Obey God - Not Man!

I've been accused of espousing lawlessness when I state that I am not bound to perform to the whims, fancies and desires of the state. Whether that be a court order or a man-made statute or law.

But I am in no way advocating lawlessness. I am advocating obedience to the true law of God. And contrary to what you've been taught, God does not subject His Kingdom to the kingdom of men. In other words, God's law never requires obedience to an unlawful civil ruler or governmental system.

Here is the analogy that I use. We are currently running a race. The finish line is obedience to God. However, we tell men that if they simply run half way and obey man (his laws and statutes) that they have run the race well. We tell them that it is imperative to obey the laws of the land - right or wrong, because disobedience to the state is disobedience to God.

This is a lie that has been perpetuated throughout the church, and it must stop. Peter said in Acts that we ought to obey God rather than man. That means that God's law is superior to any man made law. His word is superior to any words from any man (including your pastor!) God is the absolute authority. He will hold each and every man accountable for running the full race. Obedience to God is the finish line. Not obedience to man.

If we will run the race with a desire to be absolutely and wholly obedient to God - His words, His laws, and His statutes - then we should fulfill any man-made obligations from the state or church. UNLESS - the obligations of the state or the church are in direct opposition to the law, word and will of God!

This cannot be ignored! This is why countless Christians across this world have lost their lives for the sake of the gospel. They had a desire to obey God whatever the cost, and many times the cost was civil disobedience and punishment from the civil rulers. These men and women did not die in vain. They did not die because they incurred the wrath and judgement of God. NO! They died in honor and count it a privilege to suffer for Christ!