RUSSIA ISSUED A RULING TO BAN JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
Can we regard this organisation’s persistent resistance to the authority as a case that Paul argued, or, is this ruling an ominous signal of the overture of the persecution of an organised church before the Second Coming of Christ? ...
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:1-10.
The principal messages contained in this chapter are the duties of subjection to magistrates, through love of one another. Duties relating to the civil magistrates require obedience to them, as verse 1 tells.
The civil magistracy, or government, is in place by divine appointment, and so, to obey them in all things of a civil nature, is to obey God. By contrast, to resist them is to resist God and so, the apostle Paul says: ‘those who do so will bring judgment on themselves’.
Paul also says that they are the executioners of God's wrath, and so, ‘it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.’
Paul concluded Romans 13 with an exhortation to faith in Christ, and reminds us of our goal to be a likeness of Christ, and not to oppose the civil magistracy or government of this world.
The civil magistracy, or government, is in place by divine appointment, and so, to obey them in all things of a civil nature, is to obey God. By contrast, to resist them is to resist God and so, the apostle Paul says: ‘those who do so will bring judgment on themselves’.
Paul also says that they are the executioners of God's wrath, and so, ‘it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.’
Paul concluded Romans 13 with an exhortation to faith in Christ, and reminds us of our goal to be a likeness of Christ, and not to oppose the civil magistracy or government of this world.
In reality, however, the subject of the relationship between Christians and their government explored above is not so straightforward, and is often wrought with misunderstandings.
Questions have been raised, such as “Must Christians obey their government that is corrupt?”, “How do Christians relate to a secular government?” or “Do Christians have a dual citizenship, this world and heaven?”
In Genesis Chapters1-11, it is written that God ordained fundamental institutions; ➀man’s free will, ➁marriage, ➂family and ➃human government.
Due to the first institution, man is not a robot. Due to the second, divine order in human race is heterosexual reproduction. Due to the third, the responsibility for authority over the children lies in the parents, not the state, which means parents must teach their children to respect law, order and most importantly relationship with God and others. Due to the last, what God has commanded to be done should be observed, which Romans 13:1-7 explores.
Questions have been raised, such as “Must Christians obey their government that is corrupt?”, “How do Christians relate to a secular government?” or “Do Christians have a dual citizenship, this world and heaven?”
In Genesis Chapters1-11, it is written that God ordained fundamental institutions; ➀man’s free will, ➁marriage, ➂family and ➃human government.
Due to the first institution, man is not a robot. Due to the second, divine order in human race is heterosexual reproduction. Due to the third, the responsibility for authority over the children lies in the parents, not the state, which means parents must teach their children to respect law, order and most importantly relationship with God and others. Due to the last, what God has commanded to be done should be observed, which Romans 13:1-7 explores.
When Christ answered the penitent criminal who was crucified beside Him, He demonstrated the fundamental truth that all men are under authority of the government in this world and salvation for confessed believers of Christ in the next, i.e., the other side of the present world:
‘One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”’ (Lk. 23:39-43).There seem to be quite many believers who confuse those two, i.e., the human authority in this world and future under God’s authority.
The following article is an excerpt regarding the latest unexpected news to hit the world. The powerful Russian Orthodox Church has spoken out against Jehovah’s Witnesses as being a “destructive sect”. Members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses are globally known for preaching using door to door visits, where they offer their religious literature and attempt to convert people.
The article tells us that in Russia the group has had several run-ins with law enforcement in recent years. Can we regard this organisation’s persistent resistance to the authority as a case that Paul argued, or, is it an ominous signal of the overture of the persecution of an organised church before the Second Coming of Christ?
The article tells us that in Russia the group has had several run-ins with law enforcement in recent years. Can we regard this organisation’s persistent resistance to the authority as a case that Paul argued, or, is it an ominous signal of the overture of the persecution of an organised church before the Second Coming of Christ?
‘Russia bans Jehovah’s Witnesses as “extremist”’ (AFP) published onThursday 20 April 2017.
MOSCOW: Russia’s Supreme Court issued a ruling Thursday banning Jehovah’s Witnesses and seizing their property after the justice ministry called on it to dissolve the Christian group as an “extremist organization.” Supreme Court judge Yury Ivanenko said Russia had decided to close down “the administrative center of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the local organizations in its fold and turn their property over to Russia.” The decision comes after the ministry said it had found signs of “extremist activity” within the religious movement and requested that it be banned. “They represent a threat to the rights of the people, to public order and public safety,” Russian news agencies quoted justice ministry representative Svetlana Borisova as saying. The religious movement, which has 395 centers across Russia, has vowed to appeal the decision. “I’m shocked,” Yaroslav Sivulsky, who represents the group’s administrative center, told reporters. “I didn’t expect that this could be possible in modern Russia, where the constitution guarantees freedom of religious practice.” … In 2004 Russia dissolved the Moscow branch of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2010 that the move had violated the right to freedom of religion and association. The Moscow branch at the time had been accused of breaking up families, inciting its members to suicide and endangering their lives and health by not allowing its members to have blood transfusions.
(http://www.arabnews.com/node/1088171/world)