I understand the Apostle Paul.
It seems to me that you believe these orders from Governors and Mayors to be lawful. They are not.
Governments cannot make a law forbidding assembly on private property. Nowhere in this country does one exist. Governors and Mayors cannot make an Executive order that would do the same thing. It would be a violation of people's Constitutional rights under the 1st Ammendment.
I think you probably believe that the men who faught in the American Revolution were sinning in the eyes of God for not submitting to English rule. Taken to its final conclusion your position would be that no people could throw off the chains of the oppressor unless the higher power relinquished his desire to unjustly rule over you.
Edit: I want to thank you for the calm, intelligent, and resonable debate.
Sir, I too thank you for your thoughtful discourse. It is through the patient, rational, discussion that we all learn and begin to acknowledge the thoughts, opinions and expressions (all of which are rooted in our unique, individual life experiences) of each of us regardless of our several differences. Please forgive the lengthy responses but I feel it was necessary to express my understandings as clearly as possible yet embrace your beliefs as well.
Now to your very valid position, the history of mankind, worldwide, has been built upon civil uprisings against governmental abuses. Volumes from every nation and tribe record this to include the American Revolution, Civil War, Indian Wars, right up to the current conflicts in Afghanistan,Yemen, the Uyghurs of China, the Rohingya of Myanmar. The difference, I believe is found in the Bible, in our faith in Jesus The Christ. Don't get me wrong, I am not, repeat NOT a pacifist by any means and there are numerous accounts in the scripture pointing to the fact that there has been, and will be a time for the followers of Jesus to rise up in a big way and it is my hope that I am worthy to be one of His soldiers. Getting back to the root of this thread, our attitudes and behaviors during this Covid-19 period versus the decrees put in place by a struggling government, manned by flawed human who probably are just as confused and frightened for themselves and their loved ones as everyone else in this society/world.
The key I believe, again, I believe is to ask the question "What Would Jesus Do In This Situation/Time Frame?" I must be honest, based upon what was written about Him, I think He would have hunkered down and restricted His movements in accordance with the mandates. Remember, although He was God, He chose to put on human flesh and to experience exactly what we experience. Yet, being God, He has the power of creation ... He can immediately eliminate the disease, the conflicts, the wars, and easiest of all the evil and malicious leaders and their cohort. However, for some reason, yet to be fully grasped, He chose and still chooses not to make that happen. God expects His Believers to follow His plan for us through our individual actions and behaviors and He allows us to "choose" to obey or not. Remember, during the Roman occupation of Jerusalem it is thought that Judas believed and wanted Jesus to raise up the ultimate insurrection/war but over the course of time Jesus Himself told Pilate that His Kingdom was not of this world.
John 18:35-37 King James Version (KJV)
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
I guess to conclude my answer, if we as Believers, understand that this world and system are not out "home", we can yield to some of its flaws without suffering harm nor disruption to the Kingdom Peace that we receive in our minds, hearts and loving interactions with others. Believe me, at times it is very hard, a struggle to be exact to comply with the system that has been corrupted by the prince of this world ... but this is not our home. In a sense, just as when I joined the military, I was recognized as a citizen of the United States and subject to its laws and the UCMJ, right? When I was posted TDY, overseas in other countries, I was also subject to the laws and customs of those countries, but at the same time, my allegiance and citizenship to the United States was never lost and I was in a sense an ambassador. After a period of time, I received orders to return home.
Just as it was with Jesus, it is the same with us as Believers, our "home" is not of this world and at some point we will all receive irrevocable orders to return home where we will all stand accountable for the way we lived our lives and behaved while "TDY" to this world. Our compliance with the dictates, laws and decrees of this land is required and thankfully it incorporates a system where we do have a voice and myriad methods, to address those mandates we believe are overreaches of power.
Topic: Virus second opion (Read 14887 times)
