"Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God."
Benjamin FranklinHere’s kudos to the French government for going all-out to protect its citizens from suffering further attacks from Muslim terrorists. It is sad that the Obama administration does not have the same sort of commitment to protect American citizens, but seems willing to roll the dice with American lives in order to further its own socialist-political agenda.
God’s
Purpose for Civil Government
Romans 13:1-5
makes it clear that human government was instituted by God and that government
leaders have a moral and divine responsibility to protect their citizens from
evil. Human government became necessary because of the fall and the entry of
sin and evil into the world (Genesis 3). James Madison, the chief architect of the American
Constitution, understood this and wrote, “If men were angels, no government
would be necessary.”
Men, however,
are not angels and Scripture is clear that in a fallen world God places kings, prime ministers
and presidents in positions of authority for the primary purpose of protecting
the good and punishing the evil. Roman 13:4 goes so far as to call the government
official, God’s minister, an avenger to
execute wrath on him who practices evil.
A
Biblical View of the World is Needed
The problem with
the present administration is that it holds a post-modern world-view in which
evil does not exist. In this fantasy world of left-wing philosophy, there is no
absolute right and wrong, no absolute good and evil and no absolute truth and
falsehood. In this delusional way of thinking, modern Marxist or Islamic
revolutionaries are no different than George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and
the other American Founders.
This post-modern
way of thinking clouds a person’s vision, rendering them incapable of making important
distinctions in life. This is why the president could make the ridiculous
statement that vetting the thousands of Muslim, Syrian refugees is no different
than processing the many tourists who visit this country every year. This is
why he and his cohorts cannot bring themselves to utter the words "Islamic
extremists."
Power
Brings Responsibility
Governmental power is not about privilege, but responsibility. Sadly, this president sees the
presidency in terms of personal privilege, not civil responsibility. When asked
what he liked most about being president, he immediately replied, “Air Force
One.”
Seeing the
presidency in terms of privilege, he has used the power of the office to push
his own personal agendas and neglected his responsibility to protect the
American people and lead the free world. Robert Gates, his first Secretary of
Defense, said the only time he saw the president passionate was when he
discussed dispensing with “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and opening the military to
practicing homosexuals.
Under this presidency,
religious liberty and freedom of conscience have been sacrificed for political
correctness and promotion of the homosexual lifestyle. Christian business
owners—such as florists and bakers--have been prosecuted because they politely
refused to provide services for same-sex weddings. Kim Davis, a county clerk,
was jailed because she politely declined to sign a same-sex marriage license.
While this president has been preoccupied with pushing his socialist vision for America, he has turned a blind eye to the thousands
of Christians in the Middle East who are being slaughtered and their churches and
communities destroyed by ISIS. I can't help but believe that this nation has blood on its hands for not coming to their rescue.
God expects those with power to use it responsibly
to rescue those who are suffering under evil. Proverbs 24:11-12 makes clear
that God will hold accountable those who have the power to rescue those being
slaughtered but do nothing to help.
Deliver
those who are
drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling
to the slaughter. If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” does not He who
weighs the hearts consider it? He who
keeps your soul, does He not know it? And
will He not render
to each man
according to his deeds?
The indifference of this president toward suffering Christians of the Middle East casts a shadow of doubt on his claim of compassion toward the Syrian refugees and makes
one wonder what his true motive is for wanting to bring thousands of Muslims
into this country? Interestingly, 27 Iraqi Christians who escaped the terror in their homeland and crossed the southern border into the U.S. have been refused refugee status by this administration and are being deported.
Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God
This president is using the power granted to him by God and the American people in a way that
is inconsistent with God’s purpose for civil government. Not only is he not
protecting American citizens or rescuing those being led away to slaughter, he
is using his presidential power in an oppressive manner, especially toward
Christians and political opponents. This is known as “tyranny” and rulers who
act in this way are known as “tyrants.”
“Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God” was a phrase coined by Benjamin Franklin that became
very popular during the American Revolution and was even considered for use on the Great Seal of the nation. King George was a tyrant who
sought to forcefully control the lives of the Colonists without any input on their part.
Tyrants are not so concerned with protecting lives as they are controlling
lives and having it their way. Tyrants are not to be obeyed; they are to be
confronted!
What
We Can We Do
Yes, we are to
be respectful toward government leaders and pray for them. That is a given and a priority. But called by our Lord to be salt and light, we are also to confront them when they are wrong. Moses confronted Pharaoh. Samuel confronted King Saul. Nathan confronted King David when he sinned. An
unnamed prophet confronted King Jeroboam for his idolatry. Elijah confronted Ahab,
etc., etc.
In the New
Testament, John the Baptist confronted Herod for his adultery. Jesus confronted the religious-civil authorities of His day, calling them hypocrites and white-washed tombs full of dead men's bones. When Peter and John confronted the Jewish
authorities for their unbelief and were ordered to stop teaching and preaching in
the name of Jesus, they replied, We ought
to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).
It is time for the American Christian to stand up and speak the truth in love. Our third president, Thomas Jefferson, said, “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” Pray for the president and all governmental
leaders, but stand against the idiocy and ungodliness that is coming out of
Washington D.C.
Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt is an author, historian and ordained minister. His latest book, The Faith & Vision of Benjamin Franklin, demonstrates how even this "nonreligious" American Founder held a Christian world-view and believed Christian morality absolutely necessary for a stable and prosperous nation. For more information on Eddie's ministry and his vision for America, go to his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.
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