Is it OK for Christians to Rebel Against Authority?

Let me start this post by saying – I truly do NOT care about your position on COVID, vaccines, testing, mandates, conspiracy theories, government overreach, political affiliations, authority of OSHA, power of the POTUS, etc.  If you, in any way, think this post is about any of those topics – you have already missed the point!  This post is about the spirit of rebellion, disobedience, insubordination, etc. we are seeing in the attitudes and actions of “God’s people” toward those in authority (teachers, police, local officials to federal employees) during this pandemic.  Some are confusing American liberties with Christian responsibilities. It is my goal to raise awareness to this issue and encourage Christ-followers to act more like Jesus, to be people of peace, and increase the intensity of their witness. With that premise, allow me to introduce the topic and share from the heart of a concerned pastor.

There is no question that this pandemic has impacted the world, not only the USA, as the political conspirators have tried to portray. My heart truly goes out to the families of all who died during COVID; but this post goes far beyond sympathy and compassion. The job market, the world, and even the church looks different and will be forever changed going forward after this pandemic.

As I have now watched the COVID pandemic unfold for almost two years, it has become more and more clear that modern Christianity is far from what Jesus taught and what we see recorded about the early church. The early church put faith over fear, even to the point of martyrdom. Our menial inconveniences including lockdowns, TP shortages, etc. hardly qualify as suffering or persecution. Yet these minimal inconveniences have resulted in a decline in church attendance, reduced participation, and a blowing away of the seeds that fell on the rocky soil of attractional church models.

Many false prophets, fearmongers and dooms-day preachers have come onto the scene.  Many religious people, claiming to be “Christians;” are using this pandemic to stir strife, sow discord, cause division, foster rebellion and spew their anti-government rants. Open debate is gone... differing opinions are not permitted... "you're a racist" now means "I have no credible argument"... preferences are now championed as "convictions" and protecting our rights has replaced submission among “God’s people.”  Most sad is that intense conversations about COVID protocols are dividing families, friends, churches; and have replaced conversations about the good news of the Gospel.

So, what about you?  Take a moment to ask yourself --  

• Have I engaged more people in conversations about COVID, vaccines, mandates, testing, personal rights, etc.; than I have in conversations about Jesus?
• Have I brought more converts to my COVID or political view, than I have to my Savior?
• Do I speak more passionately about my “convictions” for/against the vaccine or about my faith?
• Do my comments light fires or bring unity between my friends, family and the Body of Christ?
• Do I find myself submitting to or rebelling against the authorities God has placed in my life?

While Jesus frequently challenged the heresies of religious authorities; He, and other Bible authors, taught submission to those those in authority (i.e. - parents, employers, civil government, etc.).  Consider the following examples from the Scriptures:

• Jesus taught humility and submission at home and work (Eph. 5-6)
  
• Jesus instructed the Disciples to “render unto Caesar that which is Caesars”
• As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people threw down their coats and palm branches believing that Jesus was going to overthrow the government and establish a new earthly kingdom. That was not His mission.
• When Peter cut-off Malchus’ ear to defend Jesus, Jesus rebuked him, replaced it, and surrendered Himself to the Roman guards.
• Jesus humbled Himself and opened not His mouth, while being falsely accused and beaten by the Roman soldiers.
• Paul taught believers to obey those in authority, because all authority comes from God.
• Paul and Barnabas sang and ministered in prison, asking the Church to pray for their effectiveness with the Gospel, rather than praying for their release.

In recent days, I’ve heard “God’s people” use Bible stories out of context, in an effort to justify their rebellion against various authorities over things they simply don't "like." In the Bible, the accounts of rebellion against authority were toward those who perverted worship or sought to silence the Gospel. Some of these stories include:

• Acts 5:29 the High Priest instructed Peter and the apostles to stop preaching about Jesus. “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
• Daniel 1:8 – Daniel refused to eat the king’s food; because it was a violation of the Jewish dietary laws, thus making him unclean (unfit to worship) before the Lord.
• Daniel 6 - Daniel was thrown in the lion’s den for refusing to engage in false worship by offering prayers to King Darius.
• Daniel 3 - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown in the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down and worship the golden statue set-up by King Nebuchadnezzar in the plain of Dura.
• 2 Kings 18 - Hezekiah rebelled against the king of Syria by tearing down the idols and turn the hearts of the people back to God.
• 2 Kings 24 - Jehoiakim rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar at the Lord’s command, because of the sins of Manasseh.

These stories all show the common thread of rebellion against authorities who perverted worship.  These situations are all VERY different from the rebellion toward authority that some “Christians” are trying to justify today. Today's rebellion stems from personal “preferences,” opinions, rights, American freedoms, etc.; and has nothing to do with the worship of God.  Listen closely and you can almost hear Samuel’s words to King Saul in 1 Sam. 15 echoing to today’s church, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”

So what is a true believer to do? Certainly Christ-followers do NOT have to agree with those in authority 100% of the time, we don't have to like their decisions, we are allowed to have differing opinions, and we can rest assured there are times the authority will be flat-out wrong; but as believers, here are some biblical instructions to guide us:

• Seek to live peaceably with all men (Rom. 12:18)
• Submit to authorities, because all authority comes from God (Rom. 13:1)
• Realize that rebelling against authority is rebellion against God (Rom. 13:2)
• Practice submitting to authority as a matter of principal (Rom. 13:3-5)
• Give everyone what you owe them (Rom. 13:6-7)
• Realize that love is the fulfillment of the Law (Rom. 13:8-10)
• Realizing the day of salvation is near (Rom. 13:11)
• The Church must be the Church! (Rom. 13:12-13)
• Clothe yourself with Christ and make no provision for the flesh (Rom. 13:14)
• Stop quarreling over opinions (Rom. 14:1-2)
• Refuse to judge others who view things differently (Rom. 14:3-4)
• Follow the humble example of Jesus
• Look out for the weaker brother (Rom. 14:13-15)
• Avoid contention and put the interests of others before your own (Phil 2:1-4)
• Remember, God hates… those who sow discord in the Body of Christ (Prov. 6:16-19)

Practicing these biblical principles, will get us started in the right direction. Realize our personal preferences (frequently mislabeled “convictions”) are too often, just self-centered desires. True convictions are built on biblical precepts and principles that are worth dying for (i.e. - Read Foxes Book of Martyrs for stories of those who died for their convictions). If your position is not worth dying for, it is not a “conviction,” it is merely a preference.  While your preference may be to go 70 mph in a 55 mph zone, there are consequences when you choose to disobey those in authority. While you might prefer to dine in public without a shirt; remember the old sign - "no shirt, no shoes, no service" - it meant that abiding by your preference limited your dining choices. The same is true in God’s Kingdom – every decision has a consequence – so I implore you to make your choices in light of eternity, submit to those in authority, and to bring honor to our Savior. Let's truly be people of peace in this world of chaos.

Take a few minutes to read Romans 13.

I Don't Want to Go Back to Pre-COVID "Normal"

Following is a letter I wrote to our 90+ church/school employees that I wanted to share with our Church family (and beyond).  Let's see COVID-19 as a great opportunity to move forward, not backward.

COVID-19 caught the world by surprise and resulted in death and destruction globally.  The closing of businesses, mandated quarantines and shortage of toilet paper wreaked havoc, created anxiety and increased depression.  Like so many others, I have found myself occasionally on the roller coaster of emotions; until I embraced the perspective that God is still in control and “…all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Believing that God is completely in control, I have to tell you how excited I am about the opportunities COVID-19 is giving our church & school ministry. While some are discouraged, I am truly giddy over this God-given opportunity for enhancement and improvement. I see COVID-19 as an opportunity to hit the “reset” button across this ministry. God is giving us a blank canvas or clean slate by which to throw-off the old and embrace new ideas for effectively reaching and impacting people with the Gospel. 

I often hear people say they want to “return to normal,” but let me remind you what pre-COVID “normal” looked like: 

• In January 2018, Thom Rainer – CEO of LifeWay Resources stated – “Between 6,000 and 10,000 churches in the U.S. are dying each year. That means around 100-200 churches will close this week. The pace will accelerate unless our congregations make some dramatic changes.”
• In April 2019, Jeffrey M. Jones with Gallup reported that church membership in America has declined 20% since 1999.
• In Monroe, Dade & Broward counties, multiple Christian schools closed and enrollment was declining in many others.

Wanting to go back to that “normal” is like wanting to go back to the “good ol’ days” of no electricity; no indoor plumbing; a lack of education in the 1940’s; violence of the 1950’s; sex, drugs & rock-n-roll of the 1960’s; the energy crisis of the 1970’s; the recession of the 1980’s; and so on. It’s like the Israelites wanting to return to Egypt. Too often, we only remember the good things, the comfortable things and we forget the rest. 

So, rather than looking backward, I want to ask you to join me in focusing on the future.  Will you dream with me?  Will you have the courage to launch out as Abram did, not knowing where he was going; but trusting God to lead him?  Will you trust God’s plans for you as Jeremiah described them, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Will you pray the prayer of Jabez, asking God to “…bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory…”?

Returning to “normal” is merely going back to what is comfortable, to a place you have already been, and to things you have already done. I hope that you, like me, want to see God do something new and miraculous through Grace & Highlands in the days ahead.

I am inviting you to trust God and see if COVID-19 is the start of something fresh and new!  Be encouraged by Isaiah 43:19 – “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

Our senior staff is meeting weekly to evaluate and dream about the future of our church and school ministry. I will be meeting with Department Heads in the weeks ahead to hear the vision God is giving them regarding how to reach and minister to those He has placed in their care. All employees are invited to share ideas with me via email or come by and let’s discuss them. I also ask everyone to pray… pray… pray!  We want to hear God’s heart and follow His leading.  I am claiming the promise of Psalm 37:23 – “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord…”

I am truly excited about the opportunities that this season of COVID-19 will present us moving forward… although I am also looking forward to the day it passes and we can enjoy whatever the “new normal" might be. :)