To understand the biblical teaching on submission to authorities, it is helpful to read Romans 13:1-7 which is set out as follows
13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
From these verses, we understand that
1. We are to submit to authorities because they have been established by God.
2. Whoever rebels against God’s established authorities is rebelling against what God has established.
To get a complete picture, also read Peter’s exhortations in 1 Peter 2:11 to 3:8. The examples of submission that he urges Christians to adopt in their daily lives are:-
1. Christians to submit to emperors/governors
2. Slaves to submit to masters
3. Wives to submit to husbands
While urging Christians to submit to their authorities, Scripture also urges those in authority not to abuse their authority. Examples are as follows:-
1. 1 Peter 5:1-5:- Peter urges the church flock to submit to their elders, but at the same time, urges the elders not to lord it over them but to be good examples.
2. Col 4:1- Masters are to treat their slaves fairly because the masters have their own Master in heaven.
3. Eph 5:28 Husbands are to treat their wives as their own bodies.
In an ideal world, if everyone listened to God, we would submit to our human authorities while the human authorities, in turn, would also carry out their duties in a godly manner and not abuse their power. The difficulty raised by “Unsure” is when the authorities do not act in a godly manner. Do the Christians continue submitting to these authorities or not?
My view is that Christians are to submit to the authorities (which is God’s command) except in cases where submitting to the authorities would in turn violate God’s other commands. Two examples come to mind, one in the Old Testament and another in the New Testament:-
(I) Old Testament
1. God tells his people not to make idols nor to worship them. (God’s command)
2. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego live in Babylon where there is a law to worship the image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up (Human Authorities’ command)
3. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to obey the human authorities’ command to worship the idol. They are summoned to King Nebuchadnezzar.
Their response:- “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18).
Result: They are thrown into the furnace but God delivers them. King Nebuchadnezzar praises God and promotes the three of them in his kingdom.
(II) New Testament
1. Before ascending, Jesus teaches Peter (and the disciples) to disciple all the nations. (God’s command)
2. The Sanhedrin later instructed that Peter and the others not to teach anything based on Jesus. (Acts 4:18) (Human Authorities’ command)
3. Peter and the rest continue to do so (Acts 4 v 31) and are eventually hauled up before the Sanhedrin (Acts 5:28)
Peter’s response: “It is necessary to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29)
Result: Peter and the others end up getting beaten up by the Sanhedrin but rejoice afterwards because they suffered for Christ. (Acts 5:40-41).
Both examples show Christians not obeying the human authorities blindly when to do so would be to disobey God’s other commands.
One of the pressing needs of the church is to teach its members that obeying God may lead to suffering in this present age. Before being put into the fire, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s response had two limbs:- (i) God is able to deliver them but (ii) they also recognised that God may choose not to deliver them. While they were delivered and did not get burnt, Peter and the others were flogged. Yet Peter and the others rejoiced afterwards. In our present age, there is a culture of prioritising our personal comforts and wanting to avoid all kinds of suffering, viewing them as evil.
To go back to David’s case, a summary is as follows:-
1 Saul kept trying to harm David. This was a sin because David had done nothing to Saul to deserve this.
2. David had opportunities to take revenge against Saul but he did not do so. (E.g. in 1 Sam 24 and 26).
Why did David not act? He recognised that:-
1. Saul was God’s anointed
2. God will take the appropriate action against Saul at the appropriate time.
This is encapsulated in 1 Samuel 26:9-11
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the LORD lives,” he said, “the LORD himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”
David had taken a similar stance in 1 Samuel 24.
-1 Samuel 24: 6 & 10 - Recognising that Saul is God’s anointed
-1 Samuel 24: 12 & 15:- Letting God be the judge.
We too can follow David’s example. I had started this post with Romans 13 recognising that God establishes human authorities. With regards to David’s other point about letting God take the appropriate action, it is actually encapsulated in the Romans 12:17-21, which precedes Romans 13.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
With regard to Living Stream Ministry, God will be the Judge for whatever they have done. One could take the view that one need not submit to them and the elders in the localities because their teachings are so deviant that they are a false religion altogether and hence their leaders are not established by God.