Yesterday, someone wrote me… after they had read the first blog, “Under Authority – 101” and asked, “What if your boss tells you to do something wrong?” Are there other situations, especially in war, when it is right to ‘disobey’ those… “Authorities having Jurisdiction…?” What comes to mind is that secular saying… “All is fair in Love and War!” That is called, ‘Situational Ethics’, where one changes like a chameleon to fir the situation. As I thought on that question the answer came immediately from the Scriptures…!
*** (Acts 5:29) And Peter = and the apostles = answered and said, = We = ought to = “Obey – God” = rather = than men.
The Apostles were preaching the Gospel… and were put into prison for the miracles and the preaching they were doing about Christ Jesus. The non-religious Jews and their Temple Soldiers took Peter and some of the Apostles into custody. That ‘Authority’, wrongly claimed that they were protecting their nation and the people from, heresy against God. So today may Preachers and Churches have wrongly abused their authority… in speaking against anyone that does not hold to their Denominational line and teachings. Something like making Water Baptism, necessary for Salvation, when it is ONLY… the Grace of God! Ephesians 2:8-9-10…!
*** (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) Let us = hear the conclusion = of the whole matter. = Fear God, = and = keep His commandments. = For this is = the whole duty = of man.
(Eccl 12:14) For God = shall bring = every work [deed] = into judgment, = with every = ‘secret thing’, = whether it is good, = or whether evil.
Surely you have heard… “The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few”. That and other ditties and others like it are simply excuses to do what one wants. Somehow here in America, many have the mistaken idea that there is… “Justice for All?” Absolutely not, even though our Constitution says so. F. Lee Bialy said after the OJ Simpson trial, that he could identify… “Five Separate and Distinct”… legal systems, depending on ‘ones’… “Social, financial and economic status”. Short of the… “Judgment seat of Christ Jesus”… no one can expect ‘justice & equity’… in this world’s system.
*** (Ecclesiastes 8:11) Because = sentence = against an evil work = is not executed = speedily, = therefore the heart = of the sons of men = is fully set = in them = to do evil.
Suffering for doing good and not evil… is a hard thing. Many of the early church and even so today, there have been… “Martyrs for Christ and the Word of God.” You ‘say’ you believe… God and His Word, the Bible..? But do you really believe enough to give all you own and maybe even your life for… “God?” What will it cost you to follow Christ Jesus in Obedience to His Word? Surely, those that pay the ultimate price of their life and the lives of their families, know firsthand, the ultimate sacrifice for…“The Truth of God!”
*** (Philippians 1:29) For = to you = it is given = on behalf of Christ = ‘not only’ = to believe on Him, = but also = “To Suffer” = for = His sake,
*** (1Peter 2:18) Servants, = be subject = to your masters = with all fear, = not ‘only’ = to those good and forbearing, = but also = to the perverse ones.
IF your boss… asks or requires you to do something wrong or illegal… may I simply suggest that you … ‘Appeal’… to ‘him or her’? Some will simply storm out and then loose the opportunity to speak to the unsaved… about God has His Word. Is there an example in the Scriptures where this happened? Yes there is…! Most of the world does not nor wants to know God and His Word. Many will take the short cut, as ‘not’ to be branded a… “Bible Thumper!”
*** (Daniel 1:8-to-15) But Daniel = laid on his heart = that he would not defile himself = with the king's food, = nor with the wine which he drank. = So he asked permission = of the chief of the eunuchs = that he might = ‘not’ = defile himself.
(Dan 1:9) And God had given Daniel = kindness and compassion = before the chief of the eunuchs.
(Dan 1:10) And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, = I fear my lord the king, who has chosen your food and your drink. = For why should he see your faces worse looking = than the boys who are of your kind? = Then you would forfeit = my head = to the king.
(Dan 1:11) And Daniel = said to Melzar, = whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
(Dan 1:12) I beg you; = try your servants = “ten days”. = And let them give us vegetables to eat = and water to drink.
(Dan 1:13) Then let our appearance be seen before you, = and the appearance of the boys who eat of the king's food. = And as you see, = deal with your servants.
(Dan 1:14) So he listened to them in this matter, = and tried them for ten days.
(Dan 1:15) And at the end of ten days = their faces looked fairer and fatter in flesh = than all the boys who had eaten the king's food.
This is an example… of appealing to that Boss, who you work for. Many times, those in management have pressures, that the average worker cannot comprehend nor even fathom. Being creative in your appeal, may bring about the solution to your situation. But again, it may not. Not all things in this world will be just and fair and equitable. Surely you know that as you get older it is harder to find employment. Many seniors have problems finding employment due to age discrimination, even though there are laws against it. I have found this true in my own work experience, especially after 40.
*** (Philippians 1:29) For to you = it is given = on behalf of Christ = ‘not only’ = to believe on Him, = but also = “To Suffer” = for His sake,
*** (Hebrews 11:36-to-40) And = “Others” = had trial of cruel mockings = and scourgings; = yes, more, = of bonds = and imprisonments.
(Heb 11:37) They were stoned, = they were sawed in two, = were tempted, = were slain with the sword. = They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, = being destitute, = afflicted, = tormented.
(Heb 11:38) The world was not worthy of them. = They wandered in deserts = and mountains = and dens = and caves of the earth.
(Heb 11:39) And = these “all”, = having obtained a good report = through faith, = did ‘not’ = receive the promise,
(Heb 11:40) for God = had provided = some better thing = for us, = that they should not be made perfect [complete] = without us.
The Cost of being a “Disciple of Christ”… is not readily spoken about, from the Pulpits of many Churches. Simply read through the New Testament and see what Paul and the other Apostles and Disciples… suffered for Christ and His Word. May I ask you, when was the last time you read Acts chapter ‘Seven?’ Stephen gave his testimony, using validation of the Scriptures to the religious Jews and was… “Stoned to death!” Perhaps, many of us forget that… the Christ Jesus we… ‘Love & Serve’… is “NOT”… Santa Clause.
*** (Job 2:9-10) And = his wife said to him, = Do you still hold = to your ‘integrity?’ = Curse God = and die!
(Job 2:10) But he = said to her, = You speak as one of the ‘foolish ones’ speak. = What? = Shall we receive “good” = at the hand of God, = and = shall we = not receive “evil?” = In all this = Job did not = sin with his lips.
*** (John 15:18-to-21) If the world = hates you, = you know that it = hated Me = before it hated = you.
(John 15:19) If you were = of the world, = the world would love its own. = But because you = are ‘not’ of the world, = but I have chosen you = out of the world, = therefore = the world = hates you.
(John 15:20) Remember the word = that I [Jesus] = said to you, = The servant = is ‘not’ = greater than his master. = If = they have persecuted Me, = they will = ‘also’ = persecute you. = If they have kept = My saying, = they will also = keep yours.
(John 15:21) But all these things = they will do = to you = for My name's sake, = because = they do not know = Him [God] = Who sent Me.
Perhaps our focus should be… on the Word of God and the Truth found therein? Many live right on the edge. They have chosen a lifestyle that owns them and they are under the pressures of that lifestyle. You have heard me say before… “What you own, owns you!” And… “Less is More!” We will find ourselves in trouble when we do not follow, the God given instructions and principles that are found in… “His Holy Word”. IF you find yourself in a situation, simply ask yourself, “Have I asked God for His Wisdom… in this Situation?”
*** (James 1:2-to-8) My brothers, = count it all joy = when you fall into = different kinds of temptations [trials],
(Jas 1:3) knowing that = the trying of your faith = works patience.
(Jas 1:4) But let patience = have its perfect work, = so that you = may be perfect and entire, = lacking nothing.
(Jas 1:5) But if any of you = lacks wisdom, = let him ask of God, = Who gives to all liberally = and with no reproach, = and it shall be = given to him.
(Jas 1:6) But let him ask in faith, = “doubting nothing”. = For he who = doubts = is like a wave of the sea, = driven by the wind and tossed.
(Jas 1:7) For do not let = that man think = that he shall receive = “anything” = from the Lord;
(Jas 1:8) he is a = double-minded man, = ‘not dependable’ = in all = his ways.
*** (Romans 15:4) For = whatever ‘things’ = were written before = were written ‘for’ = our learning, = so that we = through patience = and = comfort of the “Scriptures” = might have = hope.
In “each & every”… situation of Life… God has a ‘principle or example’… that we may apply to our own lives, for a solution to our problems. Many do not prepare for the future trials that will come upon us all. That is why it is so very important that we… “Know the Word of God!” Only through consistent prayer and study… of the Scriptures… can you have the wisdom and knowledge… to apply to ‘your’ situation of life. Did you ever examine these verses and try and figure out what Christ Jesus meant when He said…
*** (Luke 24:46-47-48) And = He [Jesus] = said to them, = So it is written, = and so it behooved = Christ = to suffer = and = to rise from the dead = the third day,
(Luke 24:47) and that = “Repentance” = and = remission of sins = should be proclaimed = in His Name = among “ALL” nations, = beginning at Jerusalem.
(Luke 24:48) And = you are = [My] witnesses = of these things.
*** (Matthew 4:4) But He [Jesus] answered and said, It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."
*** (2Timothy 2:15) Study earnestly = to present yourself = approved to God, = a workman = that does not need = to be ashamed, = rightly dividing = the Word of Truth.
*** (2Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture = is God-breathed, = and is profitable = for doctrine, = for reproof, = for correction, = for instruction in righteousness,
(2Tim 3:17) that the man of God = may be perfected, = thoroughly furnished = to every good work.
Where do you go from here…? Simply, back to the Word of God. Seek God’s Wisdom in every situation of life. That is WHY… He gave it to… “Us!” You either do things… God’s Way… = or = your way…!
(Psalms 119:18) Open my eyes, = so that I = may behold = wonderful things = out of = Your Law [Word].
Thank you for Your EAR! [Job 12:11] Roger //Email// atruth459@yahoo.com
Home Page: http://truth459.blogspot.com/
Ende…!
