Gary discusses the announcement of the MLB All-Star coming to Atlanta (again) in 2025 and the ballot discrepancies in Fulton County.
God has established a bottom-up system of multiple hierarchies: family, church, and State (civil governments). This means that we must always be obedient where obedience is required by God’s law. The appeals court system of Exodus 18:17–27 is a good guide: we are free only when we obey God, and we must subject our actions to scrutiny by lawful, God-ordained, covenantal authorities in church, family, and the civil sphere. The Bible directs us to submit to every human institution but with certain limitations. “Whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right” (1 Peter 2:13). While Peter has civil authority in mind here, this text is inclusive enough to include family and church authorities. As Bible-believing Christians we must always remember that when we speak of authority, we mean more than civil authority. In addition, we must recognize and insist that these governors are bound by God’s commandments in their jurisdictional duties. As we are required to submit, they also are bound to submit to God’s law.
The apostle Paul goes so far as to put ecclesiastical authority on an equal par with the civil courts: “Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?” (1 Cor. 6:1–11). The civil sphere does not have exclusive jurisdictional authority.
As citizens of political jurisdictions, Christians must submit themselves to those who rule because God has established the civil realm by His own sovereign will (Rom. 13:1). Keep in mind, however, that civil authorities are not absolute in the way they exercise their authority since they are bound by what’s good and evil. Governors do not have the right or authority to define what’s good and evil.
Rulers should not be cursed by the people: “You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people” (Ex. 22:28; cf. Rom. 13:1). This does not mean, however, that the sinful practices and policies of rulers either represent God or should go unnoticed and therefore unchallenged (cf. Mark 6:18). Moreover, Christian citizens are under obligation to disobey those laws that prohibit worship and the proclamation of the gospel (Dan. 3; Acts 4:18; 5:29). In addition, a law that forces people to assent to immoral acts must also be disobeyed (Ex. 1:15–22). Jesus made it clear that evil rulers must be exposed publicly as evil rulers (cf. Luke 13:32).
Restoring the Foundation of Civilization
There are many Christians who will not participate in civilization-building efforts that include economics, journalism, politics, education, and science because they believe (or have been taught to believe) these areas of thought are outside the realm of what constitutes a Christian worldview. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Buy NowGary discusses the announcement of the MLB All-Star coming to Atlanta (again) in 2025. It was moved to Denver in 2021 due to “restrictive voter laws,” which somehow mysteriously produced a record voter turnout the year before. Also, in related news, the ballot discrepancies in Fulton County continue to be ignored, despite many issues.