Unrest and Civil Religion

If a professing Christian believed they may be unable to pay for their rent this month would it be appropriate for them to ask God to give them a sign as to whether or not they should rob a bank?

If a man saw a beautiful woman who was not his wife, would it be appropriate for him to pray to God to ask him whether or not he should commit adultery with her?  

Likewise, a Christian has no business asking God whether he should incite in a riot, vandalize public property, or participate in an insurrection. 

That such actions are not an option for the Christian should be painfully obvious.  We are never to base on actions on our feelings of injustice, or upon some supposed extra biblical communication from God, but upon Scripture.  Christianity is based on revealed truth, and it should not be up for question as to whether we should engage in said sinful activities.  God does not tell his followers to do things that He has already expressly told them not to.  Do you mean to be pagans under a Christian name, or Christians indeed?  You have but the name only if you trust in your feelings or in supposed personal revelations, if they contradict the word of God. 

Christ’s disciples sit loose from the world, because, however providence may fall out, the Kingdom of God is never a risk.  All things are to be done orderly and legally in respect and honor to the civil magistrate, even if you think what he/she does may be unjust. We are to seek the common good, be patient and listen to viewpoints we sharply disagree with and then deliberate or discuss differences reasonably. Only if the government orders you to stop preaching the gospel, or do something that expressly violates God’s law, are we to peacefully resist. 

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Westminster Confression 20.4: 

And because the powers which God hath ordained, and the liberty which Christ hath purchased, are not intended by God to destroy, but mutually to uphold and preserve one another; they who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, shall oppose any lawful power, or the lawful exercise of it, whether it be civil or ecclesiastical, resist the ordinance of God.(p) And, for their publishing of such opinions, or maintaining of such practices, as are contrary to the light of nature, or to the known principles of Christianity, whether concerning faith, worship, or conversation; or, to the power of godliness; or, such erroneous opinions or practices, as either in their own nature, or in the manner of publishing or maintaining them, are destructive to the external peace and order which Christ hath established in the Church, they may lawfully be called to account, and proceeded against by the censures of the Church,(q) and by the power of the civil magistrate.(r)
 

(p) Matt. 12:25; I Pet. 2:13, 14, 16; Rom. 13:1 to 8; Heb. 13:17.
(q) Rom. 1:32 with I Cor. 5:1, 5, 11, 13; II John ver. 10, 11, and II Thess. 3:14, and I Tim. 6:3, 4, 5, and Tit. 1:10, 11, 13, and Tit. 3:10 with Matt. 18:15, 16, 17; I Tim. 1:19, 20; Rev. 2:2, 14, 15, 20; Rev. 3:9.
(r) Deut. 13:6 to 12; Rom. 13:3, 4 with II John ver. 10, 11; Ezra 7:23, 25, 26, 27, 28; Rev. 17:12, 16, 17; Neh. 13:15, 17, 21, 22, 25, 30; II Kings 23:5, 6, 9, 20, 21; II Chron. 34:33; II Chron. 15:12, 13, 16; Dan. 3:29; I Tim. 2:2; Isa. 49:23; Zech. 13:2, 3.

Mon, 01/18/2021 - 17:14 -- john_hendryx

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