Spiritual Growth #5 – God’s Governing Authorities

In Part or Full?

Moon over the Koolau's 2014

My ‘ohana fought under the American flag in Guadalcanal, North Korea, and Vietnam. They served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. During that time, “the draft” was law, and conscientious objectors either found refuge in another country, or were thrown in jail. Christians at that time claimed they could not break God’s commandment, which is “Thou shalt not kill”. This is an “in part” understanding.

God sanctioned war in the Old Testament. The “full” part is that in the New Testament, God gave us a covering: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Rom. 13: 1, 2). We can refuse to like our “governing authorities” which God has placed over us; but we should not refuse to submit to them! As such, in times of war, obedience to God’s authorities will cover us from God’s consequences!

However, Christians who refuse to submit to “governing authorities” that “are appointed by God”, have also refused to submit to God’s word. Thus, they are deceivers of themselves (James 1:22). Over time, God will send strong delusion to these unbelieving believers for preferring their own righteousness over the truth of God’s word (2 Thess. 2:11; Isaiah 66:4).

By the way, when ungodly governing authorities are in power, they do not stay in power forever.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Spiritual Growth #4 – Memorial Day-Who Are the Dead?

Memorial Day Lantern Ceremony, courtesy Dave Mam 2014

In Part or Full?

No doubt, if you’re the “in part” Christian who freaked out at my previous blog, let’s clear up the focal point of that blog: the “dead” visitors. From the perspectives of Jesus and his apostle Paul, Scriptures define what being “dead” meant to them.

First, in Matthew’s gospel 8:19-21 NKJV, Jesus was about ready to leave the area when a scribe declared he would follow Jesus wherever he went. Not to be outdone, another disciple agreed, but asked if he could first leave to bury his dead father. Jesus replied:

Follow (akŏlŏuthĕō, be in the same way with) Me, and let the dead (nĕkrŏs, corpses) bury their own dead (nĕkrŏs, corpses) (Matt. 8: 22 NKJV).

We mortals define dead (nĕkrŏs, corpses) as people who no longer breathe. However, Jesus defined all breathing believers who do not follow (akŏlŏuthĕō, be in the same way with) him as dead (nĕkrŏs, corpses)! W. E. Vine* further clarified akŏlŏuthĕō as a follower, a companion in the sense of union and likeness.

Next, the apostle Paul in his letter to the saints at Ephesus (Chapter 5), agreed. He exhorted them to get rid of carnal, fleshly works that led to death. Until they did, Paul also defined them as dead (nĕkrŏs, corpses).

Wake up (ĕgĕirō, collect your faculties), O sleeper, rise from the dead (nĕkrŏs, being a corpse), and Christ will shine on you (Eph. 5:14 NIV).

The apostle rang the alarm, trying to wake up the dead (nĕkrŏs, corpses) sitting in the pews! As long as the church indulged in the works of the flesh, she was still sleeping and still dead.

Remember. God is the God of the living, not of the dead (nĕkrŏs, corpses). So, to “know fully” is to acknowledge the spirits of the living saints who are with God in heaven, and the spiritually dead (nĕkrŏs, corpses) of Christians sitting in the pews who do not follow Jesus.

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked “NIV” are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved; Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (“follow”, “dead”, “wake up”); *Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (1981);