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    265
    The Sovereignty of God
    and Civil Government

    Whom Should We Obey?

    There is only one lawgiver (James 4:12). This one lawgiver is the Lord (Isaiah 33:22). Man does not have authority to make laws, man only has authority to make 'ordinances' which enforce Laws already in existence, which are the Laws of God. To obey 'laws' from the worldly governing authorities is to set aside the gospel, and place oneself under a separate government, other than God's. Bondmen of Christ are not citizens of any country on this earth, our citizenship is in heaven, and so our first loyalty is to God, not our country (Ephesians 2:19, Philippians 3:20). Ours is a better, heavenly country (Hebrews 11:16).

    Throughout the Bible, governments have always been the leader in bringing people to sin (Daniel 3:4-6, 1 Kings 12:25:33; 14:21-24, 2 Kings 13:2; 17:21; 21:11,16, 2 Chronicles 21:6,11-13, Isaiah 9:16). God condemned Israel for wanting to be ruled like other nations, by a human king (1 Samuel 8:5,20), which God considered to be a rejection of Himself because God would not then reign over them (1 Samuel 8:7). [Notice their kings never had any power to make new laws; nor did their best and wisest of kings make any, as David and Solomon; and when a reformation was made among them, as by Hezekiah and Josiah, it was not by making any new regulations, but by putting the old laws into execution; and by directing and requiring of the judges, and other officers, to act according to them]. To serve a king, or government, is to serve other gods (1 Sam.8:8-9), which is violating the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3). It is wickedness and a sin to ask to be ruled by a human government instead of God (1 Samuel 12:17-19). God condemned Israel for following the statutes of their government (2 Kings 17:7-8). God rejected those who followed the statutes of governments instead of the commandments of God (2 Kings 17:19-20). God specifically said not to follow the ordinances of earthly governments, but to follow his laws, ordinances, and statutes instead (Leviticus 18:1-5). The Jews eventually chose king Caesar over King Yah'shua (Jesus) (John 19:15). Throughout the history of Israel, the majority of the kings of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 11:4-9, 2 Kings 8:18), which shows that most rulers and governments are corrupt because of their carnal nature (Romans 8:7).

    The whole duty of man is to live by God's commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13), not man's commandments which turn from the Truth (Mark 7:7, Colossians 2:20-22, Titus 1:14). What duty is there to a servant of Christ except to fulfil God's Law (Romans 13:8)? When we pray, we pray to do God's Will, not man's will (Matthew 6:10, Luke 11:2). God rewards those who place His Laws above man made laws (Exodus 1:17,20). We are even instructed to avoid going to courts of law before the unjust and unbelievers (1 Corinthians 6:1-8)! Psalms 1:1, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly."

    The kings and rulers of the earth are against the Lord, and against his anointed (Psalm 2:2). Governments frame mischief and sin through their laws (Psalm 94:20). "Woe unto them that prescribe grievous laws and take away the right from the poor" (Isaiah 10:1-2). If a government is ungodly, and people trust in that government, then God will punish those people who trust in that government (Jeremiah 15:4; 46:25, 2 Kings 21:11-12, Isaiah 9:16). People will be cursed for trusting in man (Jeremiah 17:5, Hosea 10:13). It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man and governments (Psalm 118:8-9). We are told not to put our trust in them (Psalm 146:3). We are commanded to "turn away" from those with certain traits (2 Timothy 3:2-5), and governing authorities possess most of these said traits! Governing authorities are "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Timothy 3:5). So we are to turn away from governing authorities with these traits. The law is not made for a righteous man, but only for sinners (1 Timothy 1:9-10).

    Yah'shua's (Jesus') teaching on Governing Authorities

    What did Yah'shua teach about human government? Let us examine 3 parallel Gospel accounts. Yah'shua himself explained:

    Matthew 20:25, "...Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. "

    Mark 10:42, "...they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them."

    Luke 22:25, "...The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. "

    By comparing these 3 parallel verses, Yah'shua stated the fact that the governing authorities (princes, rulers, kings) exercise authority over the Gentiles (those who do not believe in God). Note that the term "Gentiles" here cannot mean "Gentile Christians", because Yah'shua had not yet died to confirm the New Testament, and Christianity was not yet in existence. All the apostles were Jews, and Yah'shua commanded them not to preach to the Gentiles (Mat.10:5-6). The Gentiles were the enemy of Christ at this point (Matthew 20:19; Mark 10:33, Luke 18:32). The Gospel was not preached to the Gentiles until at least 10 years after the death of Yah'shua (Acts 9:15; 10:45; 11:1,18; 13:42,46-48).

    Notice what Yah'shua says next. Does he say that ministers of Christ will have other men rule over them? Most definitely not!

    Matthew 20:26, "But it shall not be so among you:"

    Mark 10:43, "But so shall it not be among you:"

    Luke 22:26, "But ye shall not be so:"

    Yah'shua said we shall not have leaders exercise authority over us like they do over the gentiles. We shall not be subject to governing authorities unless the one in power is a servant of God and of the people. Read what Yah'shua says after he tells his disciples that earthly princes, rulers, and kings will not have authority over us:

    Matthew 20:26-27, "…but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:"

    Mark 10:43-44, "…but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all."

    Luke 22:26, "...but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve."

    This is the reason why; because Yah'shua does not want man to have authority over man! Yah'shua commanded that whoever is the chiefest and greatest among men, will be the servant of all. Unlike human governments which make their chief ruler the dictator of all. Man was not created to rule other men, man was created to have dominion over the creatures of the earth. This is confirmed in the very first chapter of the Bible, when God created the earth. When God first created man, he commanded, "...let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" (Genesis 1:26,28). Only God has dominion over man. Man is not subject to any other man. Man is ruled by Law, not by the will of man.

    Matthew 23:10, "Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ."

    Remember, the reason Yah'shua haMashiach was killed was because the governing authorities at that time were afraid that they were going to lose their "place and nation", their political power, if the people believed on Yah'shua (John 11:47-48).

    The Apostle's teaching on Governing Authorities

    "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). The reason the apostles were all arrested and eventually executed was because they "all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Yah'shua" (Acts 17:7). The Apostle Paul said, "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:5). The apostles disobeyed their governing authorities because, "No man can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24), and we are not to be "the servants of men" (1 Corinthians 7:23). We can only serve one lord, one Yah'shua, and no other lord. As Yah'shua once asked in Luke 6:46, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" We are to do the things Yah'shua says to do, not the things Caesar says to do.

    Do you remember how we used to call our (U.S.) government officials "public servants" (in Britain, "civil servants")? Because they were supposed to serve us (Mat.20:27, Mark 10:42, Luke 22:26). Now, we have made our servants our masters, and we fear them more than we fear God (Matthew 10:28, Proverbs 29:25). However, true servants of God do not fear the king's commandments (Hebrews 11:23). We are not to fear man (Psalm 56:4; 118:6, Isaiah 51:7, Matthew 10:28, Hebrews 13:6).

    The earthly government is to sit on Christ's shoulder (Isaiah 9:6), and there is no end to Christ's government (Isaiah 9:7, Psalms 145:13). Those in government are instructed to follow God's Law and serve Yah'shua (Psalm 2:10-12). And we are to obey the ordinances of man as long as they do God's Will; by punishing evildoers and praising them that do well (1 Peter 2:13-17).

    Romans 13

    Romans 13:1-10 explains the kind of government for the bondmen of Christ. Now that God has ordained civil government, civil government has responsibilities before God. Many interpret this chapter to mean we are to obey all governments, no matter how ungodly they are. However, this cannot mean we are to roll over and submit to governing authorities, because if that's the case, Yah'shua himself violated Romans 13. They crucified him unlawfully, and there's a case where Christ did the will of the Father, and that brought him into conflict with the powers that be.

    Here's a little trivia for you. Who wrote the book of Romans? Paul. Where did Paul write Romans? In prison. Where did Paul write most of his Epistles? In prison. What is another name to describe the epistles of Paul? The "Prison Epistles". Why are they known as the "Prison Epistles"? Because Paul was being repeatedly arrested and imprisoned by the "governing authorities". Why was Paul arrested? Because he kept breaking the laws of the governing authorities. Who put Yah'shua to death? The government of Rome. Who put Paul to death? The Emperor Nero at Rome in AD 67. Who killed most of the apostles? The governing authorities. If Paul, in Romans 13, was saying to "obey all governments" then Yah'shua, the apostles, and all the disciples were hypocrites, because they all lived their life by placing God's Law above man-made laws, above the law of the land.

    Does Romans 13:1 say, "let every soul be subject unto all governments"? Or does it say, "let every soul (including governing authorities like kings, judges, police, etc.) be subject unto the Higher Power"? Who do souls belong to? God says, in Ezekiel 18:4, "Behold, all souls are mine." The governmental powers, their souls belong to God, and they are not the higher powers, the higher powers are held by Christ himself (Matthew 28:18). Is Yah'shua not the higher power, then, if ALL power has been committed unto him (John 17:2)? Christ is the governor among the nations (Psalms 22:28). There is no such thing as an earthly king, because all power over that earthly king has been given unto Christ (Romans 14:9). All judgment has been given unto Christ (John 5:22,27). Notice the separation of Power in Romans 13:1. All power comes from, and belongs to, God (Psalm 62:11) not the one exercising them. Governing authorities deny the power of Yah'shua (2 Timothy 3:5).

    Verse 2: There is a difference between resisting God's ordinance and resisting tyranny. God never ordained tyranny. So to resist tyranny is not to resist God's ordinance.

    Verse 3: Can it be evil to execute the Law of God? The definition of good and evil is in the Bible. Man-made laws make criminals out of honest folks (Isaiah 5:20), and these same laws reward criminals today.

    Verse 4 says rulers are to be Ministers of God, Servants of God. If rulers are NOT the servants of God, if they do not obey God, no obedience is due to them. And how do we know if they are servants of God? By testing them with God's word (Isaiah 8:20, Matthew 12:30, Mark 7:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Titus 1:14, 1 John 4:1, 3 John 1:11, Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 2:15).

    Verse 6 says we are to pay taxes to the government for one reason only; because they are God's ministers. If a government does things with our tax dollars that go contrary to God's Will, no taxes are due (Ezra 4:12-13).

    Some people claim that the reason apostle Paul was being repeatedly arrested and imprisoned by the "governing authorities" was because he was "preaching the gospel of Yah'shua haMaschiach". This is not true. The Romans worshipped hundreds of different gods, they had a different god for every thing and every occasion. One more "god" would not matter to them. Proof of this is in Acts 18. When the Jews brought Paul before the tribunal of the Roman Government on the charge of persuading men to worship Yah'shua (verse 13), the Roman court refused to judge such matters (verse 15), and "drove them from the judgment seat" (verse 16). Paul was in prison for breaking the government's law, because Yah'shua commanded his followers to be separate from them.

    The Facts about Governing Authorities

    In godly governments, the purpose of civil government is clearly defined. That is, to protect life, liberty, and property; not to take life, liberty, or property without Due Course of Law. The government collects information from you because it must know where everyone and everything is, in order to tax or seize it.

    Why is government prone to idolatry? Because governments deal with law, and law is inherently religious. Behind every law is a moral judgment. Your morals and values are based upon your theology or religion. It's the nature of government to perpetuate itself. Have you ever known a politician who didn't want to be re-elected, or a political party that did not want to stay in power? Have you ever known either one of them who were not willing to do anything to keep themselves in power? (John 11:47-48).

    Government is power. Government is authority. And corrupt, depraved men, instead of exercising dominion over God's creation, they want dominion over men. What did Satan say to Adam and Eve? "Ye shall be as gods" (Genesis 3:5). Who is it that has control over men? God does. If we are our own gods, or if we think we're some kind of god, then we're going to have to exercise control over men in order to prove it.

    A king rules by his law. Likewise, God rules by His Law, and His Law is the Word of God. Jews obeyed their king, Caesar, and killed those who did not obey their king (John 19:15). Servants of Christ honor Yah'shua by obeying him (Luke 6:46, John 14:15), not by substituting man-made requirements in place of his.

    Thus, in law, the human lawmaker becomes a god by determining for himself which of the many theories at his disposal he will apply to his next act on behalf of the people. Of course, this means that every other law-maker has an equal right to apply his theories to the acts he does, and the only answer to the resulting chaos that comes out of the compromise between theories is that one man must impose his will on all others so that one coherent view will control the end result. This means, clearly, a dictatorship and nothing less will do.

    Taxes

    The Bible says property tax is evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 23:35-37). The earth does not belong to the government, this earth belongs to God (Exodus 19:5, Psalm 24:1, Isaiah 44:24, 2 Corinthians 5:18). Property tax is claiming ownership over God's earth. It is literally a dethronement of God and an enthronement of the state. The state is claiming to be god by claiming control and ownership of property. The state is literally trying to be god walking the earth. God has never given his earth to the government to tax, pollute, or destroy (1 Kings 21:1-16).

    The bible also says it is not lawful to impose tax upon the servants of God (Ezra 7:24), thus, it is not lawful to impose tax upon the servants of Christ. Only the slothful are under taxes (Proverbs 12:24). We also see that the Levites were not taxed or conscripted for military purpose (Numbers 1:45-54; Numbers 18. Note especially verse 24). The tithe was to go to the Levites (Deuteronomy 14:27-29; Joshua 21). God is sovereign; He cannot be taxed. Abram paid tithes of all to Melchizedek, King of Salem, and refused the spoils he was offered (though legally) from the King of Sodom. It is clear that it was the result of a solemn oath that Abram had made to God. "Abram said to the King of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou shouldst say, I have made Abram rich" (Genesis 14:22,23). The church is not to finance the government (through taxation), neither is the government to finance the church (through benefits such as social security). A State-financed church is a State controlled church.

    Yah'shua himself was accused of forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar at his trial (Luke 23:2). Notice these were NOT false witnesses who accused Yah'shua of not paying taxes, because every time a false witness accused Yah'shua, the Bible tells us it is a false witness (Mark 14:57-59). Yah'shua taught that we are free from paying taxes if we are children of the king (Matthew 17:24-26), meaning the children [of God] of the King [Yah'shua]. A license is just another form of taxation. By requiring a license, the state is claiming complete control and ownership over a disciple's life, liberty, and property.

    The term "license" is from the word "licentious", which means "morally unrestrained, disregarding rules, lascivious". These same words describe human governments today. In demanding licensure from Good and Lawful ministers of Christ, the state is asking that we render to it the submission and tribute that scripture requires us to give to God alone.

    We should not pay taxes to a government bent on destroying the bondmen of Christ. And in case you don't think this government is out to destroy the servants of Christ, read this quote from the butcher responsible for murdering our fellow brothers and sisters at Waco, Texas and for murdering Randy Weavers' family in an isolated mountain. If you are a follower of Christ, you are an enemy of the government. This quote is in response to the question as to why the killing of the people at Waco was necessary.

      "A cultist is one who has a strong belief in the Bible and the Second Coming of Christ; who frequently attends Bible studies; who has a high level of financial giving to a Christian cause; who home schools for their children; who has accumulated survival foods and has a strong belief in the Second Amendment; and who distrusts big government. Any of these may qualify [a person as a cultist] but certainly more than one [of these] would cause us to look at this person as a threat, and his family as being in a risk situation that qualified for government interference." Attorney General Janet Reno, Interview on 60 Minutes, June 26, 1994

    Bondmen of Christ

    So, what is a bondman of Christ to do when the government rises against us in judgment? We shall condemn them, because this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord (Isaiah 54:17). Do we obey governments that produce unfruitful works? No! We are to reprove and rebuke them (Luke 17:3, Ephesians 5:11, 1 Timothy 5:20, 2 Timothy 4:2, Titus 1:13; 2:15, Revelation 3:19). We are to cast down anyone who exalteth himself against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5). We are to bind our kings (Psalm 149:6-9). To not keep God's commandments is defined as to "go and serve other gods, and worship them" (1 Kings 9:6, 2 Kings 17:37-38, 2 Chronicles 7:19,22, Jeremiah 16:11; 22:9, Deuteronomy 7:4; 8:18; 11:28; 28:14; 30:17; 31:16,20, Joshua 22:22).

    For anyone to assume the power of directing our conscience, and not leaving us to scriptures alone, is declaring the scriptures to be defective and insufficient for that purpose. And, therefore, that our Lord Yah'shua haMashiach, who has left us the scriptures for that purpose (2 Timothy 3:16-17), did not know what was necessary and sufficient for us. All imposers on a our conscience are guilty of rebellion against God, because to reject a servant of God is to reject God himself (1 Samuel 8:7). If our conscience is under the direction of any man made authority as to religious matters, they cease to be under the direction of Christ.

    A minister of Christ is to receive his directions from Christ alone. No other power or authority may be admitted, and no laws or doctrines may be taught, besides those that Yah'shua has taught. Everything else is of men only, and no part of Christ. What is taught by any man, and not contained in Scripture, is not of Christ. No man can make laws to oblige the church of Christ but Christ himself. Christ's church does not exist on paper, but in the hearts of men, and is expressed in their outward acts (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20, Acts 17:24-25, John 4:23-24).

    As Law is the basis of all government, the war to be fought, and around which all the issues revolve, is over the Law of God (Revelation 12:17). Only by a compromise of its standards can the followers of Christ find social respectability (John 15:18-20). We must stand firmly for Truth and must not compromise with evil (2 Cor.6:14). And what is God's definition of Truth? God's Law is Truth, and all of God's Commandments are Truth (Psalm 119:142,151). And what is God's Will? God's Will is his Law written in our hearts (Psalm 40:8).

    The Church is over the State

    When the apostle Paul was accused by the Jews of persuading men to worship God contrary to the law, the courts of law of the Roman Government refused to judge such matters, because they recognized they had no authority to judge in matters of religious freedom. (Acts 18:12-16). As did the governments before Christ (Jeremiah 38:4-5).

    There is not one time in scripture where Christ ever submitted to the Roman Imperial law. Period. Yah'shua said his true family are not His blood relatives, but only those who "shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 12:50). Yah'shua haMashiach, nor any servant of God for that matter, has never, ever, never, ever said anything about doing the "will of man on earth", only the "will of God in Heaven".

    For example: there were three kings (the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom), marching out to crush one of their enemies, the Moabites. While in the desert, they discovered there was no water for anyone (2 Kings 3:9-12). So they asked a prophet of the LORD, Elisha, to help them out. But in 2 Kings 3:13, when the king of Israel asked Elisha for help, "Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee?" In other words, Elisha said, "I am a servant of God, you are not! I'm not going to do anything just because you're king!" Elisha is going to serve God, he's not going to serve even three kings. One king has the power to cut off his head. Elisha went up against three kings and said "go to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother". Elisha understood that they had a different church, and a different approach to religion. But the king of Israel pleaded with him and said, "...the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab." In other words, these kings and all their armies are going to die! This is a life and death matter.

    This finally gets to Elisha and he decides he will do something. In 2 Kings 3:14, Elisha said, "As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand" This is the key. It is not because Elisha is of a lesser rank than these three kings, or because he's scared to death that they'll kill him if he doesn't do what they say, but "As the LORD of hosts liveth" before whom he serves. And Elisha says that if it wasn't for the fact that he respected Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, he wouldn't even look at them or notice them! Now, Elisha is absolutely telling them where it is to their face, because they don't follow the laws of God, but king Jehoshaphat alone does have that reputation (2 Chronicles 17:3-4). So for his sake, he helped and saved them all.

    In 2 Chronicles 16:7, the Lord cursed king Assa with wars (verse 9b) because he relied on a "king" (government) and made a mutual agreement (license, contract) with him (verse 3), instead of relying on the Lord. He also trusted physicians (verse 12).

    There will be those who may be thinking that we should "obey all government authority". I agree that we should obey that government instituted by the Spirit of God in Christ Yah'shua; but not a usurper or pretender to His Throne. Hosea 8:4, "They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not."

    There is no command in the Word of God to confess the State to the glory of the State:

    Romans 14:11-12, "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee [*including governing authorities] shall bow to me [*not to ungodly men, i.e. politicians], and every tongue shall confess to God [*not to legislators, lawyers, and judges]. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God [*not to the State, or men working for an ungodly government]."

    Philippians 2:9-11, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Yah'shua [*not the President, Governor, or the State] every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Yah'shua haMashiach [*not the State, or men using the artifice of the State] is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

    Colossians 1:16, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him [*not for self-willed men]:"

    Proverbs 17:15, "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD."

    Luke 17:21, "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you [*not on a sheet of paper with man-made codes, rules, regulations, ordinances and statutes]."

    The 20th century is the most violent century in recorded human history. Most of the violence has been committed by "governments." Most of the violence committed by "governments" has been against innocent, non-combatant civilians. Most of the violence committed by "governments" against innocent, non-combatant civilians has been against "their own" citizens, not external "enemies."

    The bondman of Christ knows the State is not God and that it must be controlled by laws rigidly defined according to Scripture. The servant of Christ knows that all the laws of the State must conform to God's Law, or, as Sir William Blackstone stated, "Any law contrary to the Law of God, is no law at all."

    "God alone is the lawgiver of eternity". Judge Henry Clay, Crimes of the Civil War, 1868, pages 428-432.

    "The law is from everlasting." Bouviers Law Dictionary, 1914, 'Maxim', page 2143. (Psalm 90:2; 93:2; 145:13).

    Libellus

    The disciples of Christ of the first century were under the military authority of Rome, a nation which openly proclaimed its rulers, the Caesar's, to be divine. All those under the jurisdiction of Rome were required by law to publicly proclaim their allegiance to Caesar by burning a pinch of incense and declaring, "Caesar is Lord". Upon compliance with this law, the citizens and subjects were given a papyrus document called a "libellus", which they were required to present when either stopped by the Roman police or attempting to engage in commerce in the Roman marketplace, increasing the difficulty of "buying or selling" without this mark. In this way, Roman society became closed to anyone not willing to adhere himself and his family to the established religion of Caesar-worship (statism) This is the essence of Scripture's warnings to the early followers of Christ against taking upon themselves the "mark of the beast".

    It should be remembered that "it was granted to [Caesar] to make war with the saints and to overcome them" (Revelation 13:7). Our brothers and sisters were torn apart by wild animals in the Roman Colliseum and used as living candles in the gardens of Nero because they refused to offer up even a tiny pinch of incense in his name and proclaim that he, not Christ, was Lord. In essence, they refused to submit to licensure (permission) from the State to live and worship as God had commanded them. They were not put to death because they believed in Christ. In Rome, you could believe anything you wanted to believe, just as long as you swore by the genius of Caesar. Disciples of Christ were put to death not because they believed in Christ, but because they were called traitors and treasonous individuals, because they would not swear allegiance to the State.

    To a follower of Christ, disobedience and unfaithfulness to God is idolatry; it is treason. Statism is the concept that that the State or government is always right. And that the State or government can do no wrong. This is idolatry, because it ascribes to man that which belongs to God alone. Anyone that says, "the government can do no wrong or the government is always right," is saying "government takes the place of God." The Word of God does not give the State the power or the authority to go beyond the Word of God. To ascribe power, authority, reverence, submission, or anything else to the State, above the Word of God, is idolatry. The State does not have "infinite wisdom", only God has Infinite Wisdom.

    Modern Imperial America is very similar to ancient Imperial Rome. We are, as were the servants of Christ of the first century, commanded by the godless "powers that be" to obtain the "mark of the beast" by submitting to fictitious creation as commercial "persons" under the Fourteenth Amendment. We are confronted, as they were, with the increasing difficulty of "buying or selling" without Social Security enumeration, which is the modern "number of his name".

    Conclusion

    The Law of God is not private law, but public Law. The Law speaks to offenses that affect the collective body and soul of society. All are part of the whole, and all suffer when the Law is trivialized, ridiculed, and worst of all, replaced with an inevitable inferior invention of man's 'reason'. Yah'shua said, "He that is not with me is against me;" (Matthew 12:30, Luke 11:23). So, any government that is not for Christ, or any government that is neutral, is against Christ.

    Mention obedience to God's Law, and Christians accuse you of being a 'legalist'. But those same Christians do not hesitate to accept the gifts of the new Roman Imperial system and its commercial legalism, they obey all the ordinances, rules, statutes, regulations, decrees, and laws that Caesar passes without question. They fear man and keep his commandments, for they believe this is their 'duty'. Well, let's have God tell us the conclusion…

    Ecclesiastes 12:13, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Notice, we are to fear God (not man) and keep God's Commandments (not man's commandments), because this is the whole duty of man (we do not have a duty to any other except God, including country).


    Not all the views in this article are necessarily those of the New Covenant Church of God. Our counsel to all considering questions of sovereignty is to point them to Scripture: "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Luke 20:25, NKJV).

    This page was created on 12 June 2000
    Last updated on 12 June 2000

    Reproduced with Thanks