Happy Riches answers request by J Joe Townley
The argument that Kim Jong-un should be obeyed along with every other governmental institution is based upon the text found in Romans chapter thirteen, verse one, which states that all authorities are appointed by God, therefore they ought to be obeyed. However, this is not exactly what the text states, for when the whole text is taken into context, we learn that rulers appointed by God are not a terror to those who conduct themselves in the ways of the Eternal.
- Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:1-4)
When we read the above and note what is stated about those who do good and those who do what is wrong, obeying authorities can take on another dimension. For the same author in the book of Romans says that we are not to sin, and if we yield ourselves to sin—that is, become obedient to the one who would direct us to sin—we do this to our shame and disavow our right to eternal life.
- What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. (Romans 6:16-22)
The Decalogue was written by God Himself and details what is required of us if we are to walk in obedience to Him. If we willfully violate what God requires, we are challenging His authority. Now if an authority within government demands that we challenge God’s authority: Are to we disobey the ruler or acknowledge the truth about what is right?.
You might say it is better to acknowledge the authority because this is what is written in Romans, chapter thirteen, verse one. Myself, I would say I would rather be numbered among those who are given a martyr’s crown on account of speaking the word of God.
- When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne; they cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
Besides, Jesus said, of those who are ashamed of Him, that he will be ashamed. Those who acknowledge Jesus, will be acknowledged by Him before the angels of God.
- For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels (Luke 9:26)
- And I tell you, every one who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.(Luke 12:8-9)
We have an example of what could happen to anybody who stands up for righteousness and does not cower to authority in John the Baptist, of whom Jesus said there was no one greater than him born of a woman.
- I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John (Luke 7:28)
- For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; because John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. (Matthew 14:3-11)
John was beheaded because he spoke up for what is right. Therefore, what do you think Kim Jong-un is likely to do if somebody has the courage to speak the truth to him about eternal salvation and the fact that his life is really futile; for no other reason than having been born only to die. Worse still, after death he will be judged for his sin, unless he repents.
Actually there is no need for a Christian to actively oppose Kim Jung-un; rather there is a need for every Christian to not become a slave of sin. But then I suppose this depends upon whether a person who claims to be a Christian has been set free from sin in the first place. Many people seem to love their sin and say that they are Christians who are forgiven, only. Evidently, if they are to believed God has not got the power to sanctify them and give them the victory over their sin, so that they cease from sinning (1 John 5:4; 1 John 3:9; 1 John 5:18). Maybe such people are not really Christians after all—just fakes.
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