A FB friend requested me to write an article due to my original post:
They say you cannot criticize the government especially DUxxx administration. Reasons given are:
1. Romans 13 -just tells us to submit and pay taxes to the government -nothing about criticizing them to change,
2. DUxxx is God’s anointed -He cannot be touched.
3. Though true he is doing things wrong -but it is better to light the candle than curse the darkness.
4. It is so negative to criticize every actions that the government does -why not help them in worthwhile endeavors -like in drug rehab, poverty alleviation, disaster preparation and mitigation.
5. What if he is very fallible president – Who will you replaced him with -VP Leni ? what if she is another GMA -worse than an Erap?
6.We are just ordinary citizens -let us leave politics and governance to the professional politicians.We can only make it worse.
7. Something wrong with this administration-that is not true -they are all fabrications of the Liberal Party -they are just out there destabilizing this government -so that they can go back in power.
What do you think -are these valid reasons?
– So that others maybe able to read and consider things from the Word.
These are posts from his timeline posts-I have edited out the other people’s post since I don’t have permission from them. This will be update from time to time until I will be able to complete them. But be warned -you will be able to see only one part of the conversation:
This is response to news item from : http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/30/17/dutertes-pardon-pledge-bad-for-himself-justice-system-law-dean:
“President Rodrigo Duterte may have put himself and the justice system in trouble by reiterating his vow to pardon any police officer who would be convicted in the killing of drug suspects, a member of the academe said Thursday.
Duterte renewed Wednesday his promise of legal protection to cops at the helm of his war on drugs, just days after several policemen surrendered over the death of Albuerta, Leyte Mayor Rolanda Espinosa Sr., an alleged drug protector. ”
My response:
2 Cor 4:4 speaks of being blinded from the glory of the Gospel which displays Jesus as His Son. It did not refer to being blinded to the truth that we need to honor all governing authorities. Out of context exegesis.
Eto verses before and after 2 Cor 4:4
2 Corinthians 4:2-3, 5-6 (ESV) But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Clearly the way you juxtapose Romans 13 and 2 Cor 4:4 is tantamount to tampering God’s Word.
2 Cor 4:4 is about the clear presentation of the need for the Gospel – and our need for our salvation in Jesus Christ.
In Romans 13 – Paul started on submission to authorities – plural – because anarchy can be averted – and in anarchy – the Gospel is hindered in presentation. We are also commanded to pay our taxes -our tariffs and what the govt needs to make sure anarchy will not reign.
A governing authority is a minister – a diakonos . And what is a diakonos ? A servant – one who serves in behalf of a Master. Do you know who is the master of governing authorities – insuring that peace and order is stable and that anarchy will not reign ?
Romans 13:3-4
Romans 13:4-5 (ESV) for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
Clearly the wrong things mentioned here is based on God’s perspective – that is why the governing authority functions as His avenger.
The avenger is not wielding that sword – for himself. Nor for his agenda – nor for his own purpose. Not especially for his own ‘law’.
Since Christians are his children and we know that in our every sin – by commission or omission or by deed or by even thought – we know we displeased the Lord in our every sin. So we need not just follow authorities just for show or for fear. We need to follow Him because they are being used to remind us against gross and public sins.
In areas of anarchy – Serbia Bosnia Syria – gross crimes are committed since no one is accountable to anyone. Society’s pillar crushed down. We do not want those situations.
That is why the OT prophets denunciation also includes shepherds – society leaders who preys on the sheep because it is turning itself inward- destroying society’s order that contributes to peaceful order.
In those cases – other governing authorities should police their own ranks – so that societal order remains stable.
In Christian societies – thru the centuries – parliaments – democracies – arises – so that there will be check and balances. From the lowly ‘baranggay tanods’ – to the traffic aides – to the beat cops and to the highest govt office – Senators Congressman Ombudsman Justices and the Executive Office of the Pres and Vice President – they are the governing authorities. They are also servants of God. What they should do must accord with His moral or revealed will.
When confronted by Pilate – the Roman Governor then – Jesus made it clear that his power/authority is limited by His Father:
John 19:10-11 (ESV) So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”
Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
Also at – Luke 3:12-14 (ESV) Jesus made this comment : Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”
Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
Though the High Priests – and the Sanhedrin is clearly the more responsible for this injustice – Jesus also mentioned to Pilate that playing to the crowd for His death is also a sin.
And what is sin? It is to transgress that Eternal Law – that our only Loyalty is to the Lord God only and His Holy expression of order for our society.
And here the voice of God thru the mouth of the non- prophet Amos – to the rulers of nations – on this case Judah:
Amos 2:4-8 (ESV) Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked.
So I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.”
Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals—
those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same girl, so that my holy name is profaned;
they lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.
You can read the whole book of Amos – judgement upon judgement upon the nations – especially its political leaders
If we – Christians – who should know better his precepts fails to speak clearly – then we are also culpable for the breakdown of the societal order: Hear Him roar :
Amos 3:6-8 (ESV) Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?
For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.
The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?”
We are obligated to speak to social issues -to the governing authorities. We must speak the Word clearly. There is no dividing wall from the Word of the Lord.
It is not an exception. We must speak politely. But we must speak against abuse of power. That power is derivative only.
For a governing authority to play fast with the law – is disloyalty to the only Master. For Christians to encourage such is to dishonor the Lord who died for us – who suffered injustice for us.So that no injustice can happen to others – under the prophetic Scriptures – already given complete to us thru His Son – the Prophet promised to Moses and Israel.
We are all servants – whether bought or not by the blood of Jesus . In different level we must fulfill our duties to the tee based on His revealed will in the Word. If we both fail – we shall be judged.
We are not collaborators to any political order. Liberal or PDP-Laban. Our first citizenship is the Kingdom of Heaven. We do not ask for crumbs from the political tables of Caesars or Kaisers or Fuhrers. We are children of God.
I cannot remain partisan in interpreting the Word – I must speak of the whole counsel – whether we like what we hear or not. It is not our weapon. It is the Sword of the Lord. It cut both ways. Those who are anarchist and those who are tyrants – a law unto themselves.
That sword can be used by us but -I am thinking of ownership – we used it as stewards not owners. We must not used in anyway we wanted to -Only for those authorized by the Lord -its proper context and methods.
More later …
Walk by Grace thru Faith 