Bible Verses for the Week

SUNDAY: Acts 5:29 says, "We must obey God rather than men." Whenever a government violates biblical teaching, Christians are obligated to disobey that government. For example, if a government were to declare that we should kill all Asians, or immigrants, or people with Down's syndrome, we should disobey. Governments are run by people and often become corrupt. Furthermore, the Bible never tells us to obey governments in contradiction to the revealed word of God.

MONDAY: Romans 13:1 says, "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." If this is so, what about the bad governments like the Nazis or the Communist regimes where they killed millions? If God is the one who sets up governments, are we supposed to obey those bad governments? The answer is no.

TUESDAY: Rom. 13:6-7, "For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor." Notice that Paul says that the rulers are servants of God. This is the context of the submission that is mentioned at the beginning of the chapter. If these rulers are no longer servants of God, and if they contradict Scripture, they are not to be obeyed.

WEDNESDAY: 1 Tim. 2:1-2 says, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."

THURSDAY: Prov. 31:4-5, 8-9, "It is not for kings, O Lemuel. It is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink, 5 Lest they drink and forget what is decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted...8 Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all the unfortunate. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy." Governments should protect the unfortunate and defend the rights of the afflicted.

FRIDAY: Leviticus 19:35-36, "‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning. 36 ‘You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt."

SATURDAY: Isaiah 33:15-16, "He who walks righteously, and speaks with sincerity, he who rejects unjust gain, and shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe. He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; 16 He will dwell on the heights; His refuge will be the impregnable rock. His bread will be given him. His water will be sure."