Adversity comes in many forms. My grandson, James, knows this up close and personal. He struggles with speech. More specifically, his nervous system struggles with connecting what he wants to say with the motor skills needed to coordinate his breath and muscle systems involved with getting his tongue, lips, jaw, and cheeks to form the right shapes in the right sequences. Make no mistake though, he knows perfectly well what he wants to say. “Please” might come out like “pweeze,” but his heart announces the meaning. Instead of “Rachel,” his sister will hear “Sashal,” but her heart will hear just what James intends.
James knows. Rachel knows. Mom and Dad know. The docs and the speech therapists know. Everyone knows James struggles. One glance at his brain scan will leave no one with a doubt…he struggles. However, here’s the cool thing…James faces adversity, but it’s not adversarial. You see adversity is marked by difficulties and misfortune, while that which is adversarial is marked with opposition and hostility. James knows nothing of opposition or hostility regarding the adversity of speech. Each day he learns to enunciate more clearly just as he learns his letters, numbers, phonics, chores, rights, wrongs, and truths and lies.
Adversity need not be taken up with a clenched jaw and clenched fists. We don’t always need to rattle everyone’s world because we happen to be facing some adversity. Difficulties and misfortune may actually be the very trials God allows us or gives us to help us become more like him. James knows. I know. He and the Savior have more in common than just the first letter of their names.
Just to reiterate that it’s both sides…a repetitive merry-go-round of shenanigans…
It’s bipartisan propaganda…playing both sides against the middle. What’s happening today on the right happened four years ago on the left…and will flip-flop yet again every time the chance arises.
January 6, 2017: congressional ratification of the Electoral Votes was dramatically denounced by democrat politicians. You can read about it in the article from National Public Radio linked below.
It was the same song, but an earlier verse. It’s pathetic. It’s sad. It’s heart-breaking.
They need our prayers. All of them. Both parties. All parties. Every persuasion.
They need our prayers…and our votes of no-confidence. They’re an oligarchy always scheming to pit folks on the right and the left against one another so they can reap the benefits of the chaos. They’ve grown bold and brazen, giving little thought to the fact they can now use the same arguments on both sides of the aisles. With a wink and a nod, day in and day out, they shout and scream at one another, hurl insults at one another, and impeach one another, all the while remaining fat and sassy as we continue trapped on their merry-go-round…as they play both sides against the middle.
Swept up in their tornado is our nation and a watching world wishing upon wish for something so much better. As long as folks continue to hope one party or another will lead us to the promised land we will continue to allow them the persistent privilege of playing the shame and blame game against one another.
Their way is the wrong way. In fact, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12). Their way and this way are the same. There is, however, a better way. His way. The Lord’s way that leads to love, peace, grace, hope, mercy, patience, compassion, and virtue.
“Vice President Biden pauses between mock swearing-in ceremonies in the Old Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill Tuesday. Biden presided over the official Electoral College tally amid several interruptions.” (NPR)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps 51:10).
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps 73:26).
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7).
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (Jn 14:1).
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (Jn 14:27).
So, the obvious is…well obvious. These kinds of hearts are mindsets, feelings, attitudes, and/or choices. Good, bad, or otherwise, when we talk about our hearts like this, we’re clearly referring to our inner selves…the core of our existence. However, this still doesn’t really help me with the original question. Seriously, when we think of being unsettled many things can come to mind.
Maybe someone is shaken to the core by an overwhelming dilemma or tragic event.
Maybe someone is confused by a seemingly unsolvable problem.
Maybe someone is sad as the result of unkind words.
Maybe someone is haunted with worry from a generalized anxiety disorder of unknown origins.
Maybe someone is keen to that lingering, uneasy, weird feeling that “something is just up.”
Maybe someone is sure about a creepy feeling…like “I just know that person over there keeps looking at me.”
Or, uhh, ummm…well, in fact, it’s unsettling just trying to lock this thing down. Mirriam-Webster helps a little, but not enough. It leads with “Unsettled: not settled, such as…
A.
(1) not calm or tranquil: disturbed, as unsettled political conditions (2) likely to vary widely especially in the near future: variable, as unsettled weather (3) not settled down: as unsettled dust
B.
(1) not decided or determined: doubtful, as an unsettled state of mind (2) not resolved or worked out: undecided, as an unsettled question
C. characterized by irregularity; an unsettled life
D. not inhabited or populated as unsettled land
E. mentally unbalanced (they don’t even offer an example here)
F.
(1) not disposed of according to law, as an unsettled estate (2) not paid or discharged, as unsettled debts.”
How about the Dictionary.com Thesaurus? Yup, you guessed it. Tons of words. Five columns of 10 words each. Fifty. 50. It took up all their allotted space. Should I list them all? Should I? Okay, I’ll spare you that tedious little exercise. Trust me though, the list started with “agitated” and meandered through the alphabet, doubling back and forth, until it reached “variable” with stops along the way at “antsy, confused, fluid, perturbed,” and even “mutable.” Apparently, when asked the question, “What do you have to say about the idea behind the phrase, he has an unsettled heart,” one might want to take it slow.
It’s a bit of a pickle, a riddle. The hitch is this: the phrase “unsettled heart” can morph. It’s adaptable. It fits easily into the language of your inner turmoil. It covers any of the eleven hearts mentioned in the opening salvo of this essay…and many others as well. However illusive it might be, an unsettled heart may actually be positive. Think about it. Should you say to someone, “You seem unsettled,” your kind observation of his or her preoccupation provides an opportunity for your companion to open up about almost anything. It could be something minor. Yet, it could also be a terribly major problem. If you say to another, “Man, my heart is unsettled,” you’ve only revealed that an emotion is stirring within you. Awaiting you and your companion is the magnificent potential for growth as you decide together to explore the details.
So, let’s go with that. The unsettled heart is not at peace regardless of whether its lack of peace stems from too many debts, decisions, delights, desires, discouragements, disruptions, doubts, duties, or even disorders. The reality remains…one is not at rest. He or she needs either relief from or completion of the underlying cause.
For example…
What if someone determines the cause of the unsettled heart is injustice? How will she find peace?
What if someone determines the cause of his unsettled heart is sin? How will he find peace?
What if someone determines the cause of her unsettled heart is loneliness? How will she find peace?
What if someone determines the cause of his unsettled heart is fear? How will he find peace?
What if someone determines the cause of her unsettled heart is illness? How will she find peace?
What if someone determines the cause of his unsettled heart is worry? How will he find peace?
What if someone determines the cause of her unsettled heart is desire? How will she find peace?
What if someone determines the cause of his unsettled heart is worship? How will he find peace?
Or what if someone even determines the cause of her unsettled heart is undetermined? How will she then find peace? Now we have something with which to work. Now we have a process to submit before the Lord. Here are two ways this may play out…
First, the unsettled heart is a clue, and we are the detectives. Detectives ask questions designed to narrow the scope of investigation. So, ike detectives, we can use this method. It looks something like the following:
●Ask questions like…What are all the possibilities? ●Of all the possibilities, ask…What observations can we make regarding each possibility? What connections can we make between each possibility and the unsettled heart? ●Begin to slowly eliminate the obvious. ●Start considering the reduced number of possibilities. ●As the scope of investigation is reduced by eliminating potentials, we draw ever closer to a cause. ●Once the cause is discovered, we can determine what to do with it. We can complete it if it’s something left undone. We can relieve it by removal if it’s something inappropriate. We can relieve it by acceptance if it adds to our maturity.
This is really nothing more than what the Lord has been teaching us forever. Take a simple example from Acts 6:1-7. In the early days of the church, as the numbers of people increased rapidly, a problem of caring for everyone landed upon the Apostles. Take a look for yourself…
“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”
In this case, groups of people were unsettled. It wasn’t difficult to determine the cause. Folks just needed to understand the cause, point to it, recognize a simple solution, then complete the process by implementing an effective solution.
●Consider the problem. ●Consider the possible causes. ●Consider if something needs completion or relief.
In this case, relief came by completing a more effective administration and management system.
However, what if the cause of unsettled hearts is more pernicious? What if a darkness exists… something is wrong in the sense of being harmful, hurtful, hateful…something sinful…something that needs removing? What then? Well, we follow a similar pattern. In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the Holy Spirit inspired him to write the following:
“Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Yikes, that’s pretty clear. Once something destructive is uncovered, it must be removed. Or as the Apostle put it: “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.” In this case, the unsettled heart is clearly a sin issue. Once the darkness is discovered it must be subjected to confession…exposing the darkness to light. One needs to agree with God about the simple, yet profound, fact that this thing is harmful, hurtful, and hateful to one’s spirit…and probably to the hearts of others also. In this case, while the initial answer is simple, the ongoing solution may need repeating over time. Repetition will require support, encouragement, admonition, motivation, prayer, worship, abiding.
●Consider the problem. ●Consider the possible causes. ●Consider if something needs completion or relief.
In this case, relief from the unsettled heart will come by removing the sin problem.
Still, what if the issue is not something to complete or remove? What if one’s unsettled heart has to do with finally accepting something? Let’s look to the Bible for another example. The Apostle Paul used himself as an example when he wrote one of his letters to the Church of Corinth. We find it in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10…
“I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So, to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
There has been much discussion about what Paul was talking about when he mentioned, “to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.” However, there is no discussion regarding what he meant when he wrote, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'” Maybe it was physical illness, maybe it was his size, maybe it was a speech impediment, maybe it was spiritual warfare, whatever it was, Paul wanted it gone. You might say his heart was quite unsettled over it. He knew the problem. He repeatedly asked the Lord to remove it. However, like Jeremiah, Hosea, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and others, he learned the problem would not be removed. Instead, the grace, the peace, the presence of God would sustain him. He would keep his “thorn in the flesh.” He would accept it. It would be a reminder that the sufficiency of God is of far greater worth than the removal of something thorny. In circumstances like this, the unsettled heart is a trial that can help us depend upon God. When we are weak, he is strong. These are the times we must incorporate passages like…
Proverbs 3:1-6 “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
John 14:7-11 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
When met with this challenge our task is neither to complete or remove anything. Instead we must partner with God to mature into the image of the Savior…more and more and more. We must let the Lord help us to translate pain into his glory. In fact, with God, peace and pain become partners as we participate in and with his patience.
●Consider the problem. ●Consider the possible causes. ●Consider if something needs to be accepted.
In this case, relief from the unsettled heart will come by depending upon the presence of God to incorporate the trial into our emotional and motivational weapons cache.
Second, the unsettled heart, though a clue, may not be receptive to discovery. Sometimes the underlying cause remains a mystery. Regardless of how determined we’ve been to uncover the source, in rare occasions we remain stumped. What then?
What then, indeed? But, maybe, well maybe not “What then, indeed.” Maybe the simple realization that an underlying cause cannot be determined is exactly where we need to be and exactly where the Lord wants us. Take for example Matthew 6:25-34…
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Did you notice that phrase down toward the end…“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you?” You should be interested in that little word “seek.” As for its meaning, that’s simple: to find, to go after, to crave. However, there are some other things you should know about it. If you’re paying attention, you will notice it’s a verb. It’s indicating an action…do this thing…i.e. seek this thing, look for this thing, crave this thing. Still, though, we’re not finished. It’s also a verb presented in the present tense. So, it’s indicating action now…keep doing this thing…i.e. seek this thing continually, look for this thing always, keep on keeping on with your craving of this thing. Okay? We got it, right? Not quite. There is one more thing. It’s also a verb presented as an imperative. So, it’s not just indicating present tense action…it’s not a suggestion…it’s a command. Kind of like this, “Attention, now hear this: SEEK the kingdom of God…now, yup, now…get ‘er done…just do it…and don’t you stop doing it.”
You might wonder though about a couple other items from this passage…like the phrase “kingdom of God” or the word “anxious.”
The “kingdom of God” is often misappropriated when we think of it merely as the “sovereign rule of God” or the geographically inclined notion of “heaven and earth…all of creation and beyond is God’s Kingdom.” Instead, the phrase requires understanding the intention of the four gospels: the history of how Jesus became the King of not only Israel, but the whole world. This was exactly what the Old Testament pointed to—Immanuel, God with us. Unfortunately, there was a disconnect between what God revealed through the Old Testament authors and that which was expected during the years prior and shortly following the dividing year between BC and AD. The folks were looking for the Lion of Judah—the conquering hero who would be established not only upon the Throne of David, but the throne of the whole world. However, the truth revealed by the Lord to the writers of the Old Testament pointed to a far more comprehensive Savior. Certainly the advent of the Messiah would bring freedom, but that freedom would be far more grand than mere physical ransom. Almost everyone in early first century Judaism missed the whole picture. Leading the way in this short-sighted anticipation were those vying for power and position: the Herodians, the Zealots, and the Sanhedrin. The royal family of Herod was betting the Messiah would come and rule through their royal position. The Zealots were looking for a leader/warrior who would take up shield and sword to lead the Army of Israel. The Sanhedrin—the religious/political ruling body of Israel—also wanted to usher in the Messiah.
Each of these competing groups were staging for the Lion of Judah, but they failed to recall Scripture also taught about the Lamb of God. If they had been both less ambitious for personal gain and more dependent upon the word of God, they would have seen that the whole of the Old Testament, regarding the coming Messiah, was not one dimensional. It spoke of his complete reign…his reign as the Lion of Judah and as the Lamb of God. He would reign upon the throne of David, but he would also bring peace to the heart. He would rule not just over the heaven and earth, but also the soul. Whatever their motivation, whatever their shortcoming, they missed the incredible proclamations of the Savior…
…I will be despised and rejected by you …I will bear your griefs …I will carry your sorrows …I will be stricken, smitten, and afflicted by you …I will be led as a sheep for you …I will be pierced for your transgressions …I will be crushed for your iniquities …I will be the chastisement that brings you peace …I will suffer the wounds by which you will be healed …I will be led to the slaughter for you …I will be oppressed and judged for your transgressions …I will be crushed for your guilt …I will be filled with anguish, but satisfied…because through all this you will be made righteous
…and you will be my people and I will be your God …my word will be upon your lips …my Spirit will be with you …I will give you a new heart …I will give you a new spirit …I will be living water within you …I am Immanuel which means God is with you.
Yes, the Old Testament promised the Messiah as the Lion of Judah…and that day approaches…a day when deliverance will also include freedom from the dominion of both the kingdom of hell and the kingdom of men. However, only tragedy awaited and still awaits those who miss that the Messiah is with us here and now. That’s right, the spotless Lamb of God, Immanuel, God who is with us, who takes away our sin, and promises to abide with us, is with us here and now. He is always with his new creation. The phrase “Kingdom of God” is the slang or shorthand version of these promises. It’s the phrase Jesus and his apostles used to announce and discuss this truth: the promises are fulfilled, God has come again, the incarnation is the initiation of God’s presence with the redeemed. It is more than a kingdom of borders or a rule of new truth. It is God with you and with me where you are and where I am. Right here. Right now. Wherever we sit, stand, or lie down. Whatever we are doing. In us. Through us. For us. However we feel. Worried. Troubled. Anxious. Content. Peaceful. Victorious. No matter our circumstances, God is here to fill the holes in our souls.
Likewise, the word “anxious” requires some explanation. Each time it shows up in this passage it translates the same Greek word. It is a simple word. As a verb, it means: do not worry, do not be anxious, do not be troubled. If one wishes to draw this out a bit, it can mean “do not be all tied up,” or “do not be all consumed,” or “do not fret and fuss,” or “don’t be so uptight.” Right…don’t have an unsettled heart.
So? What does all this mean regarding the assertion made earlier, “the unsettled heart, though a clue, may not be receptive to discovery?” Simple. It means this: just because we cannot track down the underlying cause of an unsettled heart it does not follow that we cannot regain peace, calm, and rest. Jesus promises that if one looks for God always, depends on God always, worships God always, attends to God always, talks with God always, abides in God always—remains mindful of God always—then the other stuff has a habit of falling into place. The main thing remains God. The things we worry about, remain anxious over, feel troubled on account of, lose their power. Their stranglehold is pulled apart. Their influence is diminished since they no longer stand front and center. Seeking first and foremost “God’s Kingdom” dispels the unsettled heart even if we’re not sure what’s causing the unsettled heart. When we partner with the Savior first, foremost, fantastically, faithfully, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). It has always been and ever shall be about God with us…Immanuel.
The Apostles went on to reiterate this truth given in the Old Covenant and reasserted by Jesus in the New Covenant. Notice this from the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.” That’s simple enough. Yet, it’s weighted with everything that came before.
Once again, take note of the verbs. They are present tense imperatives. Does this mean that every single second of every single minute of every single hour of every single day we must figure out how to rejoice, pray, give thanks, and not quench the Holy Spirit? Well no, but yes. Of course, other thoughts must be processed. Our attention needs to focus on many different things. We need to be mindful of life…as we plan it, also as it comes, and eventually as we renegotiate it. Sure, we must think and do lots of things. However, this does not mean we cannot attend to the Lord all the time. Of course, we can. As with all our relationships, our life with God is full time. Perhaps an illustration will help…
Consider a typical family. It’s evening. Mom’s reading a book. Dad’s watching the football game. Son is doing his homework. Daughter is texting a friend while listening to music through her headphones. Each of them is comfortably relaxed in the family room. Dad gets up…stretches. His wife notices and, without taking her eyes away from her book, says, “Sweetheart, would you mind turning that other lamp on? I could use a little more light.” His son also sees him get up and, without putting down his pencil, asks, “Hey, if you’re headed to the kitchen, would you mind grabbing one of Mom’s cookies for me?” His daughter, continuing to listen to her music, lifts her head, makes eye contact with him, and asks, “What’s up Dad? Going to bed early?” As Dad makes his way to the kitchen, he smiles at his daughter while pointing to his mouth. She smiles and nods her head affirmatively. As he walks, he reaches over to turn on the other lamp. His wife says, “Thanks, sweetheart.” Still walking and without looking back, he smiles. He exits from the living room into the kitchen. Rummages around a little. Then he comes jogging back. He’s carrying three cookies and a cup of coffee…carefully. He bends over to place one cookie next to his son’s school-book. His son says, “Awesome.” Still bent over, he glances up at his daughter and opens his eyes a little wider. She gets it. She smiles big and nods her head affirmatively. He lopes over to hand her one of the cookies. She whispers, “Thank you.” He smiles big. Quickly now he gets back to his easy chair just as the game resumes. He nibbles on his cookie, takes a sip of coffee, smiles, and lets out a sigh of contentment. Everyone is all in.
This is how it can be between us and the Lord. While we might not necessarily be in a direct conversation with the Lord, we can always be in direct fellowship with him. We can be completely aware and mindful of him. We can be attuned to “hearing” his word. We can speak to him quickly, appropriately, all the time.
In the words of the psalmist, we can live in the reality of “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
In the words of Jesus, we can “seek first the kingdom of God.”
In the words of Paul, we can “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Sometimes we can know the source of our unsettled heart. Sometimes we can’t. Either way, if we know the Savior, we can comfortably, naturally move from unsettled to peaceful. However, if we don’t know the Savior, the heart will remain unsettled simply because the greatest matter in both time and eternity has not yet been settled…the reconciliation of the human heart with God’s heart. I pray this matter is settled for you.
In our last post, “Civil Disobedience: When Does It Become Necessary,” we made a clear biblical point…while civil disobedience must always be an option for a Christian, a local church, or the Church, it must be engaged only under certain conditions.
We also forecasted the very real possibility that the tipping point might very well be reached in the future. However, we had not yet crossed the threshold. After a lengthy study of the pertinent passages in Scripture, we wrote the following regarding when it is appropriate to not follow the dictates of a ruling body:
“There is a simple pattern here.
Folks were told to violate God’s truths.
Folks were told to murder.
Folks were told to worship someone or something other than God.
Folks were told to not speak or teach on behalf of the Lord.
This then might be called the Romans 13 Caveat: ‘When told to violate the word of god, to commit evil, to worship another, or to shut up about God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we must refuse.’
Some believe the ‘stay at home, wearing of masks, social distance guidelines, and the remain closed’ orders are an overreach of government when it comes to churches. We do not…not yet. Yes, civil disobedience is always an option. In fact, it is likely we will, one and all, find ourselves choosing this option should current events continue to devolve.”
A few sentences later, we wrote: “Specifically, we do not believe community standards, in response to the viral pandemic, regulating where we worship reaches the threshold of what we find in the biblical instances of civil disobedience. Yes, we are being told to alter the where and how of what we do, but we’ve not been told to violate God’s truths, commit or support acts of evil, worship someone or something other than God, or not speak or teach on behalf of the Lord. Not yet.
Not yet.”
One of those “Not yet” issues has arrived. We have now been instructed that we cannot sing during our worship services. This is a problem…because it violates clear instruction in the Word of God. How so? Well, let’s take a look.
Under the Governor’s New Order (see it here), guideline #12 states:
” Religious Services are limited to 25 percent of indoor occupancy limits, or no more than 200 people, whichever is fewer. Congregation members/attendees must wear facial coverings at all times and congregation singing is prohibited. No choir, band, or ensemble shall perform during the service. Vocal or instrumental soloists are permitted to perform, and vocal soloists may have a single accompanist. Outdoor services must follow the Outdoor Dining Guidance, found here, applicable to the structure or facility.” (bold, italics, and underline added)
This instruction forces us to consider the very nature of Christian singing. In the broad context of the Bible, singing often erupts spontaneously in response to God and his truth (Exodus 15; Psalm 96: Psalm 104:33; Isaiah 42:10-17; Matthew 36:30; Acts 16:25-34; Romans 15:9; Hebrews 2:12; Revelation 15). It’s not only a natural response of the heart filled with worship, it’s a response expected by our Lord. In fact, in Ephesians 5:15-21 and Colossians 3:12-17, we are given specific instruction about this. While not exactly the same, the passages are similar enough that we can zero in on just one of them. So, let’s take a brief look at Colossians 3:15-21 and then concentrate on verse 16:
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
In Colossians 3:16 (bold), the main clause includes the verb “dwell” (“let the word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom”). “Dwell” is present imperative…i.e. it’s not a suggestion, it’s a directive, a command that is to be done persistently.
This main clause is followed by two participial phrases…
“…teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (teaching
and admonishing)
“…singing with thanksgiving in your hearts to God” (singing)
Participial phrases are subordinate clauses that modify or complement the main clause. In other words, in the above directive from God, when we’re interacting with one another, via the word of Christ richly dwelling within us, how are we to express it? Answer: we express it with songs.
The natural and expected response to the word of Christ is the song of worship. Singing both teaches and admonishes…it reinforces the word of Christ and it warns in light of the word of Christ. It also gives thanks to God.
Given that the instruction in this context is a clear and present directive and given that we see this kind of “singing” in the wider context of Scripture, we believe we’ve reached one of those tipping points we mentioned in our previous discussion regarding civil disobedience. The question before us then is this: Does the “congregation singing is prohibited” rule cause us to disobey the Lord? The answer is obviously “yes.” So, does this conclude the matter? Do we sing anyway? The answers, again are “yes.”
In conclusion, just as we have stated on many occasions, we are not law enforcement. The role of a church and its participants is persuasion and faithfulness (evangelism and discipleship), not compulsion. We recognize that both individual believers as well as individual churches may not see eye to eye on every point of Scriptural truth. Quoting from our first essay on matters regarding civil disobedience, “Sometimes, within the Lord’s Church, faithful followers disagree. In fact, there are times when folks in the Body of Christ, who genuinely enjoy solid, wonderful fellowship disagree. On matters of prime importance—the essentials* of our faith—these folks stand with complete agenda harmony. However, on some things, not of prime importance, they choose to disagree with understanding, love, and compassion. This does not hurt their fellowship. In fact, if they are careful, their fellowship grows, their depth expands, their resolve tempers, and their commitment strengthens.” Therefore, while we will continue following previous safety protocols, we also intend to keep singing during our services and we leave it to you to choose what is best for you and your households.
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*Essentials: the core of Christian belief, the necessary truths of and for salvation. Examples: the Trinity, the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, the personhood of the Holy Spirit, Salvation by faith through grace alone, the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible…
You can find the pdf on my Resources page or just click here, Civil Disobedience Part Two: It’s Starting To Become Necessary.
Sometimes, within the Lord’s Church, faithful followers disagree. In fact, there are times when folks in the Body of Christ, who genuinely enjoy solid, wonderful, fellowship, disagree. On matters of prime importance–the essentials* of our faith–these folks stand with complete agenda harmony. However, on some things, not of prime importance, they choose to disagree with understanding, love, and compassion. This does not hurt their fellowship. In fact, if they are careful, their fellowship grows, their depth expands, their resolve tempers, their commitment strengthens. We find ourselves in such times. We are faced with a particular issue in which believers do not always agree. Here it is: do we follow our government’s directions on safety protocols regarding Covid 19? At West Sound Community Church, we have chosen to do so. What follows is why.
From the beginning, we must hasten to say we will not cover all the biblical issues wrapped up in this decision. A complete analysis would include exposition on several topics. These might best be quickly mentioned via several questions:
Am I my brother’s keeper?
Am I to be a Good Samaritan?
Am I to make sacrifices on behalf of others?
Am I to submit my liberty to the preeminence of love?
Do the words of Jesus still apply: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends?”
Do the words of Jesus still apply: “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?”
Do the words of Jesus still apply: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself?”
Do the words of Jesus still apply: “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you?”
The answers are yes…and they are quite significant within the Church’s current conversation concerning whether or not to follow community guidelines about social distancing. After all, no matter if we agree or disagree, as Christ followers we must always consider the Love Factor…how do we best demonstrate God’s love to a world that does not know him? If time permitted, it would be both pleasing and profitable to tackle each of the above questions to see how each of them enhances our best practices for the topic at hand. However, time does not permit. Instead, like churches across the globe, we must tackle the big one: to mask or not to mask, to distance or not to distance, these are the questions. In other words, in order to Glorify God through The Great Commission is it time to engage in civil disobedience? Let’s see…
Most folks who know their Bibles realize God’s Word addresses “civil disobedience” head on. In fact, there are some primary passages that must be understood with any discussion in which we participate concerning this form of interaction between us and appointed authorities. These passages fall into two camps: those that clearly teach us to obey our ruling authorities and those that clearly teach us that on some occasions we must disobey our ruling authorities.
First, there are those that teach us to obey our ruling authorities. Three of them are primary in this study. Take your time. Read them several times. Also, read them within their contexts. They are quite straight forward and accessible.
1. Romans 13:1-7
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”
2. 1 Peter 2:11-17
“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”
3. Titus 3:1-11
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.“
There you go…obey the authorities who have been appointed over you. It’s not up for debate. The passages are clear and precise. All things being equal, this obedience is ultimately…
…obedience to God
…good for society
…a means of influencing the appointed authorities
…a means of preventing slander against us
…a means of glorifying God
…accomplishing the will of God to silence the ignorance of foolish people
…shows perfect courtesy toward all people
…way, way different from the ways of our unbelieving past.
Second, there are other passages that teach us that on some occasions we must disobey our ruling authorities. These also should be read over and over, as well as within their contexts. On the whole, it’s a bit lengthy, but it’s God’s word. There’s nothing better. So be careful with it. Read it well. Then we will unpack it a little.
1. Exodus 1:8-22
“Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, ‘Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.’ Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, ‘When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.’ But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, ‘Why have you done this, and let the male children live?’ The midwives said to Pharaoh, ‘Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.’ So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, ‘Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”
2. 1 Samuel 14:24-46
And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food. Now when all the people came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food this day.’” And the people were faint. Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.” They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint. The people pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood. Then they told Saul, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here.” And Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.’” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there. And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD. Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day. And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. For as the LORD lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” Therefore Saul said, “O LORD God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken. Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.” And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.” Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
3. 1 Kings 18:1-19
After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.” So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly, and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.) And Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals.” So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself. And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?” And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’” And he said, “How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, ‘He is not here,’ he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you. And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’ And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth. Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD’s prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water? And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; and he will kill me.” And Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.” So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah. When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
4. Daniel 3:1-30
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
5. Daniel 6:1-28
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.” Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
6. Acts 4:1-22
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
7. Acts 5:17-29
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
8. Revelation 13:
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
Regular readers of the Word of God realize these passages set limits upon the passages that teach us to obey our authorities. So then, what are these limits? Are they broad and sweeping? Are they confined to certain situations? Can they be summarized? Well, for our purposes here, hopefully they can be articulated briefly. These limits might be referred to as a caveat to Romans 13, 1 Peter 2, and Titus 3…or perhaps a stipulation, a caution. It’s this: we should obey authorities unless they tell us to disobey or disavow God.
A quick summary of each of these passages shows what we mean…
Exodus 1: Hebrew midwives were told by the Egyptian Pharaoh to murder all the male babies, “but the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.”
1 Samuel 14: After making a stupid command and after his son unknowingly broke the command, King Saul ordered the death of his son, but “then the people said to Saul, ‘Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.’ So, the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die.”
1 Kings 18: During this time God’s people suffered at the hands of a wicked queen who brutally wielded her authority. She even attempted to eliminate all the Prophets of God. Fortunately, for some of the prophets, Obadiah, who “feared the Lord greatly,” secretly hid and cared for 100 of them.
Daniel 3: While in exile, the people of God were told to worship the gods and the idol of King Nebuchadnezzar, but Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not, so the king sentenced them to die in a furnace. The three men, “answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Daniel 6: While also in exile, Daniel, a faithful servant of God, had found favor in the sight of the foreign king. Other officials hated this. Therefore, they created a ruse designed to bring an end to Daniel. Playing on the king’s ego, the other officials motivated him to pass a decree that for 30 days no pleas or petitions could be made to anyone other than the king. Naturally, Daniel could not obey such a command. So, he continued to bow only before God in prayer and supplication.
Acts 4 and 5: In the early days of the church, the apostles were twice told by the authorities they could not speak or teach in the name of Jesus, to which they responded the first time, “whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard,” and on the second occasion, they said, “We must obey God rather than men.”
Revelation 13: During the future days of the Antichrist’s manipulations, all mankind will be told to worship the evil of his horrid presence. Some will disobey…and we are told in verse 15 “those who would not worship the image of the beast” were slain.
These “civil disobedience” events have some things in common. Let’s quickly review again…
The midwives under the Egyptian Pharaoh were told to kill babies. They refused.
The people under King Saul were repulsed by his decree that Jonathan must die. They refused.
Obadiah could not stand by as the prophets were killed. He rescued 100 of them.
The people of God were told to worship the gods and idol of King Nebuchadnezzar. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused.
Daniel, along with everyone else, was told to make no plea or petition to anyone other than the king. He refused.
The apostles were told they could not speak or teach in the name of Jesus. They refused.
During the end times, folks will be told to worship The Beast. Some will refuse.
There is a simple pattern here.
Folks were told to violate God’s truths.
Folks were told to murder.
Folks were told to worship someone or something other than God.
Folks were told to not speak or teach on behalf of the Lord.
This then might be called the Romans 13 Caveat: “When told to violate the word of god, to commit evil, to worship another, or to shut up about God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we must refuse.”
Some believe the “stay at home, wearing of masks, social distance guidelines, and the remain closed” orders are an overreach of government when it comes to churches. We do not…not yet.
Yes, civil disobedience is always an option. In fact, it is likely we will, one and all, find ourselves choosing this option should current events continue to devolve. In fact, individual believers have and are currently doing so on many fronts. Churches will, more and more, be faced with this probability due to any number of issues that threaten our ability to stay true…morality issues, pro-life issues, gender fluidity issues, marriage issues, sexuality issues, and free speech issues to name a few. A member of our church had to leave her teaching post, because she could no longer teach what was being asked of her. On several occasions, when asked to pray or speak in public, our pastor has been asked not to mention the Savior. When circumstances like these arise, we must be prepared in advance to refuse. There is nothing new here. However (and here our “However” walks carefully with respect and admiration for those with whom we disagree), we do not believe we have reached the threshold of the Romans 13 Caveat. Specifically, we do not believe community standards, in response to the viral pandemic, regulating where we worship reaches the threshold of what we find in the biblical instances of civil disobedience. Yes, we are being told to alter the where and how of what we do, but we’ve not been told to violate God’s truths, commit or support acts of evil, worship someone or something other than God, or not speak or teach on behalf of the Lord. Not yet.
Not yet.
So far as we know, across the land, though we are being told to modify our forms, the function of our mission is not suspended.
We can still meet in the name of the Lord.
We can still sing in the name of the Lord.
We can still speak and teach in the name of the Lord.
We can still be Good Samaritans in the name of the Lord.
We can still do the work of evangelism in the name of the Lord.
We can still pray in the name of the Lord.
For followers of Jesus this is not a minor disagreement. It has consequences…on both sides. With humility, we submit it for your consideration. In conclusion, we invite you to dialogue and prayer. These are unparalleled and perilous times. The Body of Christ must distinguish itself correctly. It must not, it cannot descend into a shouting match…
…one side slamming the other with accusations of cowardice…”Why are some of my ‘so called fellow Christians’ cowardly and fearful of standing up to the government?”
…the other side counter-slamming with accusations of conspiracy…”Why are some of my ‘so called fellow Christians’ involving themselves with conspiracy thinking.”
In fact, if we lead foremost by abiding in the Lord and his word, rather than by our civil liberties, then and only then will we be prepared to discuss or write about these matters. As well, if we are prepared to discuss these matters with humility and gentleness, then we can represent our Savior well. At every point along the way, West Sound Community Church and other churches need to agree on the essentials, but we do not have to agree on non-essentials.
“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel that I may share with them in its blessings.”
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
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*Essentials: the core of Christian belief, the necessary truths of and for salvation. Examples: the Trinity, the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, the personhood of the Holy Spirit, Salvation by faith through grace alone, the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible…
You can find the pdf on my Resources page or just click here, Civil Disobedience: When Does It Become Necessary?
Ricki Lee Brooks 