The topic of authority is an important one, especially for Christians. It is a given fact that we all serve some authority, the challenge is which authority we are willing to submit to. There are many government officials and pastors that advocate unquestioned obedience to authority. They take a stance that the authority is to be obeyed and followed , just because they are authorities. The truth is that there are limits to following authority. We are to obey authorities only as long as they fulfilling their God given responsibilities. When they do not fulfill those responsibilities, and engage in ungodly behavior, we are not obliged to follow them without question. There is a time to bring things to their attention in an appeal, yet if they refuse to do so, then we have a higher responsibility to do what is right by our Creator.

Consider the Feds. At present, they advocate and approve the practice of abortion, they encourage abortion in other countries, by using most favored nation trade status they practice a system of unfair weights and measures, they place themselves above God’s authority (removing the Ten Commandments), they have not let the Citizens of Texas vote on what government they wish to be under, they claim the right to tax people who do not even reside in the boundaries of their authority, the systematically work at removing the teaching of morality in the schools, replacing it with multicultural acceptance of everything, they demand more money from the people than God requires of us, they take the Lord’s name in vain with how they advertise it on the money yet do not act like they trust in Him at all. They have superseded parental authority regarding the education of future generations. They arm belligerent nations around the globe.

Government’s job is to punish the evil doers. Does your government punish evil doers? Do they even take stands against evil? Do they speak out against evil? Here are a couple of John Knox quotes to consider.

"But hereof be assured, that all is not
        lawful nor just that is statute by civil laws; neither yet is everything sin before God,
        which ungodly persons allege to be treason." -John Knox

 "Let a thing here be noted, that the prophet of God sometimes may teach
        treason against kings, and yet neither he nor such as obey the word, spoken in the Lord’s
        name by him, offend God." -John Knox

"If their princes exceed their bounds, Madam, it is no doubt that they may be
        resisted even by power."
        — John Knox (while being questioned by Queen Mary about his views which legitimized
        subjects resisting their princes) 

To the Feds, the biggest evil you can do is lie to the Federal government followed by not doing your patriotic duty of paying taxes. (How paying taxes became equated with patriotism is beyond me. The Patriots of 1776 equated patriotism with refusing to pay taxes.)  Although the Fed hates people lying to it, they do not hesitate to lie to the people. They lied to the Governor of Texas when they seized Santa Fe from Texas, claiming it was only during the immediate crisis. They lied concerning what they promised Texas when we joined the union. The leaders of Texas knew this and documented the extent of the lies.

Daniel was willing to suffer for NOT doing what was wrong. He refused bowing in service to some pagan deity. He could recognize when a government operated beyond its authority. Can we, like Daniel recognize when government steps beyond the limits of its

Free Dixie! Not Iraq!

J Murrah

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