How is the Virus Affecting You?

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Aren't you so surprised how protective this virus is towards liberal causes like the 60 straight days of rioting in Portland? Now, more than ever, I too am suspicious of what we are being told.

This article today about wearing masks caught my attention, confirming many of my suspicions for months.

Recently my wife got a stomach flu. About the time I thought about getting tested for Covid, I read about that Kentucky couple placed under house arrest for not agreeing with extreme Covid regulations. Would you obey this secretary of health official who used to be a man?

So now we get into whether or not to obey governmental officials. Doesn't Jesus and Paul both have something to say about this? I'm sure there were plenty of reasons to not align with the things the Roman government of the day were implementing, right? But my understanding is that unless it goes against a specific article of the Christian faith, then to obey the government.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

So now we get into whether or not to obey governmental officials. Doesn't Jesus and Paul both have something to say about this? I'm sure there were plenty of reasons to not align with the things the Roman government of the day were implementing, right? But my understanding is that unless it goes against a specific article of the Christian faith, then to obey the government.

I thought we lived in a constitutional republic where laws are enacted by elected officials in the legislature, not tyrants lusting for power.

What about what Peter said in Acts 5.29, "It is necessary to obey God rather than man?"

Anyways, when did I not obey the government?

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I thought we lived in a constitutional republic where laws are enacted by elected officials in the legislature, not tyrants lusting for power.

What about what Peter said in Acts 5.29, "It is necessary to obey God rather than man?"

Anyways, when did I not obey the government?

I don't know that you were not obeying the government. I was responding to what you said about an apparent transgender government official, and possibly not wishing to comply with them.

So if the government comes for our guns, should we give them? As much as I want to rise up to loudly say "NO!", since it's clearly my constitutional right to own guns, is this something that is going hurt my Christian testimony? In this case there would likely be many unbelievers who also would resist giving up their guns, but nothing of Christ is testified there, right?

Now when Peter and the others were told not to preach Jesus, they didn't comply, because this was a testimony thing. And in this case God's will was specifically different and higher than man's government.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

So if the government comes for our guns, should we give them? As much as I want to rise up to loudly say "NO!", since it's clearly my constitutional right to own guns, is this something that is going hurt my Christian testimony? In this case there would likely be many unbelievers who also would resist giving up their guns, but nothing of Christ is testified there, right?

My study of church history has shown a vast array of responses to government persecution and concerns for their Christian testimony. Some simply took the pattern of the Lamb of God and bravely faced torture and death. Some, like the Waldensians, formed community armed militias to protect their families and defend their homes.

Whether it is an unruly mob, or official agents of some corrupt authority (e.g. the Pope), the Christian victims must face the inevitable -- what will I do when they come to destroy my home and kill my loved ones. Each of us have some "line in the sand" which determines how much we will endure. An individual Christian may act differently when confronting violence alone than when evil comes knocking on his door wanting his wife and children too. An individual Christian may also act differently after witnessing how other Christians have been hurt, so his "line in the sand" may change over time.

I don't think it is fair for us to judge the actions other Christians when facing danger and death simply for their faith. Each Christian is responsible to his/her Lord. Obedience and faithfulness to the Lord produces the best Christian testimony.