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3Weekend of 13th/14th August 2022.
Romans Chapter 13: When leaders rule badly
God is the creator of law and order. He created order and harmony in the universe. He gives laws to govern all people, whatever their position in life. Leaders are responsible to Him and will have to explain to Him their deeds (14:12).
Paul says that God sets governments in place. He allows men and women to rule. Christians should obey their government. Christians may be a minority in some countries, but they have God on their side! Sometimes governments write laws that make it difficult for Christians to obey; then we must pray and follow God's way.
Daniel and his friends were ordered to worship a great idol which the king had set up. They refused and were punished (Daniel 3:28). Peter was ordered not to preach about Christ. He told the leaders, 'We must obey God rather than men' (Acts 5:29-32). He went out and preached the Gospel, the Good News of God's salvation plan in Christ. He was punished but carried on preaching (Acts 5:40-42).
Sometimes we must choose between obeying God and obeying our leaders. Quietly resisting an unjust law without being violent may be a good choice in the same way as Daniel, Peter and many other faithful believers.
Extracted from "LIVING IN CHRIST" Bible teaching commentary by Fred Morris, © 2007, 2012. [view here]
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Manna Publications Bible teaching commentaries by the late Fred Morris
Manna author, Australian missionary Fred Morris, retired to the USA and established Manna Publications (USA) in the year 1990, Manna Publications (UK) in the year 2000 and Publications Manne (France) in the year 2006. The first overseas printings of his Genesis Bible teaching commentary Part 1 were with his former missionary contacts in Mongolia and Kenya. Over 650,000 low-cost A5 booklets have been printed and reprinted (typical print runs are 500 copies per title) in 40+ countries and as many languages. Printed at points of greatest need since 2001, plus undocumented quantities before that.
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Front cover of the Burmese Manna Bible teaching commentary on Genesis Chapters 1-11 translated and published in Myanmar 2019.