Who Do You Call Lord?

Matthew 6:24 - “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

This principle holds true in many different situations. You cannot serve two masters. Ultimately you will end up betraying one master by your loyalty to the other. You cannot serve God and mammon or money. You cannot serve God and any man who would purport to be a master over you. You cannot serve God and the state.

Who is your master? Who do you call Lord?

1 Kings 18:21 - And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.

I'd like to re-write the preceding verse in light of everything we've been discussing this far concerning power and authority.

How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if the state (or US Governement), follow him."

How relevant is the question that Elijah posed to the people long ago to our modern-day church? I would say it is very relevant. You see there is a dichotomy in what we teach from our pulpits. We teach the people that God is the LORD, but charge the people that they must serve the state. You cannot serve two masters. Either serve the Lord, or serve the state. You cannot serve both. Either you will love the one and hate the other.

Matthew 4:10 - Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

My proposition to you is that if you will fully serve the Lord, you will fulfill any and all lawful obligations that you may have to your fellow man and the state. However, the converse is not true. If you attempt to fully serve the state, you will transgress the true Law of God. You will be guilty of treason to the one true King. There is safety in fully serving the Lord although it may cost you your life.

Matthew 10:28 - And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.