The Pilgrim Path---Romans 13: 1, 2

“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 whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”

Authorities

“All power is ordained of God, and the state is one such power. Man’s law must be rooted in God’s law; lawlessness in this sense is resistance to God. First of all, civil government is of divine institution. It is ordained of God and is a part of God’s kingdom and government (Rom. 13: 1, 2). Second, civil government is ordained to promote good by providing conditions for its welfare by punishing criminals and preventing crime. Its essential function is thus justice, godly order (Rom. 13: 3, 4). Third, civil government has the approval of Christian conscience. It is an authority, like that of parents and church officers, which is ordained of God, the only rightful source of authority” (R. J. Rushdoony, Politics of Guilt and Pity, p. 336).

“Unless we control our appetites, we cannot control our government. We certainly cannot expect it to limit itself, because it senses our appetites far more strongly than it is persuaded by our claims that we are tired of bureaucracy, taxes, and government interference. If the ultimate goal of government is to ‘do everything and change everything,’ really and infinite challenge, then it will require an infinite effort---in fact, infinite taxes, infinite paper work, and infinite interference: infinite in the sense that there will be no limit to them, no place at which people will say, ‘This is clearly what we want or need,’ until the limits of exhaustion are reached. Infinite goals mean infinite controls. And infinite controls mean zero freedom” (Harold O. J. Brown, The Reconstruction of the Republic, p. 87).

“If citizens do not become aware of the intended biblical functions of civil government, two things will happen. First, individuals, families, churches, and schools will lay aside their God-ordained responsibilities. The result will be that civil government with its ever-growing bureaucracy will take on the responsibilities reserved for the citizens at the expense of their freedoms. Second, those who function in the realm of civil government will tyrannize and exploit the governed by controlling their lives with laws never meant to be used by the civil authorities” (Gary DeMar, God and Government, Vol. I, p. 69).

It was my privilege to be elected as an Alderman in a small-town years ago (it was not an easy job). The members of my church session said, “we think you need that experience.” It was an experience in every way imaginable. These elected officials need our prayers and patience. They need persistence, courage, wisdom, humility, a willingness to forgive, devotion to justice, sense of togetherness with their peers, love for their community and hopefully an awareness that they may face the LORD well when their job is finished. Looking back, I served with some fine people. Many souls must have asked the LORD to help us.

Here are some names of people that are not elected---but appointed: Supreme Court Justices. A President will make an appointment based upon a nominee’s judicial background and philosophy (as if that is some iron clad guide as to how they will render decisions). We need to ask the LORD to aid these dear souls. Their labors effect our Republic for decades. Please pray for each of them:

John Roberts

Clarence Thomas

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Stephen Breyer

Samuel Alito

Sonia Sotomayor

Elena Kagan

Neil Gorsuch

Brett Kavanaugh

“The moral principles and precepts contained in the scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.” Noah Webster

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason