A Time to Speak Out
Romans 13:1-7 NET Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation, for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience. For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants devoted to governing. Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue are due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
The question is simple: who are these “governing authorities”? The Greek ὑπερέχω ἐξουσία means a power higher in rank, privilege, or mastery. All authority ultimately belongs to YHVH. He raises up and brings down. Yet my King is Yeshua the Messiah, the Word made flesh, the Lion of Judah who sits at the Father’s right hand. His decree is my law.
When the Pharisees tried to trap Yeshua with Caesar’s tax, He answered:
Matthew 22:15-21 KJV Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
Man’s systems are maintained by man. God’s kingdom is upheld by God. Pay taxes. Obey traffic laws. Honor the office. But when man’s law demands worship of a false god, silence in the face of evil, or surrender of conscience, choose this day whom you will serve.
Daniel 3:10-12 KJV Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not rebel with swords. They did not riot. They stood. They refused to bow. And the Son of God walked with them in the fire.
Romans 13 does not command blind obedience. It commands ordered submission under God’s providence. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. Justice is His. We do not resist for the sake of resisting. We resist when obedience to man means disobedience to God.Today the golden images wear lab coats, media badges, and government seals. Fear is the new incense. “Safety” is the idol. Mandates demand we surrender God-given breath, parental rights, bodily sovereignty, and the right to gather as the body of Christ. Critical thinking is labeled dangerous. Truth is called misinformation. Silence is demanded under threat of furnace: job loss, social exile, fines, or worse.
This is not the time to cower. This is the time to speak.
We research. We pray. We test every spirit. We stand on the Word made flesh. We protect the weak, the children, the church. We refuse to trade liberty for a false peace. We will not comply with decrees that violate conscience, Scripture, or natural law.
Our children are watching. The world is watching. The angels are watching. We will give account for how we stewarded this moment.
We do not take up the sword. We take up the shield of faith. We speak truth in love. We name the lies. We defend the flock. We walk through the fire trusting the One who walks with us.#NoScienceNoMask was my line in the sand. It still is. Not because I hate authority, but because I fear God. Not because I reject order, but because I serve a higher King.
Stand. Speak. Resist evil. Trust the outcome to the One who ordains every throne.
The Responsible Christian
Romans 13:1-7 NET Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation, for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience. For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants devoted to governing. Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue are due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
The question is simple: who are these “governing authorities”? The Greek ὑπερέχω ἐξουσία means a power higher in rank, privilege, or mastery. All authority ultimately belongs to YHVH. He raises up and brings down. Yet my King is Yeshua the Messiah, the Word made flesh, the Lion of Judah who sits at the Father’s right hand. His decree is my law.
When the Pharisees tried to trap Yeshua with Caesar’s tax, He answered:
Matthew 22:15-21 KJV Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
Man’s systems are maintained by man. God’s kingdom is upheld by God. Pay taxes. Obey traffic laws. Honor the office. But when man’s law demands worship of a false god, silence in the face of evil, or surrender of conscience, choose this day whom you will serve.
Daniel 3:10-12 KJV Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not rebel with swords. They did not riot. They stood. They refused to bow. And the Son of God walked with them in the fire.
Romans 13 does not command blind obedience. It commands ordered submission under God’s providence. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. Justice is His. We do not resist for the sake of resisting. We resist when obedience to man means disobedience to God.Today the golden images wear lab coats, media badges, and government seals. Fear is the new incense. “Safety” is the idol. Mandates demand we surrender God-given breath, parental rights, bodily sovereignty, and the right to gather as the body of Christ. Critical thinking is labeled dangerous. Truth is called misinformation. Silence is demanded under threat of furnace: job loss, social exile, fines, or worse.
This is not the time to cower. This is the time to speak.
We research. We pray. We test every spirit. We stand on the Word made flesh. We protect the weak, the children, the church. We refuse to trade liberty for a false peace. We will not comply with decrees that violate conscience, Scripture, or natural law.
Our children are watching. The world is watching. The angels are watching. We will give account for how we stewarded this moment.
We do not take up the sword. We take up the shield of faith. We speak truth in love. We name the lies. We defend the flock. We walk through the fire trusting the One who walks with us.#NoScienceNoMask was my line in the sand. It still is. Not because I hate authority, but because I fear God. Not because I reject order, but because I serve a higher King.
Stand. Speak. Resist evil. Trust the outcome to the One who ordains every throne.
The Responsible Christian
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