Rebelling

[ushalk]

Is there a time when it is good to rebel against governing authorities?

 

[B-A-C]

There have certainly been times when I have wanted to. However...

1 Pet 2:12; Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1 Pet 2:13; Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
1 Pet 2:14; or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
1 Pet 2:15; For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
1 Pet 2:16; Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
1 Pet 2:17; Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
1 Pet 2:18; Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
1 Pet 2:19; For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
1 Pet 2:20; For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
1 Pet 2:21; For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

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.
Rom 13:3; For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
Rom 13:4; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
Rom 13:5; Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.

I would say short of renouncing your faith, we are supposed to obey the government. Even Obama.

 

[ushalk]

Hmm, I agree with you and with your post but what do you think of Acts. 4:16-20?

 

[B-A-C]

Hmm, I agree with you and with your post but what do you think of Acts. 4:16-20?

In verse Acts 4:5; and Acts 4:15; it seems the "teachers of the law" and "Sanhedrin" were the instigators rather than the king and govenor.
(Although it seems the Roman soldiers were at least involved, but probably they would have cared less except the Sanhedrin were complaining).

In any case, even if they would have been rulers, they were essestially asking them to renounce their faith and disobey God as to their calling.
I suppose you could say missionaries are doing today in some countries, but as Paul said "should we obey men or God?"

 

[ushalk]

Do you think it should matter of who it came from? I think we often think it matters. I believe that is why so many Christians are afraid to speak out the name of Christ in public now. The government has made a rule against it. However we are called to minister the truth to people in hopes that they will accept the truth and Christ for salvation. There is only one way to heaven and that is through Christ. So I believe when it comes to worship and honoring our Lord we are lead by the Spirit not by a law. At that time the teachers of the law and the sanheathans were the governing authorities under roman empire.

 

[B-A-C]

Do you think it should matter of who it came from? I think we often think it matters. I believe that is why so many Christians are afraid to speak out the name of Christ in public now. The government has made a rule against it. However we are called to minister the truth to people in hopes that they will accept the truth and Christ for salvation. There is only one way to heaven and that is through Christ. So I believe when it comes to worship and honoring our Lord we are lead by the Spirit not by a law. At that time the teachers of the law and the sanheathans were the governing authorities under roman empire.

You may be on to something. I wouldn't put it past the devil to make people deny Jesus through subtle means.
If it was obvious, like having to renounce Jesus or get beheaded, people might take a stand.
But if it's subtle, like don't talk about Jesus or we'll revoke your tax exempt status, well then.....

 

[ushalk]

Exactly, all of a sudden who is the real god to those that oppose God. Whether it be a threat of losing something or a law written down in the books. Jesus is our Lord and he laid it all down for us.