When to disobey Church Authority

It is important for us to relize that the pastor/leaders-church relationship is very sensitive and vitally important issue. The only authority any pastor or elder has is the Word of God. When you step beyond the Word of God, you’ve overstepped the bounds of your authority. God reveals Himself primarily through the pages of Scripture; that is why I believe the Bible as my absolute authority. 1 Peter 4:11 instructs me to handle biblical truth: "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God." If the Bible is true, then it is also authoritative. As divinely revealed truth, it carries the full weight of God's own authority. A church must understand that Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15) and that He mediates His rule in the church through godly elders (1 Thess. 5:13-14; Heb. 13:7, 17). Elders/Bishops have oversight of the church (Acts 20:28; I Pet. 5:2-3) and are thus responsible to rule the congregation (I Tim. 3:5; 5:17; I Thes. 5:12; Heb. 13:7, 17, 24). They judge among the brothers (cf. I Cor. 6:5) and, in contrast to all the members, they do the rebuking (I Tim. 5:20). Christ calls them to use the “keys of the kingdom” to bind and loose (Matt.16: 19; 18: 18; John 20: 23)—these keys being the preaching of the gospel (I John I :3), administering of the sacraments (Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 11: 23ff.), and the exercise of discipline (Matt. 18:17; I Cor. 5:1-5). We do submit to the Church's authority as long as they are following according to the Word of God, Tradition and Denomination's (or local Church's) membership rules. We must be careful not to disobey God's Word to any church reasoning. God's Holiness, Christians' Standards and Sin. If God was in a church meeting today to discuss a moral change within the local church, how would you react? Would God change His holiness in order to change the church's views on various sins? Why people leaving Churches that teaches God's holiness? Why some are moving to another church that don't really teach God's holiness? Some denominations have "relaxed" God's holiness without God's permission. Just as Luther did when he wrote 95 Theses regarding man's doctrines. I will disobey man's doctrines that may be taught within a local church or denomination. I would rather disobey the teachings of man rather than disobeying God. In Acts 5, Peter responded to Sanhedrin, the high priest that "We must obey God rather than men!"

Daily Sanctification

God is convicting you to search your hearts and it is working according to God's will. God wants you to understand that He is there for you and He will help you through His GRACE. As a Christian, this is a CONTINUIOUS sanctification process of repenting throughout our Christian life. We will never be perfect and at the same time we desire NOT to sin. This is an "inward" relationship with the Holy Spirit and His conviction in our hearts to repent which is why we are to pray as we breath because we will sin accidently. After we sinned, did we repent and ask God to help us to change and learn to live in a Holy life? Romans 12:9 (NIV) "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Ephesians 4:24 "and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." When we read verses like these: 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 2 Peter 3:11 (NIV) Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives. Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. The Holy Spirit is drawing us to Him by convicting us to repent and put our faith in God. Sin by accident is part of our sinful nature: Those who are in Christ Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Galatians 5:17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. We are sanctified by faith and God is always sanctifying us every minute. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified (spiritual). Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. As long as we are making efforts to live in holiness, then God is very pleased. In 2 Peter 1:5-9: "make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Spiritual verses Worldly Kingdoms

As I have said earlier, 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." An ambassador is one who represents one country to another. He does not become involved in the government of the other country but seeks the welfare of his own. Likewise, the Christian does not become involved in the affairs of earthly governments but represents the heavenly kingdom to them. He is in this world but is not of this world (John 17:16). His work is spiritual, not political. His responsibility is to help the people of this world to give their allegiance to the heavenly kingdom of Christ. Faith in the Kingdom of God: Mark 1:15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" John 18:36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." 2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. In a Spirit-Filled community, we are to focus in the spiritual kingdom instead of worldly kingdoms. 1 Corinthians 2:13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. that we are to focus on spiritual matters in God's kingdom. 1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. That we are to focus as 2 Corinthians 4:18 says in "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." As a Spirit-filled Christian, I can say that in Galatians 6:14--Paul said that by taking up the cross of Christ, he crucified himself to the world--he died to everything around him and became consumed with the gospel of Christ. We're engaged in an eternal work; the destiny of souls is at stake. We are seeking to uphold the world, to save it from the curse of God of eternal death. I disagree many many laws in this country as well as other countries in the world. Its not about whether we agree with the laws but rather how are we to have our relationship with the Government we are living under. Christ have not given us a political agenda, but a spiritual mandate to proclaim the Gospel and disciple the nations (Matthew 28:19-20). As a citizen of my country, I am involved in governmental and politically activities with my "fellow citizens" whether they are Christians or NOT. Christians can work with non-Christians (& government) in attempting to promote justice and civic peace because it is good for all people, not just Christians (Galatians 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:15). Christ's Commandment is to Preach the Gospel, not how we govern in this world. We are living in Christ's Kingdom right now in spiritual. One day, Christ will come back and take contol of this world with complete divine authority. That is when He will have His laws set up according to the Scriptures. We live in this world but we are not of this world. John 14:16-18 "Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." As Peter said in 1 Peter 1:1 "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia." Jesus said in John 8:23, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world." As long as we live in our decaying body, living in this world, we will be discussing secular and non-spiritual things with our non-believers. Civil and Moral laws have not been touched by Christ because there is no need to change because they are considered timeless, eternal, and universal, based on God's own character. Christ came to FULFILL the law, not destroy the law. We CAN work persistently and faithfully for a more peaceful and equitable world community. That means we if we do not like what the Government is doing, GET INVOLVED and make it change (if God is willing). Our first commandment from God is this: LOVE " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Galatians 5:14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." We are commanded by God to love sinners as well as Christians. The only difference is that we are to HATE what they do but still love them. Love is the key. God is love. He gave us two commandments. We are to love God and others. With the Holy Spirit and love, I will walk in the Spirit, Christ produces the fruit. It is Christ through the Holy Spirit produces power, love, a sound mind through us. Christ helps us. Without Christ, we are nothing. Along with love and under the control of the Holy Spirit, the power of love and Holy Spirit flows through us. However, man's doctrines often gets in the way of the doctrine of love. Second, we are commanded by Christ: "to proclaim the Gospel and disciple the nations" (Matthew 28:19-20). There's very little in the Bible that we are to be totally involved "of the world" when we are living in the world. Right now, our first citizenship is in heaven which means we are living in a spiritual world which is Christ's Kingdom and our secondary citizenship is in a country where our decaying bodies are living. In John 19:9-11 Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." God have complete control of what was going on in Christ's situation. God governs (controls) the world (Isa. 40:22-24), the nations (Isa. 40:15-17), and us (Proverbs 16:9). Proverbs 20:24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way? Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. God is always directing and sometimes things will happen along the way. Isaiah 48:17 This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." So, I do NOT get totally involved in worldly matters because I know God is in control. My job is spiritual and I am to do what God have commanded. 1. To Love 2. To Preach the Gospel I don't know about "a good reason why Christians shouldn't be saying that God commands us to use the penalty". Jesus told Peter that those who live by the sword will die by the sword. In Romans 13:4 says in KJV "For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." Its pretty clear. I am trying to avoid contradiction of the Word of God. The Governments are God's ministers to "govern" the human society while Christians are God's ministers to "spread the Gospel" to the world. we can learn and sometime agree with secular (humanism) government and at the same time, we can learn and disagree too. To the world, there are about 4 typical worldly reasons why Capital Punishment should not be used and they are: "Capital punishment does not reflect love." "Capital punishment does not restrain crime." "Capital punishment does not rehabilitate the criminal." "Capital punishment does not rectify evil. Two wrongs don’t make a right." I am involved in the Government system since I am a government worker for over 25 years. Like Joseph, I can serve both God and the Government but my main boss is God and I follow what His Word is telling me what to do. Christians should not stop working for justice or cease to be concerned about human rights. We will continue to speak up and change the system (i.e. law). Government is a legitimate position of Christian service (i.e. Joseph of the Old Testament) that we are to be concerned with social justice. Jesus taught that the government should work in harmony with the church and should recognize its sovereignty in spiritual matters (Matt. 22:21). I disagree with the Abortion laws but I will work with my fellow non-Christians citizens to change the laws (which is unlikely they will be changed in my lifetime). This goes the same with the death penalty. I am in a situation when I am against death penalty personally when biblically, support the death penalty if a person clearly did the crime of killing another person (without any reasonable doubt). Often I turn this over to God's Sovereign influence in this world. I am to preach the Gospel and let the Holy Spirit do the work. The Holy Spirit does all the convincing while I am doing what I am commanded to do. Psalm 68:20 Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death. Jesus said in Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-3 "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." In Luke 17:20-21 "Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." In John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. " The Holy Spirit is within us believers, Christ dwells in our hearts, and "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27) is the burning core of the Christian faith. A Spirit-Filled Christian can do many things in the secular world. We are encouraged by God to live simplicity and want fewer things that we are to walk in the Spirit by filling our minds with the Word of God. Colossians 3:12 instructs us to put on humility. First Peter 5:5 tells us to be clothed with humility. And Ephesians 4:1-2 says we are to walk in humility. As a disciple, my Christian faith is inward (spiritual), not outward (worldly) because the Bible teaches that faith is of the spirit and not of the flesh. Acts 15:8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. It took me years to understand where I am at today. I am still learning.

Holy Spirit draws us to God

Jesus said in John 6:37 "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." Then again in John 6:44, Jesus said "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." Again, Jesus said in verse 65 "This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled him." The Holy Spirit have been trying to draw people to Him by convicting them to repent and put their faith in God. However, Jesus set an example why people do NOT turn to God is in Luke 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Romans 9:19 says "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" Also in Acts 7:51 "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!" The Holy Spirit is inviting everyone as in Matthew 22:14 "For many are invited, but few are chosen." In John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." The Holy Spirit convicts a person to repent his/her pride by "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:12) Remember the story about the rich ruler? Jesus looked after the rich young ruler as he walked away, but Jesus did not follow him or attempt to coerce him. Jesus wants people make their own choices; and Christ knew this and permitted rich ruler to go his own chosen way. Jesus is saying that He cannot do our repenting for us. He died for our sins, now it is up to us to pick up the cross (acknowledge the Holy Spirit). "Salvation is free, ... but discipleship will cost you your life." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer). Acknowledge the Holy Spirit means a disciple must understand that God is both holy and loving; confess that he/she is a sinner, are made in the image of God; that Christ's death was the substitute payment for our sins; and that because of Jesus' payment, we are able to granted access to the heart of God. Luke 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Mark 13:20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, he has shortened them. John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Ephesians 1:11 In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. The Bible clearly teaches that no one has true "freewill" except God Himself. God is in control and He will allow us to have freewill only if its according to His will. We have to understand that God controls everything including our freewill. The "freewill" is always subject to God's sovereignty and His divine freewill. The key is that God is ALWAYS in control even in our own freewill. God is ruling all things to work together for our good and His purpose. Romans 8:28-29 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."