and then likening it to government protest. The analogy is not appropriate. 1. The officer has a gun. 2. Police often have no context generally for pulling someone over, or stopping them to ask questions etc. They approach every situation with understandable trepidation knowing that a “routine” traffic stop (for example) has been the death of many police officers. So, you go to reach your wallet and they have no idea whether it’s a wallet you’re grabbing or a gun. Let’s just say that the whole thing may in fact be an “illegal stop” in the first place. Wisdom would dictate you DO WHAT THE OFFICER SAYS AT THAT MOMENT. And then, after the fact, deal with the infraction of the law on the part of the officer if there is any. This is not at all analogous to what we’re talking about today. Fasten your seat belt.
Render to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s… The passage is often misapplied ascribing some arbitrary list of what belongs to Caesar (i.e. the government). What does in fact belong to Caesar? "The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it." (Psalms 24:1)
Technically there is nothing that belongs to Caesar. Jesus used the phrase to make a sarcastic yet poignant zinger against the disingenuous Pharisees who were not asking a genuine question but were merely trying to trap Jesus into incriminating himself so they could charge him before the civil magistrates. He was not establishing a paradigm for discerning what is the government’s and what is God’s. That is answered in both the Old and New Testaments.
Not wishing to get too far afield in my answers, I will have to assert that our “faith” is not our only God given right. The Founders of America expressed what our God given rights are very succinctly: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” And since these were derived from the “common knowledge” of the day which was nearly universally accepted as being informed by the Bible because it was understood to be wise and authoritative, such that these rights are “unalienable” meaning they can never be taken away by any earthly authority. And by the way, notice the words “among these are…”
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness are not the only “rights” decreed by God. Enter the “Bill of Rights.” This was an attempt to be a “list” of sorts knowing that definition would be helpful (necessary?) given the broad expanse the Declaration covers.
This Christian is not acting as if the Constitution is the Bible. This Christian is acting like the Constitution was and is the authoritative “law of the land” which has been duly enacted as the authoritative “law of the land” to which EVERYONE is subject as an American citizen; not just the citizens but the elected officials of government as well. Which is why they all take an oath to uphold that Constitution ending with the phrase, “So help me God.” I am sure you know the axiom—“No one is above the law.” That means—NO ONE. And when the duly enacted laws of the land are violated by the very ones who are supposed to be upholding them, well, read it: “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…”
In America it would be inappropriate for me to dress down an elected official for not going to church because the Bible is not the official, duly enacted ruling authority in the USA. But when an official of the government blatantly violates the law of the land, we are not only free to protest and present a redress of grievances, it is every citizen’s obligation to hold the government to the very laws they are supposed to be serving.
One serious error—a common one but a grave one. God does not “put all people in office.” He certainly allows it, even as he allowed His people to install Saul as King. God advised against it but due to their recalcitrance, He conceded saying “Give them what they want.” And that did not turn out well as we know. The often quoted passage from Romans 13 is done in a woefully inept manner. I understand from whence the error flows.
"Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." (Romans 13:1) Here we have the classic example of what happens when you both take something out of context AND ignore the rule of good exegesis which is, “Scripture interprets Scripture.” If one tries to use this—as many do—that we are to be half brained lemmings following the dictates of any and all governments then you are left with some very difficult theology to explain concerning the person, nature, and character of God. Take any one of hundreds of so called “God ordained governments” in history. Think of all the despotic governments of past and present. Think of Islamic law and their government. You obligated to obey that? Were the activists who helped hide Jews from Hitler’s government in sin for not obeying the government since God installed it? Was it disobedience to God for the abolitionists of America to defy the government and help slaves get to freedom? Were Barbara and I and thousands of others to date, disobeying God by standing against abortion and even getting arrested for peacefully blocking an abortuary with our bodies barricading the door?
The full text of Romans 13 explains God ordained government: "For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; (Romans 13:3) By definition, legitimate government that is to be obeyed is government that upholds the heart and mind of God as the Definer of “Good.”
God gave the “concept” if you will of governance with leaders who possess real authority so long as they rule by True Truth, meaning Godly precepts and principles. So when the government says, it is illegal to rob someone, they are upholding God’s precept concerning stealing. When the government says it is unlawful to murder someone and someone commits murder, God has granted the government the authority to enforce justice. Hence the “power of the sword” has been granted to (godly) governance.
Our government has been trampling on the lawfully established law of the land and it is not only our God given right to protest or even defy said ordinances, but in America, it is our codified American right to do the same which is what distinguishes us from most of the rest of the world.
This answer Isaac, I am sure generates more questions and comments. But it is already too long but necessary to take the time and effort to answer your respectful and thoughtful considerations.
Well written as always and spot on.
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