In Part 1, Part 2 I raised the issue that with this hot topic of 'Freedom' in this second decade of the 21st Century, our cultural contexts can subtly influence how we perceive freedom to be defined and experienced, but that we also need to ensure we have God's perspective and not just cultural perspectives, directing our opinions and actions. And a great way to look at God's perspective could be through some thoughts (indented below) penned by a friend*, who was pondering on this recently from the book of Numbers and 1 Peter.
He went on to acknowledge that this is a real challenge when Scripture is saying to submit to sinful governments even when we don't like it, or agree with it, and see it as 'over-controlling and invasive' and as he said...The book of Numbers describes Israel as they travelled from Mount Sinai to the threshold of entering the Promised Land. Even though they didn't yet have their own land, Israel had a highly developed government. In effect, it was a state on the move. As I read through Numbers, I noticed that it was a highly intrusive government that interfered greatly in what we today would call personal freedoms and liberties. For example:Censuses. There were two censuses, which recorded names and genealogy (Num 1:18, 26:2).
Conscription. There was compulsory military service for all adult males (except Levites) (Num 1:20).
Told where to live. While they were on the move, everyone was told what part of the camp they had to live in (Num 2:2). Once they got to the land of Israel, everyone had to live in the area allotted to their tribe (Num 33:54). In other words, if your tribe got allotted land in the mountains, but you preferred to live by the sea, too bad. Or vice versa.
No choice in what job you did. The people in one tribe (the Levites) were told what their occupation was to be. Different family groups within that tribe were given different jobs to do. There was no choice in the matter (Num 4:1-33).
Sick people quarantined. People with certain sicknesses were to be quarantined away from the camp and other people while they were sick. This was not optional but was compulsory (Num 5:1-4).
Told what to eat. Food was provided. However, there was only one type of food, and you were not allowed to complain about it (Num 11).
Told who you could or could not marry. Women who inherited land could only marry a man from their own tribe (Num 36:8).
No complaining about the rules or the conditions. Complaining about these things usually led to sickness or death (Num 11, 21:4-6)
No elections. If you didn't like the leadership and thought you could [do] a better job, you either got really sick (Num 12) or were killed (Num 16).
As I noticed this, I realised how controlling and invasive this ancient Israelite government was in the life of its citizens. However, this was the Old Testament, and this was a theocratic government, which God ruled directly through Moses. Our governments today aren't directly ruled by God, so surely we should have more freedom? Well, what does the New Testament book of 1 Peter say? Peter lived under the Roman government. At that time, the Roman Empire was a pagan government, which sometimes promoted and at other times forced the worship of false gods. It was a government that sometimes barely tolerated Christians and at other times persecuted them. Roman society was sexually immorally, where bisexuality was the norm. It was common practice and legal for parents to discard unwanted babies, either to die, or to be brought up as slaves. It was a society based on slavery, in which it is estimated that approximately half the population were slaves. This system was enforced by law. For all the faults of the Australian and Tasmanian governments, they don't seem to be nearly as bad as the Roman government. Yet, this is what Peter had to say about submitting to the ungodly Roman government:
1 Peter 2:13 Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority 14 or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. 15 For it is God's will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 16 Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God's slaves. 17 Honour everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honour the emperor.
And then Paul tells in Romans tells us that: Romans 13:1 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.
Wow! Are there any exceptions to this? Peter gives no exceptions in his letter, however he and John...did give an exception earlier on in his ministry:
Acts 4:19 Peter and John answered them, "Whether it's right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; 20 for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."
….maybe even if it's against my conscience (because my conscience is the product of my culture, upbringing, my sinful nature as well as what God has put there). The only exception is if it is something that is directly against God's law - not what we feel or think is against God's law, but what is actually against God's law as found in the Bible. And even then, if I feel compelled to disobey the government because they want me to do something against God's law, I still need to do it respectfully, honouring the emperor - or in my case, honouring the prime minister and my state premier, whether or not I voted for them.
He went on further to give some personal experience insight…..
At a time of what might feel as more restricted freedoms, rather than just being something to resist maybe they can be something as Christians we can reflect differently on, and seek to see how God would have us use the opportunity of such concerns, being aware of a greater context, for example that….
Many years ago I learnt a lesson about submitting to government from people who live under oppressive governments…. [I ] have travelled to many countries and lived in several ..[and] have met many believers who live under governments that are controlling and invasive and are often hostile to the faith….[my wife] even grew up in one such system. I have been amazed at the attitude of believers who live in those countries. Most of them take 1 Peter 2:13-17 and Romans 13:1-6 very seriously. Yes, when there is an issue that directly contradicts God's word, they will disobey. But apart from those few occasions, they go out of their way to obey the government wherever possible. They even pray for their leaders in their church services! What an example they ought to be to us.
This is a time of great uncertainty. This is a time when many people, including Christians, will have different viewpoints on what governments should or shouldn't be doing. But I pray that our attitude can be like those Christians I've met in oppressive countries. Let us go out of the way to obey the government, ...showing an example to the rest of society that we are people that a) obey the authorities b) work together for public good to contain this virus and c) show a pro-life attitude, in doing what we can in preventing the sickness and death this virus can bring.
…..in the Bible, epidemics (plagues), war and famine are quite often God's judgement on people for their sins, and in a sense, are a warning of a much harsher judgement that is coming unless people repent of their sin. Epidemics, war and famine are linked: one of them leads to the others. We can see that with Covid. Covid has led to recessions (famine), increased global political tensions as well as growing unrest in our own country. Who knows what the future will bring? These difficult times ought to be a wake-up call for the world to turn from its godless ways, and turn to Jesus.
…..the Christian response to Covid is the proclamation of the Gospel - the good news of Jesus Christ, who offers the only lasting hope to a world that has been experiencing the ebbs and flows of war, famine and disease, as well as various forms of good and bad government, ever since the fall of Adam and Eve so long ago.
While a longing to live our lives with particular freedoms may not be wrong, and advocating and supporting the maintenance of freedoms not just for ourselves but for others may not be wrong, there is a greater context of freedom to bring to other's lives that we must not forget nor neglect, and sometimes God may want us to live with more restrictions of freedoms on this earth and in a way that glorifies him, in order to have greater opportunities to bring the good news of a far more important spiritual freedom to ears who don't even realise they are in spiritual bondage.
In our desire for freedom, I find a biblical challenge not just to be restriction resisters or earthly freedom fighters, but above all to be 'salt and light' eternal freedom proclaimers through the One who is the eternal freedom bringer!
*thanks to Thomas Hemphill for allowing us to share this on our blog...
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