I would say most definitely yes!
There had been a growing niggle in the back of my head about Christians getting involved overtly with government or even making stands against it in one way or another. Last night the niggle became a consuming thought and I prayed earnestly to the Lord for direction on this topic.
Scriptures came to mind like is making a stand against the government bringing a reproach upon the cause of Christ or bringing him glory? I cannot see how it brings glory to God or Christ, nor further the cause of Christ, so in my mind it is a reproach.
It is also gives an appearance of evil. We are told to live peaceably with all men if possible—that means unless they make it impossible, not that we take up a banner against them. Giving the appearance of evil to our brethren to the world then makes any witnessing we do for God a mockery. They will not listen because they will have that evil appearance in the front of their mind and it will block the entrance of anything else.
Jesus and the apostles never gave the authorities a hard time—if they had, when would they have had the opportunity to speak Christ to them? Would Pilate have had an open ear, Felix, Agrippa? I don’t think so. I think it is important that the civil powers don’t view Christians as a threat. We are not a threat to civil powers, we are a threat to False and Nominal Christianity. We are not even a threat to the worldly. “This one thing I do”. This one thing is Christ and Christ alone. This one thing is Christ and Christ alone.
Now getting back to the question we will look at the following scripture:
Mat_27:21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
Jesus’ last week is an important type of the last days of the Christian. One that is very important for us to study and understand.
Pilate gave the people of God a choice. The multitudes were under covenant relationship with God as individuals of the nation of Israel. They were God’s chosen people. They made the choice—Barabbas over Jesus. In what ways can we be guilty of making that same choice?
Let’s look at another scripture about Barabbas:
Mark 15:7 (BBE) And there was one named Barabbas, in prison with those who had gone against the government and in the fight had taken life.
Government is none of a Christian’s business. Barabbas probably was a nice guy and a real patriot—things got out of hand and now he was responsible for the death of another. Christians need to stay as far away from this as they can, because things will get out of hand and bad things will happen.
Barabbas is not a hero, he is not one we should look to and devote time to. When we spend inordinate time dwelling on the corruption in all levels of government and how we are going to combat that corruption—we are choosing Barabbas over Jesus.
Jesus said, “seek ye the Kingdom of God”—concentrating on the present evil world is not seeking the Kingdom of God.
The Apostle Paul said, “Think on things that are pure…good report…honest…have virtue…praise” Dwelling on the corruptness of the government is not obeying this directive.
As Christians we do not have the luxury of getting involved with the world and worldly things—because we are not of the world. We have a higher walk. Consider this scripture:
1Ti_3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
There had been a growing niggle in the back of my head about Christians getting involved overtly with government or even making stands against it in one way or another. Last night the niggle became a consuming thought and I prayed earnestly to the Lord for direction on this topic.
Scriptures came to mind like is making a stand against the government bringing a reproach upon the cause of Christ or bringing him glory? I cannot see how it brings glory to God or Christ, nor further the cause of Christ, so in my mind it is a reproach.
It is also gives an appearance of evil. We are told to live peaceably with all men if possible—that means unless they make it impossible, not that we take up a banner against them. Giving the appearance of evil to our brethren to the world then makes any witnessing we do for God a mockery. They will not listen because they will have that evil appearance in the front of their mind and it will block the entrance of anything else.
Jesus and the apostles never gave the authorities a hard time—if they had, when would they have had the opportunity to speak Christ to them? Would Pilate have had an open ear, Felix, Agrippa? I don’t think so. I think it is important that the civil powers don’t view Christians as a threat. We are not a threat to civil powers, we are a threat to False and Nominal Christianity. We are not even a threat to the worldly. “This one thing I do”. This one thing is Christ and Christ alone. This one thing is Christ and Christ alone.
Now getting back to the question we will look at the following scripture:
Mat_27:21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
Jesus’ last week is an important type of the last days of the Christian. One that is very important for us to study and understand.
Pilate gave the people of God a choice. The multitudes were under covenant relationship with God as individuals of the nation of Israel. They were God’s chosen people. They made the choice—Barabbas over Jesus. In what ways can we be guilty of making that same choice?
Let’s look at another scripture about Barabbas:
Mark 15:7 (BBE) And there was one named Barabbas, in prison with those who had gone against the government and in the fight had taken life.
Government is none of a Christian’s business. Barabbas probably was a nice guy and a real patriot—things got out of hand and now he was responsible for the death of another. Christians need to stay as far away from this as they can, because things will get out of hand and bad things will happen.
Barabbas is not a hero, he is not one we should look to and devote time to. When we spend inordinate time dwelling on the corruption in all levels of government and how we are going to combat that corruption—we are choosing Barabbas over Jesus.
Jesus said, “seek ye the Kingdom of God”—concentrating on the present evil world is not seeking the Kingdom of God.
The Apostle Paul said, “Think on things that are pure…good report…honest…have virtue…praise” Dwelling on the corruptness of the government is not obeying this directive.
As Christians we do not have the luxury of getting involved with the world and worldly things—because we are not of the world. We have a higher walk. Consider this scripture:
1Ti_3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
RSS Feed
