Submission to Government & Capital Punishment

The Old Testament laws are discussed into three general categories: moral, ceremonial, and civil. The Bible itself does not divide the law into these categories (many of the laws overlap in their purpose), but this three-fold division is useful when we talk about the laws. Civil Laws listed in the Bible have not been touched. Still remains intact under both Old and New Testament. When we talk about Civil laws, we are talking Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17 and other similar passages. You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13) is one example. "You shall not murder" is also found in the Moral laws. Three examples of Civil laws: Guilt defined as "beyond a reasonable doubt," or other human definition, rather than according to the Biblical requirement for a minimum of two or three witnesses. (See Deuteronomy 19:15-20) Judges and jurors selected by human criteria, rather than by God's standards. (See Exodus 18:21-22) Immunity from prosecution granted for one's testimony against another. (See Exodus 23:1-8) Moral laws are generally considered timeless, eternal, and universal, based on God's own character, and therefore in force today. Moral laws are God's laws for His followers while Civil laws are for His followers that Governments are ordained by Him. Ceremonial laws are laws that list of holy,worship offering, requirements are ceremonial laws. Circumcision is also under ceremonial law. A cleansing ritual is another illustration of ceremonial or ritual law: the priest was to touch the person's right earlobe, right thumb, and right big toe (Lev. 14:1-18). Ceremonial is a law which was abolished, which Christ "took out of the way, nailing it to his cross." Col. 2:14. Paul calls it "the law of commandments contained in ordinances." Eph. 2:15. Ceremonial law, were given by God through Moses in the first 5 books of the Old Testament. Christ is the mediator of the covenant, that we receive the promised eternal inheritance. That Covenant is that He has died as a ransom to set us free from the sins committed under the first Covenant. The Book of Hebrews explains that Jesus is the mediator, the executor, of The New Covenant (The New Testament). The word mediator comes from the verb "to mediate" which means a mediator is one who stands between two parties or two factions needing to be reconciled eternally. With that promise, as a Christian, I always thank God continually for our New Testament guarantees of spiritual life and freedom in Christ. The bond of the Covenant between God and US is ETERNAL that will never fail because it is God who has promised, and I have strong FAITH in His Character of His Eternal Promise. There is a confusion about WHEN to disobey the Civil laws that God have established. God did not established governments to make sure citizens follow God's laws when the governments do not follow God themselves. God never commanded the governments to "spread the Gospels". The world who are without Christ also have their own views. More often than not, the secular world view is in conflict with the bible. To Christians, this should NOT be a surprise. To the world who are without Christ, this conflict is not a surprise either. God dictated governments to "govern" the people and live in a civilized world. We Christians are not to give total and final submission to the secular government because we are responsible to God spiritually when the government ask us to disobey God and that is when we can disobey the Government. Our first submission is to the Church (Heb. 12:18–24; 1 Pet. 2:9–10). Jesus taught that the government should work in harmony with the church and should recognize its sovereignty in spiritual matters (Matt. 22:21). The separation of church and state is taught in 2 Corinthians 5:20 where the Christian is referred to as an ambassador - "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ." "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36) I have mentioned before, we only disobey the Government when they ASK us to disobey GOD. As I have explained in the past, If you don't like the laws, get involved and change it without total rebellious. Just simply say "I disagree" MLK and Rosa Parks did. Corrie Ten Boom disagreed with Hitler and hid the jews. Dietrich Bonhoeffer disagreed and got hanged. Daniel's friends of the Old Testament disagreed and got thrown into the furnace (Daniel 3:6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."). We just have to be careful how we disrupt God's ordained government as First Peter 2:13 says "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men." Colossians 4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders. We need to discern and figure out how FAR should we obey the Government before we decide to disobey. I disagree with USA's abortion's law but I am not submitting to this law by speaking up and again, I am not violating anyone else's rights to the law. Whatever country you live in, you must obey as long as you don't violate God's holiness. Peter and the apostles had opportunities to say, "We ought to obey God rather than men." The only time a Christian can violate his government is when he is asked to disobey God. Now.. what law are we going to disobey? Surely, its not the Capital punishment because Christians are divided on this issue. What laws do you think when is the right time to disobey God? God have established the Capital Punishment in Genesis 9:6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." Regarding the "SWORD". The use of the word sword which stands for the government's God ordained right to inflict severe punishment, to include death Capital Punishment (see Matt 26:52; Acts 25:11). The "Sword" was not used to spank someone, but to kill them. If you do what is evil, be afraid, because God has given the government the right to bear the sword, and it doesn't bear the sword for nothing. You don't spank or fine people with a sword; you kill people with a sword. Here's the paradox of an issue: "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life." [Exodus 21:22-23]. (Note: The verse just quoted calls for the death of all who are guilty of the murder of a child in the womb,abortion. But, sadly, our authorities have made it legal to abort babies). To live in a country that "theocracy" form of government in which God and the government are allied. Jesus said "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36). Jesus makes it clear that there is a definite separation between His kingdom and the kingdoms of this world. America was formed by strong community of people who decided to have a government that is govern by the people. Not all of the founders were Christians but majority of them were. They didn't come to create a nation similar to the King where people have to follow specific religion. The founders of 1776 Constitution were mostly lawyers and they have found loopholes to be independent from the English Empire. The American War was a war between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen British colonies, who declared their independence as the United States of America in 1776. Which means, they created their own "government". Therefore, in a way, it was not a rebellion but rather "the people" wanted to created they own government rather than following the "empire". the King of England, by his own choice, made the decision to remove the thirteen colonies from his cover of authority, protection, and jurisdiction. Abandoned by their protector, the King of England, the Colonies had no obligation to submit to the English Parliament. Having been abandoned by the King of England, the Colonies had no option left but to establish themselves a new cover, a lawful shield of government formerly provided for them by the King. Every step leading to the founding of a new governmental authority was one of lawful action by the colonial legislatures established under authority of the King of England. Today, politics and ideologies have come in the form of the separation in our minds of "sacred vs. secular". Majority of the decisions within the Governments around the world are secular minds more than sacred (spiritual) minds.