A Bible Study of The Scripture

Lesson 12: What is Biblical response to unGodly government

Summary to date:

We started with a statement that we live in a time of Biblical illiteracy. One area in which this is pronounced is in the understanding of the Scripture concerning what we today call civil government. A brief look at Romans 13:1-7 (main New Testament passage on civil government) led to four questions about the validity of the predominate teachings from the pulpit today.

The next seven weeks we studied both Biblical references and historical references to the Scripture to answer those four questions. The answer was that the two common interpretations of Romans 13:1-7 today, are in conflict with Scripture.

Last week we returned to Romans 13:1-7 in detail from the perspective of our Christian duty is to obey Godly civil government. We have no Christian duty from the Scripture to obey ungodly government.

This week we will start looking at the question that is virtually ignored from the pulpit. What is our Christian duty when faced with an ungodly government and how should we respond.

Verify that according to Scripture we have a duty to respond.

Not responding to ungodly government can bring the wrath of God. Speaking through His prophet Hosea in Hosea 7:2-3:

Verse	King James Version
2	And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.
3	3They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.

The people of the Northern Kingdom had failed to respond to the kings and princes, to reign in their leadership against God’s commandments. The people were punished along with the kings and princes. As we studied in previous lessons this was also true when Saul violated the covenant with the Gibeonites, David numbered the people without consulting with God and when Ahab committed abominations against the Lord.

Proverbs 28:4

Verse	King James Version
4	They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them

“the law” if referring to God’s Word, not man’s  or the world’s law. Those who forsake God’s Word praise the wicked. Wicked is used in many places in the Bible and never in a positive way. But those who follow God’s Word “contend” or “resist” those who are wicked.

Psalm 94:15-16

Verse	King James Version
15	But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
16	Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

This passage reminds us that Judgment is founded on righteousness. Christians should be upright in heart and not swayed by the wicked or ways of the world. Verse 16 asks a very important question. Who will rise up for the Lord against evildoers and who will stand up for the Lord against iniquity.

Some question or would argue that this does not apply to civil government. But that is resolved in verses 20-22.

Verse	King James Version
20	Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
21	They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.	They band together against the righteous  and condemn the innocent to death.
22	But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

“throne of iniquity” or “corrupt throne” refers to civil government and one that has abandoned God’s Commands and Authority for civil government. Can such a civil government have fellowship with the Lord? The answer is “no” it can not. This also points out that the laws of ungodly civil government may moy be pleasing to the Lord. Verse 21 points out that ungodly civil government does the opposite of the two functions that God ordained for civil government.

Verse 22 leads into how a Christian should respond. God is our defense, we have to follow God’s commands.

The first and constant response is to be righteous. To follow God, not men. To not be influenced by the ways of the world or false doctrine into doing nothing or making the king glad (Hosea 7:3). This is one method to stand up for God against the workers of iniquity. In our land they can only be successful in their iniquity when a majority do not stand up against them. Conversely they will be successful in their iniquity when a major do not stand for the Lord.

There are three types of contending or resisting in the Bible: 1) Verbal, 2) Flight and 3) Self Defense. We will cover the first two in next lesson.

 

 

Next: Lesson 12

Lesson 12: What is Biblical response to unGodly government - Part 2