Why Magnify Christ?
By Pastor Rick Williams (1993)
By Pastor Rick Williams (1993)
Sterling Baptist Church, 7071 New Jessup Highway, Brunswick, GA 31525, (915) 265-2928
Introduction:
Psalms 40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
Psalms 70:4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.
I. Psalms 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
II. Exodus 39:3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.
Jesus is the Golden Thread throughout the Word of God.
Gold represents Deity.
III. Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
JESUS!!! -- The Center, the Focal Point of Scripture!
IV. IN THE WORD OF GOD
A. In the Law: Jesus, the Christ
He is the Sacrifice
He is the Fulfillment of the Law
He is Holiness
- Righteousness
- Purity
- Spotlessness
B. In the Historical Books of God's Holy Word:
He is the PERFECT KING!!!!
C. In the Psalms - JESUS is the One Worthy to be Praised.
Psalm 22 -- He is the SUFFERING SAVIOUR!!!!
Psalm 23 -- He is the Loving Caring SHEPHERD!!!!
Psalm 24 -- He is the KING of GLORY!!!!
Psalm 37 -- He is the GOOD MAN, the PERFECT MAN!
D. In the Proverbs - Jesus, the Christ:
He is the Dark Sayings
Psalms 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
He is Wisdom
Discretion
Knowledge
Understanding
Prudence
Discernment!
E. In Ecclesiastes:
Jesus is the ETERNAL PURPOSE of LIFE!!
F. In the Song of Solomon:
He is the BELOVED
The One the Church LONGS for and LOOKS for!!!!
G. In the Prophetical Books - Jesus, the Christ
He is the Lord of Glory
The One that IS and IS TO COME
The HOPE of ALL the NATIONS!!!!
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
H. In the Gospels - Jesus:
The Babe in Bethlehem's Manger
This Babe is the FULFILLMENT of all ETERNITY!!!
The FOCAL POINT of the Scriptures!!
In Matthew - The SAVIOUR KING - KING OF KINGS
In Mark - The SERVANT KING - of GOD and MAN
In Luke - The SAVIOUR Son of Man
In John - The SAVIOUR Son of God
I. In John (by chapter)
1. The SON of GOD
2. The SON of MAN
3. The Divine Teacher
4. The Soul-Winner
5. The GREAT Physician
6. The Bread of Life
7. The Water of Life
8. The Defender of The Weak
9. The LIGHT of the World
10. The GOOD Shepherd
11. The Prince of Life
12. The KING
13. The HUMBLE Servant
14. The COUNSELOR
15. The TRUE VINE
16. The GIVER of the Holy Spirit
17. The GREAT INTERCESSOR
18. The SUFFERING SAVIOUR
19. The UPLIFTED SAVIOUR
20. The CONQUEROR of Death
The RISEN SAVIOUR and LORD
21. The RESTORER of the Penitent.
THIS IS THE ONE TO BE MAGNIFIED!!!!!
J. In the Epistles and Acts
He Is: The One to be Preached
The One to be Taught
The One to Live for
The One to Testify of
The BISHOP AND SHEPHERD of our souls
The Head of the Church
The Foundation of the Church
The One to Look for
Our Hope of Glory
Our Example - The Perfect Model
The Great High Priest
The SAVIOUR
The RESURRECTION
The PERFECT PASTOR
The BETTER Way
The ONLY Way
The TRUTH
The LIFE
He is SALVATION
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
K. In Revelation:
Jesus Christ the Risen Lord
The Alpha and Omega
The Eternal Ruler
The Eternal Judge
The Pleaser of God
V. Why Magnify CHRIST?
HE IS WORTHY!!!!
My question should be: Why don't we magnify HIM more than we do?!?!
Psalms 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
I LOVE YOU LORD!!!!
THANK YOU LORD!!!!
Isaiah 6:1-4 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
God
Lord God
Almighty
Heavenly Father
I AM
HOLY ONE
SAVIOUR
Redeemer
Judge
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
The Mighty One
Prince of Peace
Counselor
Good Shepherd
Chief Shepherd
Christ
Messiah
The Lamb
The Door
The Truth
The Way
The Word
Bread of Life
Shepherd and Bishop of your souls
Springs of Living Water
Lion of the Tribe of Judah
Lord Jesus
Lord Jesus Christ
The High Priest
Perfect Sacrifice
Captain of our Salvation
The Word of God
Faithful and True
God the Father
God the Son
God the Holy Spirit
Alpha & Omega
The first and the last
Jesus
Jesus Christ
Son of God
Son of Man
Comforter
Defender
Light
Life
Father of Lights
Sustainer
The Blessed and Only Potentate
The Lord thy God
Christ Jesus
God
God our Father
Spirit
Holy Ghost
Jehovah
Beloved
The Amen
The APOSTLE
Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Creator
SALVATION
God of our Salvation
Bridegroom
Chief Cornerstone
God of gods
God of Heaven
God of all Creation
God of Abraham
God of Isaac
God of Jacob
God of David
God of Daniel
God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
FOURTH MAN in the Fiery Furnace
This God is Our God
Psalms 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
Mighty God
The Lord God Omnipotent
Master
God of PEACE!!!!
HALLELUJAH !!!! GLORY !!!! AMEN !!!!
HOLY
RIGHTEOUS
LOVELY
PURE
EQUITY
JUST
GRACE
GOOD
LONGSUFFERING
GENTLE
MEEK
LOWLY
POWERFUL
BRIGHTNESS
MERCIFUL
RIGHT
VENGEANCE
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Hebrews 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
My High Tower
Defence
Strength
ROCK
Deliverer
Buckler
Hiding Place
HE IS SINLESS
Without Iniquity
Steadfast
Center
Maintainer of Life
All Knowing
All Present
All Powerful
Gracious
Wonderful
The Matchless One
Caring One
Concerned
Honest
Good Report
Provider
The Lifter UP of Men
The Putter DOWN of the Same
EXALTED ONE
EXALTER of the humble
Lover of my soul
Keeper of my Life
HE IS MY LIFE!!!!
Fruit of the Spirit
Armour of God
Girdle of Truth
Breastplate of Righteousness
SHOES of the Gospel of Peace
HE IS PEACE!!!!
Peace of God
Shield of Faith
HE IS FAITH!!!!
Helmet of Salvation
Sword of the Spirit
The Living Word
JOY
Mediator
KIND
Gift of God
SINCERITY
ETERNAL
Everlasting
Ancient of Days
Morning Star
Day Star
The STAR
Satisfaction
He is the Great and Terrible God
The Motivator of my Soul!!!!
Prayer
Worship
Thanksgiving
Supplication
He is the Preserver
Contentment
Teacher
Trainer
Example
Discipliner
Authority
Ruler
Healer
Great Physician
Deity
Divine
The ONLY Source
Unsearchable
Revealer of Truth
HE IS TRUTH!!!
Awesome
Perseverance
The Source
The MAGNIFICENCE of my Soul!!!!
Glory
The Hallelujah
Praise
Rejoicing
The Song
Lovingkindness
Secret Place
Shadow of the Almighty
The Mystery
Hope
The Hope of Glory
He is my Glory
The Example
Suffering
Perfect
Perfection
My Perfection
HOLY OF HOLIES !!!!
The Face from which Heaven and Earth shall Flee Away!!!!
The final Voice
The Final Word
The Keeper of the Books of Heaven
The Final Authority
The INVITATION
The PERSUADER of my soul
The Guest at the Door of your Heart
The Voice of one crying in the Wilderness!!
The Head
The Church
The Body
The Foundation
Tree of Life
The True Vine
The KEY
The Keeper of the Keys
Undefiled
Unblemished
Unreproachable
Understanding
The Ark
The Tabernacle
The Temple
He is the DIFFERENCE
He is the Root and Offspring of David
The One Who Sits on the GREAT WHITE THRONE
The One Who Sits on the JUDGMENT SEAT
The Atonement
The Sacrifice
The Searcher of my Heart
He is Everything
The Mercyseat
The Blood on the Mercyseat
The Promised Seed
The Fullness of Time
The BABE
The Firstborn from the dead
The Resurrection
The Friend
HIM with WHOM we have to do!!
He Openeth and no man shutteth
He Shutteth and no man openeth
Come Before HIM with: Worship
Praise
Song
Prayer
Supplication
Thanksgiving
Humility
Submission
Yieldness
-out Resistance
Reverence
Awe
Silence
Respect
Honour
Freewill Offerings
Tithes
Need
Single-mindedness
Whole-heartedness
Perfect Heart
Open Heart
Receptive Heart
We must: Walk in HIM
Live In HIM and HIM in You
Abide in HIM
Be Led by HIM
Be filled with HIM
Talk with HIM
Listen to HIM
Obey HIM
Serve HIM
Keep your eyes on HIM
Speak of HIM
Testify of HIM
Watch for HIM
Wait for HIM
Be Faithful to HIM
Love HIM -- "Because HE First Loved You!!!"
Be Lost in HIM
Be found in HIM
Proclaim HIS Name
Proclaim HIS Glory
Proclaim HIS Salvation
Proclaim THAT HE IS GOD!!!
Psalms 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
"THAT'S MY KING!"
Dr. S. M. Lockridge
(an excerpt from a message entitled "Powerful Praise," available for $3 from :
Institute in Basic Life Principles Box 1 Oak Brook, IL 60522-3301 (708) 323-9800.)
THE BIBLE SAYS...
My King is a seven-way king. He's a king of the Jews, that's a racial king; He's a king of Israel, that's a national king; He's a king of righteousness; He's a king of the ages; He's a king of Heaven; He's a king of Glory; He's a king of kings; and Lord of Lords; That's my King!
DO YOU KNOW HIM?
He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world; He's God's Son; He's the sinner's Savior; He's the centerpiece of civilization; He stands in the solitude of Himself; He's august and He's unique; He's unparalleled; He's unprecedented. He is the loftiest Idea in literature; He's the highest personality in philosophy; He is the supreme problem in higher criticism; He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology; He is the core, the necessity fro spiritual religion; He's the miracle of the age; He is the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him; He's the only one qualified to be an all-sufficient Savior!
I WONDER IF YOU KNOW HIM TODAY?
He supplies strength for the weak; He's available for the tempted and the tried; He sympathizes and He saves; He strengthens and sustains; He guards and He guides; He heals the sick; He cleansed the lepers; He forgives sinners; He discharges debtors; He delivers the captives; He defends the feeble; He blesses the young; He serves the unfortunate; He regards the aged; He rewards the diligent and He purifies the meek.
I WONDER IF YOU KNOW HIM?
Well, my King, He is a key to knowledge; He's a wellspring of wisdom; He's a doorway of deliverance; He's a pathway of peace; He's a roadway of righteousness; He's a highway of holiness; He's a gateway of glory.
DO YOU KNOW HIM?
Well, His office is manifold; His promise is sure; His light is matchless; His goodness is limitless; His mercy is everlasting; His love never changes; His Word is enough; His grace is sufficient; His reign is righteousness and His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
I wish I could describe Him to you! But He's indescribable! He's God. He's incomprehensible; He's invincible; He's irresistible; Well, you can't get Him out of your mind; you can't get Him off your hand; you can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him; the Pharisees couldn't stand Him; but they found they couldn't stop Him; Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him; the witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree; Herod couldn't kill Him; death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him!
YES, THAT'S MY KING! THAT'S MY KING!
And thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever and ever and ever (How long is that?) and ever and ever, and when you get through with all the forevers, then AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!!
http://www.biblebelievers.com/williams_r1.html
My response when Tool posted this on FRC's forum was "what did you expect to happen." They say he is trying to be nice by waiting until the day after the Roe V Wade decision to sign the executive order, but nothing is going to change, regardless of his personal opinions he is bound to his masters in the Democratic party , what they tell him to do he will do.
White House promoting 'anti-Christian' policies?
A leading conservative activist says President Obama has already signaled, during his first days in office, that his administration will be the most "extreme, left-wing, and discriminatory" in American history.
President Obama's plans to cater to the priorities of homosexual activists are laid out under a section called "Civil Rights" on the website WhiteHouse.gov. (See earlier story)
The website makes clear Obama's intention to expand federal hate crimes statutes to include extra punishment for crimes that are deemed to be motivated by bias against one's sexual orientation or gender identity. The site also stresses Obama's support for homosexual civil unions and expanded adoption rights for homosexuals, as well as his desire to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and the federal Defense of Marriage Act (a.k.a., DOMA).
Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs with Liberty Counsel, believes many Americans will be shocked to find out just how radical some of Obama's positions are on social issues.
I certainly cannot judge whether or not Barack Obama has a relationship with Christ. That's between him and God, and only they know that. However, scripture tells us that you will be known by your fruits, and here Barack Obama is promoting counter-biblical, anti-Christian policies," he contends. "[These are] policies that elevate deviant sexual behaviors and dangerous sexual behaviors that are destructive spiritually, physically and emotionally, and certainly -- when embraced as Barack Obama has embraced them -- are destructive societally."
Barber adds that "for all the talk of hope, change and coming together, it's becoming abundantly clear that Barack Obama's administration will be the most leftist, divisive, and discriminatory in recent memory."
http://survivaltalk.freeforums.org/white-house-promoting-anti-christian-policies-t3490.html
Wish i could have gone this year to march. I had a dear friend whose had several family members attend. God bless them for their efforts.
Abortion foes find new climate in Washington
By Andrea Stone, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Thousands of abortion opponents marched here on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade Thursday, but for the first time in 14 years, they found themselves out of step with both the president and the party controlling Congress.
On the 36th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision, Democrats control the White House and Congress for the first time since 1995. That has given hope to abortion-rights activists that restrictions enacted by President Bush and his Republican allies will be reversed.
Bush routinely sent words of encouragement to the March for Life. President Obama issued a statement saying he was "committed to protecting a woman's right to choose."
Obama said, "We are reminded that this decision not only protects women's health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters."
OFFICIALS: Obama to reverse abortion policy
Obama promised during his campaign to sign an executive order overturning a rule that denies U.S. funding to international family-planning groups that provide abortion-related services or information. He did not act on it Thursday.
"Some may see this brief delay as an 'olive branch' to the hundreds of thousands attending today's March for Life," said Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, an advocacy group for conservative positions. "If this is an olive branch, we'd like to see the olive tree."
"President Obama has demonstrated that he's a strong supporter of reproductive rights and that he understands that the mere recognition of those rights isn't enough — we must also ensure access in order to improve the lives and health of women," said Nancy Northup of the Center for Reproductive Rights, a legal advocacy group. "The new administration and Congress can take action to not only reverse Bush's damaging policies, but advance policies that promote access to reproductive health care and nominate federal judges who will guarantee protection of that access."
Republican Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin rallied the marchers. "For the past few years, we pro-lifers have had it easy," he told marchers on the National Mall. "That's all changed."
The former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee urged activists to work at the grass roots. "It's not going to happen inside the Capital Beltway," he said.
Richard Hennessey, 72, a retired postal worker from Levittown, N.Y., agreed.
"We're all in a quandary. We don't know what (Obama's) going to do," he said, voicing fears that late-term abortion restrictions and parental-notification laws would be reversed. The solution, he said, was to follow the example of Obama's career. "We can be just like him," Hennessey said. "We can be community activists for pro-life candidates."
As the protesters marched up Capitol Hill, they chanted a riff on Obama's campaign slogan: "Save a life! Yes we can!" One carried a sign showing the new president with a Hitler mustache. It said, "Impeach Adolf Obama." Another sign implored, "Please Mr. President: Reconsider."
A display of photos along the marchers' route included one of Obama surrounded by photos of aborted fetuses.
"He's claiming to be a devout Christian, but how can he be when he is all for killing babies?" asked Jim Brown, 58, of Loysville, Pa., as he led a group of high school students along the exhibit, which also included a photo of a lynched black man.
Joan McCabe, 67, of Pittsburgh, recalled a remark Obama made last year, when he said he would not want his daughters "punished with a baby" if they were to make the "mistake" of becoming pregnant as teenagers. He later said he meant he wanted to prevent teen pregnancies.
" 'They shouldn't be punished with a baby.' Those were his words," McCabe said. "I'm concerned more women will wind up having abortions because of the law that he's willing to change."
Many in the crowd, which included church groups, religious schools and Catholic clergy in nuns' habits and monks' robes, said they would pray for Obama to have a change of heart.
After 20 anti-abortion marches, Patrick O'Donnell, 60, of Quakertown, Pa., says he still has faith.
"There are probably more of us down here this year because of the fact that the president is who he is," said O'Donnell. "It probably has energized those who are standing up for protection of human life."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-01-22-roe-v-wade-rally_N.htm
This one comes from FRC's website also, Tool posted it. Not a fan of the Greek and the KJV Bible is the Word of God but the article has useful incites in it.
Romans 13 and Christ's "Clergy Response Teams"
Pastors across the country have been called on by the Department of Homeland Security to join “Clergy Response Teams” in order to placate and control the people of America in the event of local or national emergencies. Jeff Ferrell, a reporter for KSLA in Shreveport, claimed that “For the clergy team, one of the biggest tools that they will have in helping calm the public down or to obey the law is the bible itself, specifically Romans 13.” This idea was affirmed in the report by Dr. Durell Turberville who was quoted as saying "because the government is established by the Lord, you know. And, that's what we believe in the Christian faith. That's what's stated in the scripture."
I believe that we may be “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,” and “ to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, but I do not see where that gives us a right to blame God for the governments we establish by that consent for ourselves.
According to the Bible when the “voice of the people” elected Saul and established a government under his authority, God called it a “rejection” of Him.
“And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” 1 Samuel 8:7
When the Israelites were freed from the bondage of Egypt by Moses the people were told in Deuteronomy 17:16 to never go back to that type of government again. Even Jesus said we were not to be like the governments of other nations, where their benefactors exercise authority one over the other.
“And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so...” Luke 22:25, Matthew 20:25, Mark 10:42
Certainly all governments are not established by God. Were the governments of Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, all ordained by God? What of George the III? If all governments are ordained of God, Americans owe George a sincere apology and should learn to sing God save the queen.
So, what is Paul trying to tell us in Romans 13? Today, when any Christian attempts to question the authority or right of government to limit the rights, choices, or liberties of the people they commonly hear pastors and other Christians reciting Romans 13. Unfortunately these pastors and their followers are under a strong delusion that has crept into the thinking of modern Christians.
Romans 13, in the King James version of the Bible, begins:
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Romans 13:1
We should have a hard time understanding this statement by Paul to mean that we must be obedient to all governments, while, Paul himself was constantly getting into trouble with governments for supposedly disobeying. All we have to do to resolve this apparent dilemma is honestly look anew at the text itself.
In any unabridged English dictionary the word power can have over a dozen different definitions. The question is which of these many definitions should we apply to our thinking when we read these words of Paul? Does it mean the authority of government, the power to act, or the right to choose?
To understand Paul we simply need to know what the word Paul actually used and what it truly means within the context of the Bible. The word translated into power in Romans 13 is one of more than half a dozen Greek words which are all translated into the single English word power within the New Testament.
The Greek word used in Romans 13 by Paul is exousia, which is defined: “power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases." It is translated “right” in Hebrews 13:10 and Revelations 22:14, and it is even translated “liberty” in Paul's own 1Corinthians 8:9.
Everywhere in the original text of the Bible the translation of exousia as liberty or right would fit the context of scripture. One may translate it as power, but only in the sense of the power of choice. Most modern ministers might object to this conclusion and no one should merely take my word for this interpretation. What is the opinion of others concerning the word exousia? Does it mean the power of government, or the power of choice?
In Plato's notes, we find the "Greek words for freedom (are) eleutheros (liberal/Free), exousia (Freedom/Power to do something), ..." You would think that Plato would know what the words meant back then.
In Bryn Mawr's Classical Review, the word exousia is said to express “the new concept of freedom, in opposition to the already defunct and unhelpful eleutheria." Even the Greek Glossary of Aristotelian Terms states that exousia means “right”. Aristotle, another guy who should know what the Greek actually means exemplifies exousia's use in the statement, "The right (exousia) to do anything one wishes..."
The Greek word exousia is considered to be one of the strongest words in the Greek language representing the idea of liberty. Accepting the idea that Romans 13 is actually a statement by Paul in support of individual liberty, rather than a command to submit to the commands of authoritarian rulers, will be difficult for some pastors and Christians alike to admit.
There should be no question that the word exousia in the original text means power in the sense of “the right to choose” or “liberty of choice.” And if so, then Romans 13 should be read and understood as saying:
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher liberty. For there is no liberty but of God: the liberties that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the liberty, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the liberty? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.” Romans 13: 1,3
Can this really be true? Was Paul talking about liberty and not the subjugation of the people under rulers? From the beginning to the end, the Bible is talking about the liberty of men under God rather than the subjection of the people under other men like Cain, Lemech, Nimrod, Pharaoh, and even Herod or Caesar. If God endowed us with our right to choose why would he want us to give that right to choose to other men? Understanding that the word exousia can and does mean liberty seems to turn the world upside down for some ministers.
Pastors need to reexamine what they have been led to believe the authors of the Gospel are actually saying. If not, then the people need to reexamine the scriptures and maybe their pastors. We all need to rightly divide the word of truth, because many have been cunningly deceived by some who have “crept in unawares... denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Jeff Ferrell, the KSLA-TV reporter, also stated that, “Such clergy response teams would walk a tight-rope during martial law between the demands of the government on the one side, versus the wishes of the public on the other.”
First of all, the lawful demands of a “government of the people, for the people, and by the people” would be the same as the “wishes of the people.” If they are not the same, then something is not as it should be. Secondly, the “wishes of the people” who believe in God can never usurp the rights of their neighbors without doing violence to the command of God, Moses, and Christ to love our neighbor as ourselves.
God desires that every man should have the unimpaired and divine right of choice as long as that choice does not violate the right of our neighbor to make his own choices. There is a distinction between the privileges of governments granted by the people and the rights of the people granted by God, but the ministers of Christ should not be trying to walk that line as a tightrope. They should be squarely on the side of the people and their God given rights.
The Church was instituted by Christ to serve the purposes of God. The governments of the world usually have their own administers. One of God's purposes is to return every man to his family and to his possessions through the exercise of faith, hope, and charity in the ways of Christ under the perfect law of liberty. While we should give to Caesar what is Caesar's we are also told to give to God what is God's. Often governments may think they have a right to that which should belong to God. That would be an intolerable usurpation and it is the job of the clergy to be on the side of the people on God's behalf.
Abraham, Moses, and Christ came to set men free in spirit and in truth. The “Clergy Response Teams” of Christ must act in the service to His purposes, even if that means that they may appear to disobey the demands of men or their governments.
Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29
If lies and deception are the bars and bricks that form our own mental prison, then vanity and pride are the mortar that binds them together. From the beginning , our Creator has allowed that men have the power to choose to be free souls under God or go under the authority of other men and their gods. That choice is never without consequences. We are not faithful to God unless we choose to accept the inherent and correlative responsibilities of those Natural Rights He has individually endowed upon all mankind.
We must not only care about the rights of others, while exercising our own, but we must fulfill that obligation without infringing on the rights of our neighbor to make their own choices. To accomplish that mission prescribed by God we must discover the whole truth and provide for it.
Footnotes:
1 - Hebrew-English and Greek-English Lexicons, OnlineBible.com
2 - 1 Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
3 - Plato's Notes, Benjamin Kline Hunnicutt, University of Iowa
4 - Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2001.08.19 On this issue, see S. Bobzien, Determinism and Freedom in Stoic Philosophy, Oxford 1998, chap. 6.
5 - Aristotle and Politics, Standford.
6 - Lawmakers and Ordinary People in Aristotle, by Paul Bullen (1996) (VI. 4.1318b38-1319a4)
7 - Jude 1:4
8 - Leviticus 25:10 ... proclaim liberty throughout [all] the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
9 - James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
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