Christian Revolution

In the Bible, God tells us to obey what he says. The law is spelled out pretty clearly, but it isn't always the easiest to follow. In Romans 12, we are told to submit to governing authorities. Well, what happens if those authorities tell us to do something we think is wrong? Do we submit or rebel?

The first thing we must do is evaluate the problem. What does the Bible say? If the authorities are telling us to do something that the Bible specifically tells us not to do or vice versa, we should always follow the Bible. We should submit to governing authorities except when they contradict what God says. When this happens, we should try to protest in a peaceful, godly way while being ready to take more extreme measures if necessary.

What if we know something is wrong, but the Bible doesn't say anything specific on the issue? There are probably some verses there, but they might not mention the issue by name. In any case, we should defend what is right calmly, avoiding unnecessary trouble. In either situation, the Bible should be our primary weapon.

What about history? Were past wars worth fighting to Christians? Let's take a look at the Declaration of Independence, for example. Thomas Jefferson did give several good reasons for the colonies to be upset with the King of Britain, but did these reasons have to lead to wars? Something had to be done but I don't think the situation had to be as extreme as it was. They should have protested kindly, talked it out and consulted the Bible a bit more before starting a full out revolution.

What about now? Coronavirus obsession is still going on along with Black Lives Matter protests. With the election coming up, the level of crazy in this country isn't going down. Some people post their every thought and opinion on social media. Others throw rocks at cars and burn buildings. What should we do? Like in any situation, we should follow the Bible above all. If we have to speak out, we should do so in a way that is both loving and logical.

That was a lot of words, but here is the main point of it all: be thoughtful, be careful, be peaceful, and always look at God's Word first.

Sections: Anger, Balance, Christianity, Confused, Educational Essays, For School, History, Nonfiction