Resisting the Government & Pleasing God

When Superintendent Dr. Rodney Cavness of the Port Neches-Groves Independent School District received a directive that states transgender students must be allowed to use restrooms of their choosing, and cannot be discriminated against, he said, “That letter is going straight to the paper shredder…I have 5 daughters myself and I have 2,500 girls in my protection. Their moms and dads expect me to protect them. And that is what I am going to do.”

What would you do if you received an executive order like this? Keep in mind that Christians are commanded to honor and obey the government.

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. (Romans 13:1-7).

It also needs to be remembered that the Bible has several examples where the direct commands of a King were disobeyed with the approval of God. Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, refused to bow down at the command of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and worship the image. There is also the example of Moses’ mother, Jochebed, who refused to follow Pharoah’s orders to let her baby be killed. Related to this story is the midwives who also refused to follow Pharaoh’s command.

Perhaps the best known, outright rejection of a government’s command is when the apostles had been arrested for preaching the resurrection of Jesus. They had been commanded by the Sanhedrin not to preach this anymore. “Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

So when should Christians disobey and reject government authority? When the state commands that which God forbids or forbids that which God commands, we must obey God rather than men. This brings up another consideration: What is involved in a godly resistance to the Government?

Seven Godly Responses to a Godless Government

Make Sure the Government Edict is Wrong

The resistance to laws of the land should not merely be something we are upset about like unfair taxes and policies which are morally and doctrinally neutral. Laws promoting abortion, homosexual marriage, transgenderism, etc. are examples of laws Christians must resist.

The superintendent had the moral obligation to reject the ungodly demands of the directive. Transgenderism violates God’s will and the rights of women. God created males and females (Gen. 1:27). He also created sex for reproduction (Gen. 1:28); defined gender roles in marriage (Ephesians 5:21-33) and the church (1 Timothy 2:8f); created marriage between a man and a woman (Gen. 2:23-24; Heb. 13:4); condemns homosexuality (Lev. 18:22; 20:13); condemns cross-dressing (Deut.22:5); demands men and women to be distinguishable from one another (1 Corinthians 11:14-15); designates gender at conception (Jer. 1:5; Psalm 139:13-16); and rejects effeminate men from the Kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9). Furthermore, He wants all men and women to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:9). This is the Will or Law of God. The laws of men cannot usurp or abrogate His Laws.

Practice Righteousness

All the laws of the land which do not bring us into conflict with God’s laws should be obeyed. “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men” (Titus 3:1-2). “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:13-15). Christians should make for better citizens in keeping the laws of the land. They should be the of best citizens when they refuse to support wicked laws that defy the will of God.

Do Not Sin

When Daniel and his three friends were confronted with a hard choice of eating the King’s food and staying faithful to the Mosaic diet, they chose to obey God rather than the king. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Dan. 1:8). Sinning is not the answer to sinful laws. Blowing up abortion clinics is not the right answer to the unborn babies being murdered by mothers and their hired hit men, their doctors.

Fight For What is Right

Christians are soldiers of the cross. They are at war and must put on the armor of God and make a stand. “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph 6:13). When it comes to the right for life of the unborn, Christians need to make a stand. When laws call for the removal of the parental rights of godly parents, Christians must fight for your children and families. Inactive and silent response is not making a stand by faith. “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead” (James 2:17).

Summing up the human genocides of World War II Martin Niemöller wrote, “first they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.” If you do not stand against evil, you stand with it and for it. The argument over transgender bathrooms will be won when enough men are willing to stand up and fight for the dignity of their wives and daughters. Homosexual marriage will be abandoned when God’s design for marriage and taught and defended.

Pray, Pray, Pray

Never stop praying for the leaders of the land. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:1-4). Pray for our nation and for those in authority, so that we can live in peace. Pray for the plans and the purposes of God to be fulfilled in our nation. Pray for leaders with wisdom and integrity to lead our nation. Pray as an intercessor for those who are suffering from the evil laws. Pray for strength and wisdom to discern what is right and wrong. Pray that all trust in God no matter what happens.

Trust in God

When King Nebuchadnezzar warned Daniel’s three friends that if they did not worship the image, he would have them cast into the burning fiery furnace, they still refused and put their trust in God “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (Dan. 3:16b-18).

So, if the donkey and the elephant have let you down – turn to the Lamb.

Be Faithful Unto Death

Polycarp a disciple of the apostle John was commanded to publicly deny his faith in Christ. He told the proconsul, “eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?…You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and after a little is extinguished, but are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why do you tarry? Bring forth what you will.” John’s Revelation promises, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10a).

It is hard to say at this point how much our faith will be tested on this matter of transgenders in the bathrooms, locker rooms, sports, marriage, etc. Some asked where is the bathroom clause in the Constitution giving the government the right to make rules favoring those who have rejected God’s creation. More importantly, where is the law of God giving them this right and Christians the right to sit down and just take it without speaking up and praying always. Perhaps one day we will be able to potty like it’s 1999. Until then my dog is so confused she has started to identify as a cat and use the kitty litter.

– Daniel R. Vess

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