Subject to the Higher Powers

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Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  (Romans 13:1)

Recently, my youngest son, who is a budding conservative politician of the Libertarian persuasion, posted a link on his social media page to an article about a female entrepreneur who was denied her “right” to operate a nude maid service in Lubbock, Texas.[1]  It is my understanding of the Libertarian mindset that the government should keep hands off of ALL personal “liberties.”  The thinking being that the “free market” will determine what enterprises fail or succeed.  In this case, it is assumed that if people in Lubbock do not support this kind of business, it will fail on its own without the need for government intervention.  Hence, Libertarians are in favor of legalizing all “vices” and allowing the market to determine what is acceptable and what is not.  I believe the assumption is that vice is attractive only because it is denied, and that once the restrictions are removed, “good” people will naturally lose all interest in it, and it will go away on its own.  Obviously, they have a higher estimation of man than God does.  For example, consider the following:  “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).  “…the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21).  “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)  “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:3).  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  If there were any goodness in humanity, evil would not survive.  On the contrary, it not only survives, but flourishes; therefore, the “free market” is impotent to eliminate vice.

In responding to my son, I pointed out that, unlike the Federal Government’s incursion into personal affairs, this “local” community, Lubbock, Texas, had deemed sexually oriented businesses as illegal in their community.  It is perfectly legal and reasonable for local communities to institute such ordinances.  Residents can vote for or against such ordinances or, in the case of established local laws, they can work through their system to strike down such laws.  Those who disagree with what the community as a whole has approved, are always free to leave and find a community whose views are in keeping with their own.

Those who disapprove of any government intrusion into our personal lives are either unknowingly ignorant or willfully ignorant of God’s design for government.  (Either way, they are ignorant.)  Government is God’s idea; He initiated it just after the flood.  Responsibility for executing capital punishment in the case of murder was given into the hands of man.  “And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.  Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man” (Genesis 9:5-6).  As an aside, note that capital punishment for the shedding of man’s blood applies to animals equally: “at the hand of every beast will I require it.” 

These laws and many more were reiterated in the Law of Moses.  There are many today that protest Government’s intrusion into “the bedroom.”  Any sexual perversion between “consenting adults” is permissible in the privacy of one’s own bedroom they say.  Well, is that so!  There is no “privacy” where God is concerned.  Consider the words of the psalmist: 

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (Psalm 139:7-12)

Keeping this in mind, consider that God gave laws concerning sexual conduct.  “If a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife” (Exodus 22:16).  So, who would be responsible for enforcing this law?  Or how about this one: “Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death” (Exodus 22:19).  Who’s to know!  It is doubtful that the “beast” will have anything to say about it!  Upon whom does it become incumbent to ensure that these laws are not violated?  Obviously, the responsibility falls upon the people, the community, i.e., the government.

Of course, God’s laws cover more than just sexual behavior (and if one wants to be well informed of God’s law, one should seriously study the first five books of the Old Testament).  The only reason for having taken this tack is the case of the Nude Maid Service, which initiated this conversation.  There are at least three issues involved here.  First of all, such a “service” is in violation of God’s law (Leviticus 18, esp. v. 19).  Secondly, it is violation of man’s law which is synchronous with God’s law – in this case allowing maids to do their jobs in the buff.  And thirdly, the local community has been authorized by God to make and enforce such laws that benefit the community (Romans 13).

My son informed me that he had read Romans 13 and was unable to make much sense of it, so to that end I will devote the remainder of this article.

To begin with, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers” (v. 1a).  “Every soul” is all-inclusive and allows no place for an elite ruling class.  More on this later.  The Greek word translated “subject” is hupotasso and it literally means to be under (hupo) obedience or under authority.  So, every soul is to be under the authority or “higher powers.”  “Powers” is the Greek word exousia which refers to governmental force or authority.  “Higher” is the Greek word huperecho meaning to “hold oneself above” (huper), or superior; thus, superiority.  So the “higher powers” are those who are in a position of authority over us.  Sentence construction in the Greek is unlike English (e.g., subject, verb, direct object).  Instead, words are placed at the beginning of sentences to give emphasis or to stress those words.  Literally translated, this sentence reads:  “Every soul unto powers higher let be subject.”  Note that “every soul” is foremost emphasizing the all-inclusiveness of the sentence.  “Powers” follows emphasizing the “force” behind those in authority who are our superiors under whose authority we should submit.  So, back to our nude maid – she may not like the law, but she is obligated (at least biblically) to submit to it.

So, from where does this authority come?  “For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God (v. 1b).  “Ordained” is the Greek word tasso and it literally means to set things in order or to arrange in an orderly manner.  Our Greek word above for “subject” was hupotasso which is a compound word combining “under” (hupo) and “order” (tasso) – “under order.”  Our God is a God of order.  Paul in writing to the Corinthians says:  “God is not the author of confusion … Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40).  This has always been the case; God has always taken credit for setting up and tearing down kings and kingdoms beginning with His promise to Abraham.  “And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee” (Genesis 17:6).  God is not just saying that kings and nations shall descend from Abraham, but that He, God, will “make nations” as well as their kings.

Nebuchadnezzar learned this when he was troubled by a dream in which he saw a great statue with a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron and feet of a mixture of iron and clay (Daniel 2:32-33).  In his interpretation of the dream, Daniel told the king, “Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory” (Daniel 2:37).  Nebuchadnezzar soon forgot this point and erected a 90 foot statue of himself and demanded that his subjects worship the statue (Daniel 3:1, 5).  However, three faithful Jews defied the king’s decree and were sentenced to death by being burned alive in a brick kiln (Daniel 3:13-23).  To the amazement of the king (and everyone else) the men survived through providential intervention without so much as the smell of smoke on their clothing.  Upon seeing this, Nebuchadnezzar was forced to admit:  “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God” (Daniel 3:28).  Furthermore he said, “I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort” (Daniel 3:29).  One might think that a declaration of this sort shows a true change of heart.  However, it was not long until God gave Nebuchadnezzar another lesson by hard knocks, but not without first giving him a warning.  In a dream he was warned of what was to come and advice was given by Daniel, but not heeded (Daniel 4:1-27).  Instead, “The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?  While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.” (Daniel 4:30-31)  For the next seven years, Nebuchadnezzar was demoted to the level of a wild animal spending his time out in the wilderness sleeping in the open air.  After his seven years, God restored him to his throne (v. 36), and he gained a new perspective: “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase” (v. 37).

Scripture is filled with many such examples.  For instance, about 250 years before the fact, Isaiah names the Persian king, Cyrus and says this:  “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel” (Isaiah 45:1-3).  Please take note that Cyrus was an idol-worshipping, pagan king that considered Yahweh just another god in the pantheon, and yet God set him up in his place of power.  One may wonder why it is that God sets up godless kings to do His bidding.  Proverbs tells us “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1).  A clear example of this is given to us in the book of Exodus where Pharaoh refused to set the Israelites free.  After the final and deadly plague of death upon the firstborn of Egypt, Pharaoh finally let the people go.  “And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel” (Exodus 14:8).  God used this event to show the children of Israel that He could protect them from human enemies and even open a dry path through the middle of the sea.  So, “there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1b).

With all that in mind, “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation” (Romans 13:2).  This seems pretty straightforward.  Anyone – and keep in mind that “anyone” is all-inclusive.  In a nation of laws, this applies equally to those who have been given power by the will of the people – anyone who resists the power (in our case, the law) resists the diatage (the arrangement, institution or instrumentality) of God.  In other words, when you are bucking the system, you are in effect bucking God (a losing proposition at best).  Those who do, bring “damnation” upon themselves – case in point:  the nude maid.

“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil” (v. 3a).  Those who follow the law have no need to fear the law.  Only lawbreakers live in fear of the law.  The question could be raised: what about unjust laws?  Well there certainly some of those, but the principle still applies.  If one complies with an unjust law, there is no need to fear, but if one rebels against an unjust law, that one will have to pay the consequences of that action.  Keep in mind that at the time that Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, Nero was emperor, and he was not exactly a benevolent monarch.  Surely there were many unjust laws with which to contend.  To those who would mount their high horse and refuse to obey an unjust law Paul says, “Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?” (v. 3b).  If you are not, you should be.  Instead Paul advises, “do that which is good [i.e., obey the law], and thou shalt have praise of the same” (v. 3c).  “For he is a minister of God to thee for good” (v. 4a).  The Greek word translated “minister” is diákonos from which we get our word “deacon.”  It means one who serves, an attendant.  Again Greek word order comes to play here.  Strictly translated this sentence reads: “God’s servant he is to you for good,” emphasizing God’s dominance in this hierarchy with the citizen being the beneficiary of “the good,” the government agent or intermediary of the good, and God being the benefactor.  “But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain” (v. 4b).  If you break the law there is reason to fear, because the government maintains the right to use deadly force.  This power for evil against evil is also derived from God. “For he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (v. 4c).  Note the phrase: “he is the minister of God.”  It is the same construct as the phrase at the beginning of verse 4.  This time, however, the government agent mediates punishment against the lawbreaker, but the authority still comes from God.

For this reason, Paul advises we comply with the governing authorities.  “Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake” (v. 5).  When we comply with the laws, we have no fear of the authorities.  Moreover, our consciences are clear and we are at peace.  “For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing” (v. 6).  Yes, and there are taxes to be paid for the maintenance of the common good:  a police force for maintaining law and order, fire and rescue workers for our safety and protection, a military to provide for the common defense, building and maintenance of infrastructure, etc.  So, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour” (v. 7).  Paul concludes this section with this advice:  “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law” (v. 8).  “Owe no man anything” is great advice especially in this economy.  Get out of debt and stay out!  But this means more than that.  We should never be beholden for anything to anyone.  That includes “favors” that someone does for you that they can later “hold over your head.” This is probably one of the greatest failings of our politicians – they accept “campaign contributions” from large contributors and once they get elected into office, those large contributors never let them forget the “favor.”  The only thing you should owe to anyone is to love them.  Jesus said the same thing:  “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).  “The law and the prophets” refers to the whole of Scripture, and one who can keep this law will not violate any man-made law.

Then you say, “That’s all well and good in a perfect world, but the world we live in is not perfect.”   Well, this is true.  God, for now, has left governance in the hands of man, and man is corrupt, but as I have shown from Scripture, God is ultimately in charge, and He has not left us without hope.  He does have a plan, and He has laid out that plan in His Word to give us the hope to carry on even in an imperfect world.  As bad as government can be, it is better than none at all.  Let the Libertarian consider the closing words of the book of Judges:  “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).  Believe me; these are not words of commendation!  “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (Proverbs 29:18).  One might substitute “vision” with “leadership”:  “Where there is no leadership, the people perish.”

In closing, I would just like to interject my personal perspective on the fading greatness of our nation, the United States of America.  Our nation was birthed on the Word of God regardless of what the detractors of our history say.  As such, it is unique among all of the nations of the world.  There is no other nation like ours.  Our system of laws is based on the Bible, and our founders intended that the law would rule supreme and would be equally applicable to all citizens including those that are placed in a position of trust to see that those laws are protected and carried out.  But our nation has turned her back on the Author and Source of those laws.  Those who have been entrusted to protect and defend those laws feel restrained by them and are fervently working to cast them aside.  They wish to be above the law.  Moreover, they wish to be the lawgivers who subject the masses to their will, but yet insulate themselves against their own regulations.  Our nation was designed so that the rule came from the governed in accordance with the Constitution, but the governed have abdicated that authority through apathy.  It may already be too late to restore our nation to her former greatness, and soon, we will be a nation like all others in the world – nothing special.  What shall we do then in light of Romans 13?  We will submit to the “powers that be.”  And if the powers that be would force us to break the laws of God, it will be incumbent upon us to rebel.  Just keep in mind that rebellion will come at a price, and that too is in accordance with Scripture:  “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). 

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[1]  “Cops May Throw Wet Blanket on Nude Maid Service” http://reason.com/blog/2012/04/13/cops-may-throw-wet-blanket-on-nude-maid. Accessed April 15, 2012. 

Climbing Down to the Top

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But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. (Matthew 19:30)

Scriptures present many paradoxes, such as the one above, which seem completely absurd to the world at large, but yet, in God’s economy, they make perfect sense.  The world with its evolutionary mindset would attempt to convince us that the survival of the fittest dictates that we must scratch and claw our way to the top regardless of the victims we leave behind in our wake.  “I’m number one” is the mantra of the modern day success story.  Jesus’ path to success took quite the opposite direction:  he who would be “first shall be last; and the last shall be first” (our verse).

Jesus never deviated from His message.  “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).  “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth … But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20).  “Therefore take no thought, saying what shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? … But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:31, 33).  “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:25).  “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew18:4).  “[W]hosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20:26-27). 

Jesus was not one of those teachers that taught:  “Do as I say, not as I do.”  He set the example for us to follow.  On the eve of His crucifixion Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, and taking the place of the lowliest servant of the household, “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself … and began to wash the disciples’ feet” (John 13:4-5).   His greatest example by far was His condescension to humanity.  “Christ Jesus … being in the form of God … made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and made himself in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, eve the death of the cross” (Philippians 2: 5-8).  In God’s economy, the way to the top is to seek the bottom.  “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew16:26).

Who Is My Brother?

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But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? (Matthew 12:48)

Recently I posted an internet link to an article where “Alabama governor, Robert Bentley apologized … for proclaiming to a Baptist church audience that only Christians were his brothers and sisters and vowed to work for people of all faiths and colors.”[1] In commenting on the post, I stated, “He shouldn't apologize. He spoke the truth. For the Christian, only Christians are brothers and sisters by blood -- the blood of Christ. We shouldn't feel the need to apologize for that!” It was not long before I was attacked as a purveyor of hate, and that by a Christian brother. The critic argued that we, members of the human race, are all brothers, and to make a claim like Governor Bentley is somehow un-Christian. However, Governor Bentley was not out of line in making such a comment. In context, he was in a Baptist church, and his audience was Christian (the percentage of which only God knows). Furthermore, his statement was factual.

To a point, my critic is right. We are, after all, all descendants of the first human couple, Adam and Eve, so in a sense we all are brothers and sisters. (This, by the way, is why Christians should not be racists. God only recognizes one race – the human race. Notice how the Bible talks about nations, tongues, people and tribes, but never races. But I digress.) However, my argument is that the relationship among Christian brothers and sisters is superior to, and supersedes that of all human relationships because such a relationship is eternal; human relationships are temporal. My critic was a hard sell (in fact, a no sell), so I put myself to the task of searching “the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life” (John 5:39).

“Brother” (Hebrew: awkh) is “used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance: another, brother (-ly), kindred, like, other (Strong’s Concordance). Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions defines it: (1) brother of same parents; (2) half-brother (same father); (3) relative, kinship, same tribe; (4) each to the other (reciprocal relationship); (5) (figuratively) of resemblance. In the Greek “brother” is adelphos – brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (Strong’s Concordance). I think we all understand the rule of dictionary definitions: the first definition is the main definition of the word. Subsequent definitions are related to the main definition, albeit in a lesser sense and subject to context, inference, implication, etc. So, with this rule in mind, "brother" is a sibling who shares common parentage.

There are at least 978 occurrences of “brother” or “brethren” in the King James Bible; 630 times in the Old Testament and 348 times in the New Testament. Surely with so many occurrences there should be plentiful evidence that the word “brother” can be applied to man (humanity) in general. At the same time, we would expect to find that in most cases the main sense of the word is used (i.e., someone with biological ties).

In the study and interpretation of Scripture, there is the “Principle of First Mention” which sets the tone for how a word will be used generally throughout Scripture. In Genesis 4:2, brother is mentioned for the first time: “And she again bare his brother Abel … ” Following the principle of first mentions, we can establish that the word implies a close relationship or kinship, primarily that of biological siblings. My search confirmed that in most instances, “brother” refers to a sibling or a close relative. In Genesis 12:5 we read, “And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.” One might find such a translation awkward; however there is no Hebrew word for nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, grandfather/son, grandmother/daughter, etc. Bible critics often take this as a point of contention citing various kings whose fathers were actually great-grandfathers (i.e., Daniel 5 where Nebuchadnezzar is cited as Belshazzar’s father). But the translators of the King James Bible did well to maintain a strict literal translation and challenge the reader to “study” the Scripture.

Another example can be seen in Genesis 13:8: “And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.” Lot is Abram’s nephew, not his brother; therefore in this context, he is referring to him as a close relative. Lot is Abram’s brother’s son, hence Lot is considered his brother too.

Some passages clearly indicate that not all men are considered brothers, contrary to my critic’s well-meaning idealism. Consider God’s promise for Ishmael in Genesis 16:12: “And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. Ishmael would live in the presence of his “brethren” (i.e., his relatives), but “every man’s hand” would be against him. These “men” are NOT Ishmael’s brethren. A further distinction is made when the children of Israel built and worshiped a golden calf in the desert. God was not pleased: “he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor” (Exodus 32:27). Here a distinction is made, even within the camp of Israel, between a brother, a companion and a neighbor. So, even in Israel’s camp not all were “brothers.”

With the multiplication of Abraham’s progeny, the term was expanded to include anyone descending from him, but never to include people from the surrounding nations (i.e., Egyptians, Hittites, Canaanites, Amorites, etc.). When God calls Moses to go and rescue His people, Moses goes to his father-in-law to request leave. “And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive … ” (Exodus 4:18). Already the relationship had expanded beyond the familial to the national. Of course the original meaning of “brother” has not been discarded: “And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet” (Exodus 7:1). Aaron, as we know, is Moses’ older sibling (Exodus 4:14).

There are many examples of the term “brother” being applied in a nationalistic sense. In Leviticus 10:8, Aaron’s sons had offered “strange fire” (v. 1) before the LORD, and God killed them (v. 2). Aaron is instructed not to mourn over the death of his sons (v. 6), “but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail . . .”(v. 8). In Deuteronomy 2:4 the “nation” of Edom (Esau) is considered a brother because Esau and Jacob (Israel) were brothers: “And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau …” This is akin to the U.S. and England being brethren. Again, “Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land” (Deuteronomy 23:7). Note that the Edomite is considered a “brother” whereas the same distinction is not applied to the Egyptian. Further distinctions are made in business dealings. Consider Deuteronomy 23:20: “Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury [interest]; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury.” Note that there is a different standard for dealing with a “stranger” and dealing with a (national) brother.

This national brotherhood continued into the kingdom age and beyond, as demonstrated by David’s call to national unity in bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. “And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us” (1 Chronicles 13:2). During Babylonian exile, the Jews were in danger of extermination, yet they maintained a sense of national brotherhood and identity. “Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed” (Esther 10:3) After the return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity, Nehemiah was tasked with rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Part of the task required that he instill a sense of national pride into the broken nation: “fight for your brethren” (Nehemiah 4:14).

The definition of brother as a sibling or a compatriot is maintained throughout the New Testament with the addition of the brotherhood of believers. This distinction is first made when Jesus is made aware of the presence of His mother and siblings outside while He taught in the synagogue (Matthew 12:46-50). “But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?” (v. 48). Not leaving the question open for discussion “he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (vv. 49-50). Jesus elevated brotherhood to a much higher level – above the familial, above the national. As such, Christ has founded a new and eternal nation. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). “For both he that sanctifieth [i.e., Christ] and they who are sanctified [i.e., Christians] are all of one: for which cause he [i.e., Christ] is not ashamed to call them [i.e., Christians] brethren” (Hebrews 2:11). Recall that “sanctify” means to set apart, to make holy. Christ has set us apart from the rest of the world. As such, we should consider ourselves set apart, not in an arrogant sort of way, but in humility knowing that such a privilege is through no feat of our own, but through the precious blood of Christ. If one is truly of the brotherhood of Christ, there should be no shame; there should be no need for apology in making that claim!

Our brotherhood is eternal. Without going into the multitude of verses that promise eternal life to the believer, we come to the final book of the Bible where we see the Apostle John overwhelmed by all that has been revealed to him that he falls prostrate in worship before the angel. “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). The angel affirms that he is a “fellow servant” along with John and John’s “brethren.” This affirms the eternal relationship that we have with Christian brothers and sisters.

I have shown that the term “brother” is not broadly defined in scripture to include the so called “brotherhood of man.” In my study, I found only three passages that might support this idea. First, in Genesis 19 where two angels visit Lot in Sodom to rescue him and his family from the coming destruction. The men of the city come to Lot’s house to rape the two visitors. Sadly, Lot had sunk so low as to refer to these men as brothers: “I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly” (Genesis 19:7). At this time, there was no national Israel, and Lot was not kin to these people, yet he called them brothers. Apparently, Lot had become “unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14). If anything, this speaks against the “brotherhood of man.” A second use of the word brother outside of the familial or national is when Jacob went looking for his uncle, Laban. He comes upon a group of sheep herders: “And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we” (Genesis 29:4). It is difficult to tell from the context, but apparently Jacob did not recognize these men and addressed them as “brethren” much like we do when greeting each other. As it turns out, he was related to them, so the Bible is accurate in recording that they were his brethren. A third and perhaps the strongest argument for the “brotherhood of man” is found in Malachi 2:10: “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?” Obviously, this traces our common bond all the way back to creation and our common parents Adam and Eve. “All men are natural children of God by the fact of creation (Acts 17:24-29), but become spiritual children of God only by regeneration (John 1:12-13; 3:3-8). However, the primary thrust of this verse is the unity of the children of Israel, all of whom have the same father, Jacob. In fact, Israel also is said to have been “created” by God as a special people (Isaiah 43:1, 7).”[2] So, even this verse is not a strong enough argument for the “brotherhood of man.”

In conclusion, Governor Robert Bentley was not wrong in his assertion “that only Christians are his brothers and sisters.” As Christians, our brotherhood is superior to any human relationship. As Christians we have a familial relationship through the blood of Christ. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). We have a national kinship as citizens of the eternal kingdom of God. “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom” (Hebrews 1:8). “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). Governor Robert Bentley has nothing for which to apologize and neither do we.

End Notes:

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[1] One News Now, January 19,2011, http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=1277166

[2] Morris, Henry M., The New Defender’s Study Bible, (Nashville, Word Publishing, 2006), p. 1372.

View of the End

Volume 3, Number 1


… Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. (1 Sam 8:7)[1]

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Tim 2:1-2)

On Tuesday, November 4, 2008, America made her will known and elected a new President. Irrespective of the vote you cast, Barack Hussein Obama will be our next President. As Mr. Obama offered his victory speech, thousands of tear-stained faces adoringly hung on every uttered word although nothing of substance was really said. The entire oration oozed of empty rhetoric and idealistic platitudes. The hypnotic effect that Obama held over the crowd was remarkable – foreshadowing, I think, what is to come.

If one can believe the prophecies of the media heralds, President Obama will govern from the “middle” meaning that, while he will not be conservative, he will not be as liberal as his past record might otherwise indicate. Such misplaced optimism is symptomatic of a people deceived into believing that government has the responsibility of making their lives better. Any promise of free services – health care, housing, tax “credits,” etc. readily rallies the masses expecting entitlements. Never is there consideration given to the fact that there is a hidden cost to all of these services and someone will have to pay. Oh yes, the big rich companies will pay for it all. Never is there consideration given to slippery slope toward socialism which our country has taken. Never is there any consideration given to Obama’s prior indoctrination in Socialist and Marxist ideologies.[2] Never is there any consideration given to his antagonism toward the founding document of our nation, the Constitution,[3] which he has sworn and will have to swear to uphold and defend. No, none of this matters as long as he gives us the pie in the sky by and by. One Dallas teenager was quoted as saying, “I feel like he really cares about us, and about the future.”[4]

There would be those that come to Mr. Obama’s defense pointing out that he has disavowed his radical associations, but to them the Bible would say, “for as he thinks within himself, so is he.” (Prov. 23: 7) Rhetorically, God’s Word challenges: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?” (Jer 13:23). Obviously the answer is no. President-Elect Obama will say anything for political expediency, and given his amazing talent for oratory, the masses are swallowing it hook, line and sinker. However, what he says and what he thinks are not necessarily the same. Consider the warning given in the book of Proverbs:

1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you;
2 And put a knife to your throat, if you are a man of great appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies, for it is deceptive food.
4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it.
5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings,
like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, "Eat and drink!"
But his heart is not with you.

8 You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, and waste your compliments
(Prov 23:1-8, NASB[5])

For about the first 300 years of their existence as a nation, Israel was without a king. They were governed (as they gave allowance) by God through judges. Due to their frequent reprobation, God punished them by sending marauding nations to castigate them. At last they cried out for a king. “Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, ‘… Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.’” (1 Sam 8:4-5) Samuel was much distressed over the request, but “LORD said to Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.’” (1 Sam 8:7) Later on, Israel’s first king was chosen. When Samuel brought Saul before the people the Bible says, “[H]e was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. Samuel said to all the people, ‘Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.’ So all the people shouted and said, ‘Long live the king!’” (1 Sam 10:23-24) I cannot be sure, but I feel like Samuel was egging them on in pointing out his physical appearance. As it turned out, Saul was a sorry king. His problem was that he trusted in his own abilities rather than in God. Once God had his fill of Saul, He selected another king for the nation.[6] Samuel was directed by God to go to the house of Jesse in the little town of Bethlehem. Jesse had twelve sons and they were paraded before Samuel so that one could be selected. When Eliab, the oldest was brought in, Samuel thought that surely this one had to be the one. He was tall, strong and handsome, “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” (1 Sam 16:7)

“The LORD looks at the heart.” We see the outward appearance. We hearken to well rehearsed and well delivered speeches that ebb and flow in perfect rhythm to the lust of our flesh. We want to have our ears tickled with empty promises of better tomorrows, but God looks at the heart. Our next President is a handsome man. He is young. He is tall, dark and handsome. He has a captivating smile. His speech is smooth as butter and he radiates before the television cameras. But God looks at the heart. Obama’s ability to captivate and mesmerize the masses foreshadows a world leader that will rise and captivate the whole world. The prophecy of Daniel tells of one who is to come: “a despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred, but he will come in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue. … In a time of tranquility he will enter the richest parts of the realm, and he will accomplish what his fathers never did, nor his ancestors; he will distribute plunder, booty and possessions among them, (Dan 11:21, 24) The Revelation of Jesus Christ as recorded by John the beloved apostle describes him in these terms: “… And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?’ There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.” (Rev 13:3-5) I’m not ready to proclaim that Barack Obama is the Antichrist, but his mass appeal, considering the lack of substance in his message, at least can give one an idea of what the Antichrist will be able to do.

God looks at the heart, and “The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.” (Prov 21:1) God has given America what she has asked for. God has given America what she deserves for her ingratitude for all of His blessings. She has spurned His love and rejected His laws, and God has removed His hand from our nation. Yet a remnant of His people still remain, and to them He commands “that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” (1 Tim 2:1-3) His promises are not nullified by any earthly authority and He promises that, “[If] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron 7:14)

Barack Hussein Obama was not my choice for President of the United States. I have several serious and justifiable doubts about his qualifications for the office, but the people have spoken. Furthermore, God has spoken, and God has set up Mr. Obama to lead our nation. Our part is to lift up him, his staff, the Congress and Senate and our justices in daily prayer. Pray for God’s mercy on our land.

My country ‘tis of thee, Sweet land of Liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountainside let freedom ring.

My native country, thee, land of the noble free, thy name I love:
I live thy rocks and rill, thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees sweet freedom’s song.
Let mortal tongues awake, let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

Our fathers’ God, to Thee, Author of liberty, to Thee we sing:
Long may our land be bright with freedoms’ holy light;
Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King.[7]


Notes:

[1] Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are taken from THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE UPDATE. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, by The Lockman Foundation.
[2] Note his associations. Bill Ayers, Nadhama Auchi, Louis Farrakhan, Tony Rezko, Moussa Marzook (author of the Hamas manifesto), James T. Meeks, the Black Panthers, etc.
[3] Barack Obama, 2001 interview with WBEZ 91.5 FM in Chicago.
[4] “Barack Obama: President-Elect of the United States” The Dallas Morning News, Sunday, November 09, 2008, Special Commemorative Section, Section M, p.4M.
[5] The Bible text designated (NASB) is from THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, (The Lockman Foundation, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[6] 1 Samuel 16
[7] Smith, Samuel F. (1808-1895), “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” The Baptist Hymnal, (Nashville, Convention Press, 1991), Hymn 634.