Before you read this study understand that we do not teach, we share and then ask all who read the following take it to God and verify it with Him. We believe a lot of the world is misled by the church of the world and religion vs the one true church. And to know the truth can only come from knowing, not just knowing of God, John 14:26, I John 2:27, Rev 3:19-22.
Many are called but few are chosen because many are misled by false teachers Matthew 7:13-15 so we help all who wants to know the truth how to find and know the truth of and by God and not of and by man.



Government's Role in The Kingdom of God

Pastor J. R. Wilhite, author   Close Window

I know some of you are wondering about the role of the government in the church and the body of Christ. First of all, let me ask you a few questions; now be totally honest and answer each one.

Have you ever driven faster than the posted speed limit?

Any of you who answered no is either never drove a vehicle of any kind or you are the one doing 25 in a 55 that we all have to wait on.

Have you ever sped up to make a yellow light, not green but yellow?

Have you ever "oozed" through a stop sign?

Have you ever turned in a left turn lane without your signal on?

My son got a ticket for the last one; he was in the far left of two left turn lanes, but he forgot to use his blinker. No the above questions are not about anger I have about a ticket my son or I might have gotten. That ticket was over a year ago; I just use itas a reference.

Have you ever lied?

Have you ever fudged a little on the truth?

Have you ever thought a really bad thought that you did not cast down as soon as you got it?

Have you ever cheated on your taxes?

If you answered yes to most of the above, then you are alive and a human.

If you answered no to them all then I will pray for you.

So what does all this have to do with the government and the kingdom of God? If you sped, or ran a light or stop sign, then you broke the law and you sinned. Yes, that is right you sinned by breaking the law.

How is that possible?

If you live in a country that is not ruled over by a dictator or a monarch then you have the ability to vote. By your vote you set the laws, and the government is run by you and your one vote. If you do not think one vote matters then look at the presidential race in Nov-Dec of 2000.

When you vote for a group of people and they set laws you are agreeing with those laws even as low as traffic violations.

Oh boy did I open a can of worms for you, huh?

Let's see what the word says about government:

2 Peter 2:10

But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

Government here is as a ruling body those who over others, and those who can not stand the chance they are ruled by anyone. Especially God, or anything they can not see.

Strong's Ref. # 2963

Romanized kuriotes

Pronounced koo-ree-ot'-ace

from GSN2962; mastery, i.e. (concretely and collectively) rulers:

KJV--dominion, government.

Here in Corinthians Paul is referring to a ruling body in the Church. And actually that is what mostly was referring to when he talked about government.

1 Corinthians 12

28. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Strong's Ref. # 2941

Romanized kubernesis

Pronounced koo-ber'-nay-sis

from kubernao (of Latin origin, "to steer"); pilotage, i.e. (figuratively) directorship (in the church):

KJV--government.

We do have a responsibility as far as the governments of the world system are concerned. As I was pointing out above, in the first part of this study, that responsibility is to, first and foremost, be an example of God while we are here on the earth. If we speed, cut people off, or don't follow the laws of the land then we are not what we should be as ambassadors of God. Yes it would be a sin to break the law. The law is set up to protect us. Imagine if everyone started running red lights. In time there would be massive car wrecks, and even if there were not massive car wrecks we could be responsible for a wreck.

I heard a story from a mother against driving drunk (MADD); a drunk had run a red light and to avoid hitting the drunk the driver of another car hit a pole and died from the wreck. The drunk never even noticed what he had done.

The same is for us even if we are not drunk we could cause a wreck and it could kill someone. Killing is a sin, so as you can see by breaking the laws we are sinning. To God a sin is a sin, meaning no sin is larger or less than any other in the eyes of God. As I stated, if we are in a country where we can vote, then we can vote to change the laws, vote out those who did not do as we wanted.

Most people consider a sin as something that is like murder, or adultery, etc. If you asked the average Christian about the 10 comandments they at best could tell you 3, maybe 4 of them. Think about it, how many of the 10 comandments can you think of right now without looking them up.

We have to understand everything we do in life is either a sin or not.

You may think that no, it is not just black and white but there are shades of gray in there as well, but not with God. Anything that would cause there to be a difference between you and God is a sin. Some of you are thinking, "Jerry, you have lost it! It is not a sin to drive through a yellow light or to speed up to stay with the same speed as the other cars."

Would you also jump off a cliff because everyone else was jumping off the cliff?

When you have the ability to change the laws and the people of your government it is then also your responsibility to follow the laws. The only time you do not have to follow the laws of man is when they are in contradiction of God's laws.

It is like I have said in other Bible studies; you are driving along and someone cuts you off, almost causes you to wreck and as far as you can tell they do not care and may even be laughing at you. That is no excuse to say bad things about them or to give them a hand sign, or worse.

Are you getting the idea? It is like the idea of having a dove or fish on my car, no way. Not because I am ashamed of God, but because I am ashamed of how I drive. I could, by accident, cut someone off and then they see the dove or fish and they will think, well there goes another Christian. They know, no better, but they will judge God based on us.

You know and I know that is wrong, but they do not know any better.

So when you leave your house remember you are a ambassador of God.

Back to Paul's writings about government in the Bible. He is mostly talking about the order of things in the kingdom of God on earth. Yes, in both the old and the new Testament we have an order of ruling body.

1 Corinthians 12

14. For the body is not one member, but many.

15. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16. And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17. If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19. And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20. But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23. And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked:

25. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30. Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31. But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

We are all members of the same body or at least those who are of the Body of Christ.

So as ambassadors of God and members of the Body of Christ we have responsibilities to God, to each other, to ourselves and to others of the Body.

If you start in the word before ever leaving your house, time with God one on one, then you have a much better chance of not letting down any part of the Body of Christ .

Other studies that will help you grow and learn more as well as they were a huge help with this study.

Christ

Church

Life Starts Here

God's Plan

Hearing from God

My prayer for you is:

3 John 1

2. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth

Remember to show faith when you pray, then praise and give thanks.

God Bless You as you hear His words and follow His leading.




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