Originally posted by Farmer's Wife:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by eric_b:
I'm not sure where that quote came from, but I'm pretty sure it's not the Bible...
Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Rom 13:1 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.
Rom 13:2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
Eric
PS - This wasn't meant to be a serious criticism against you personally, FW, please don't be offended. I just think it's often useful to examine statements like the quote you quoted in light of what Scripture says....
Eric, I'm not offended!
The phrase 'resistance to tyranny is obedience to God' was first 'coined' by William Tyndale...(if I'm not mistaken)...and later repeated by Thomas Jefferson. This phrase was important in the reason our early forefathers came to America in the first place and why they fought England! The 'true' preachers of the 1700's preached the truth about the Christian's responsibility to the civil magistrates.
If you will read the King James Bible concerning this, Romans 13:1 says,"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." Now, I ask you, WHO is the highest power? GOD! All of our 'higher powers' in America have a soul(s)...so, therefore, are subject unto the Higher Power, GOD. If they are not obeying God then we are NOT to obey them! Acts 5:29, KJBible, "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
(Bringing this down on a 'home' level...children are to obey their parents as long as their parents are obeying God. Wives are to obey their husbands as long as the husband is obeying God. If either command the other to sin then they should be RESISTED and God should be obeyed. This unlimited submission to the civil magistrates teaching would be the same as if you taught a wife to continue to obey her husband if he has asked her to sin or if he is beating her...same holds true for the children. BUT, no one dares suggest that...so why insist on the same where the civil magistrates are concerned?!)
Look at all the examples set forth in the Bible...Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, Mordecai, the apostles in the New Testament, etc. Nowhere in the Bible did God instuct us to give unlimited submission to the civil magistrates! That is Catholic lie that has permeated most Baptist churches.
I encourage you to go back and read some of those sermons of the Chaplain's and Clergy of the 1700's!
England taught that the King was law. But our forefathers held to belief that the Law was King (Lex Rex). What Law? The Bible! 'No King but Jesus!' was the cry of the martyrs!</font>[/QUOTE]Yes, I agree with you that we should not obey an earthly authority when doing so would be disobeying God (render unto caesar what is caesar, render unto God what is God's)... but what part of Scripture tells us we should overthrow governments (even tyrannies) since they are "the powers that be are ordained of God" (King James Rom 13:1, since you seem to prefer the Queen's English)? What part of Scripture would the South have been disobeying if they chose not to succeed by force from the Union? How were they obeying God by attempting to overthrow the powers He had ordained?
More verses from King James:
Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
(damnation is actually the greek word 'krima' which is probably better understood to mean 'condemnation' or 'judgement' in this context, as most English translations have it; but the KJV rendering only makes the warning more forceful)
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mat 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
Mat 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Eric
