First off, are borders/nations unbiblical? Of course not. (Deuteronomy 32:8; Acts 17:26) God is the God of order, so of course we seek order as well. We were created to think, reason, and judge in an orderly manner. Order is not cruelty. It is moral design.
Second, Christians love everyone. Amen! We are commanded to love even our enemies. We honor, respect, and care for everyone God places before us.
Thirdly, (these are in no particular order, just in the order of my brain output), we are commanded to uphold and keep laws. Christians are not to violate laws, even if they do not agree or like them.
Yes, Christians are to obey God over man (Acts 5:29). But unless a law violates God’s Word, Christians are to obey laws, honor order, AND oppose all who disobey laws. God detests sin…Christians detest lawlessness.
Now, some will pick and choose Scripture verses, Romans 12 for example, that speak of loving one another with brotherly love, hospitality, live peaceably with all men and so on.
Of course, these are Biblical commands that all Christians must adhere too. But not when combined with violating and breaking laws that go against God’s order of things.
Say someone needs to pay a bunch of bills in order to keep their home. That person then decides to rob a bank. Christians do not then help that person(s) seek a path of sanctuary. No, we confront our brother or sister in Christ, child of God, and lead them to a path of righteousness, even if that means punishment for crime. We may not agree that banks should have all that money while we suffer with little, but we do not then take matters into our own hands.
Jesus, in Matthew 17, was asked about paying taxes. At that time, taxes and tax collectors were essentially robbing people. Nobody wanted to pay taxes back then, especially to Rome (that hasn’t changed much huh). But what did Jesus do? He told Peter to go and pay the tax, “But so that we may not cause offense.” Jesus knew He did not need to pay taxes. Jesus is God. He is Lord of all. Of course He is exempt from the tax man. But Jesus followed law and order. It is not about agreeing, it is about obeying.
Yes, Christians love one another. And that means seeking a righteous and Holy path alongside anyone God places before us. Breaking laws and violating order is not a righteous path. And when Christians do not rebuke anyone God places before them who have in anyway violated rules, laws, and order…they are not loving…they are condemning.
Yes, there is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1). But those who violate laws, or support lawbreakers, are not walking with Christ, and are not being Spirit-led. They are, instead, on the wide path to destruction.
Failing to rebuke is not love…it is hate.
Sin is lawlessness. Christians are to lead others away from lawlessness…away from sin…because they love.
We have turned “fair” and “justice” into cultural and societal ideals by allowing both to dictate “truth” instead of seeking God for Truth. We have allowed culture and society to dictate “nice” and “loving”…instead of seeking God’s Love.
Oh, if the outrage that supports lawlessness was directed towards the true death camps…Abortion clinics. Gulag’s society deems nice, fair, just, and loving…my body, my choice. Oh, how many lives could be saved if attention shifted towards God’s morality…and not the culture. Oh, if we spent our time on true Biblical injustice.
We have taken these Truths out of God’s hand, and allowed man to decide if something is fair, just, nice, loving, and truthful. We have said, “I know what is best for others…I know, I know, I know.”
What do we know about Scripture? What pattern is throughout the pages of Scripture? God works all things for good but always punished those who took matters into their own hands… and violated God’s commandments, precepts,…and Trust.
Let us pray for clarity of Truth.
Let us pray for all to seek a righteous path.
Let us pray for all to seek peace and Holiness.
Let us pray for everyone to turn to Jesus and seek after Him.
Let us Trust in the Lord.
Blessings,
Pastor Jason Pauley
