This verse says, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
How are you able to reconcile this Scripture with political/social activism, which is by definition NOT submitting to the governing authorities?
I have prayed long and hard about this. As I have every decision that I am making these days, as I try to navigate the waters of Christianity in these chaotic, cruel, and seemingly heartless times. As a Christian, how do I submit to the governing authorities who I believe are robbing my neighbors? How do I protect and love my neighbors, and submit?
I can’t. When it comes to ICE and DHS and their current practices in the way they are handling themselves in our city streets, I can’t. When I watch a man who claims to love America and is the actual leader of America, disobeying the Constitution and ignoring the legal decisions against him, I can’t. When I see a large group of very rich and untouchable people getting away with the outright sexual abuse of countless minors, abuse that seems to go up to murder, I can’t.
But, then how do you claim to be a follower of Christ and disobey this very basic commandment?
There is another command. One that says ‘We must obey God rather than man.’ (Acts 5:29). One that says, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’ (Mark 12:17)
Okay, but how do you know when and what to give to whom in this context? Let’s look at the Bible….
The midwives disobeyed Pharaoh when they hid Moses in the bulrushes. Moses disobeyed the Pharaoh when he kept coming back to get his people set free. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, when they refused to worship in the way that law demanded. Daniel, when he continued to pray in spite of the law.
Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Amos, Micah, Nahum Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, each stood against their political leaders when they were disobeying the laws of the land.
Peter and John, when they continued to preach in that Name, in spite of being ordered to stop. Paul was literally jailed for the last half of his ministry for the same reason. All of the disciples, who chose to obey God rather than man.
I have two commandments from Jesus. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (Mt 22:37-40)
So, when our government is complicit in harming my neighbors, I will obey God rather than man. I will peacefully protest, I will write letters, I will make phone calls, I will vote, and I will do whatever I need to do to protect my neighbor. And, I will do it loud and clear!
I feel like I need to say here, because I can already hear someone saying ‘But, illegal aliens…’! Mmm Hmm. Even undocumented immigrants who are on American soil, committing a civil offense, a misdemeanor, who are protected by the constitutional ideas of due process, and who are often detained illegally, are my neighbors.
Who are your neighbors?
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