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FOR BETTER OR WORSE:
Civil Ministers
Three times in Romans 13:4-6,
civil authorities are said to be the ministers of God. In verse 4, they
are said to be the ministers of God to society for its good. Is it a
good thing that the highest court in our land has made public education
a godless institution? Is this the reason the Pilgrims, and the
Baptists, the Lutherans, the Presbyterians, etc. came to these shores?
Are the judges in our land acting in subjection to the "higher powers"
when they persecute the victims of crime and release stark offenders who
will prey upon society? Are civil authorities serving as the ministers
of God who encourage open forums to sodomites but who shut the mouths of
school teachers and their pupils who would pray publicly and uncensored?
Is it for the good of society to murder unwanted children? --What about
the "unwanted" elderly and the “unwanted" dissenters? Will not such
"antiseptic eliminations" invoke the judgment of Him in whom all
authority is vested both in Heaven and on earth?
In the same verse, civil authorities are said to be the
ministers of God who serve as God's representatives to revenge evil by
executing wrath upon evildoers. As the ministers of God they bear not
the sword in vain. Therefore the people of God must be subject, not only
for fear but also for sake of conscience.
The Purpose for Taxation
"For this cause pay ye tribute"
because they are God's ministers attending continually upon this very
thing. What "very thing?" the good of society. This involves revenge
upon evildoers. The good of society is the reason God has delegated
authority to magistrates. When, therefore, any magistrate refuses
to subject himself to the authority of God, and to act in accordance
with His Law, he has himself become lawless, and has forfeited the
authority God gave him. At such times, we had better obey God rather
than man. We are commanded to give to all their dues, but we are not
authorized to give unjust exactions. Everyone who sets his mandates
above the mandates of God must not be obeyed.
Solomon warned, "The fear of man bringeth a snare."
(Proverbs 29:25)
"I Am Only One!”
If God does not grant national
repentance, what can one person do? He can labor to get out of the
godless system. Valueless currency is ungodly currency: it is the
"money" of tyrants and that finances wars. It is founded in direct
opposition to nature and nature's God who made gold and silver precious.
Therefore, instead of a government "of the people, by the people and for
the people", unelected bureaucrats rule over our land.
One way to get out of the system is to convert
everything possible into gold, silver, tools, food, medicines, etc.,
but remember: if you adopt the attitude of a lord, and fail to love your
neighbor as yourself, God will curse you as well.
A stockpile of goods will not keep you safe: "Safety is
of the Lord," and undoubtedly Antichrist will deny to precious metals
their God-given value. Place your confidence in the Lord of Heaven and
earth. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Look unto Jesus
who is the Author and the Finisher of faith. (Proverbs 21:31; Genesis
18:25)
Second, barter whenever possible. If the Post Office
loves Federal Reserve notes, let them have them, but try to educate and
warn the friends of Christ about the true nature of money.
Third, "play the man." Live as though by your living
you could enter Heaven, but rest assured knowing that nothing you do
shall ever make you fit, because "it is not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." (Titus 3:5)
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered king
Nebuchadnezzar
We are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, o king. But if not, be it known unto thee, o king, that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (Daniel 3:16-18)
Consider Daniel:
Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, "King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, o king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, o king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians which altereth not." Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God as he did aforetime. (Daniel 6:6-10)
Dare to be a Daniel;
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known!
The tragedy is --
Many mighty men are lost,
Daring not to stand.
In his excellent publication, Temple Times,
Pastor Robert McCurry correctly observes --
Political action will not solve the sin problem. No political party, or platform, however conservative or moral, will solve the sin problem. No political personality, however charming, will solve the sin problem. No legislation, however good and moral, will solve the sin problem (6).
The cries of tens of millions of murdered children address the throne of a righteous God demanding to be avenged. He will not long be silent.
Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid His face from you that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity. (Isaiah 59: 1-3)