Words that Inspire

Disobedience, especially to God’s words, is NOT Godly!

In these times, do not rely on every thing that seems wise to you. Do not use your own wisdom, but be led by God. 1st Cor 3:18, admonishes us to be fools in order to be wise. 

Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. (1st Corinthians, 3:18)

In other words, if you already know it all, there is no space for God to come in and fill you with wisdom. It is important that the wisdom in which you operate is God’s and not that of humans or yourself.

Defiance of Laws is NOT Godly

In these times when misinformation is rampant, let God do the leading. Do not  let anyone, a pastor, a politician, or a whoever, redefine God’s words.

I am hearing of pastors who are leading their congregations to defy stay at home orders or to disrespect crowd size restrictions in effect in their communities. Their argument is that worship of God must go on. Two points:

God encourages us to obey the law of the land, so any defiance of laws, especially those put in place to protect us, is against God’s words.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. (1st Peter 2: 13-17, NIV)

If the law of the land is contrary to God’s words, then we strictly follow God’s words. For example, if a mandate came through to stop serving God or an order is passed to make lying legal, then we do NOT follow those laws, because they are contrary to God’s will.

So, the question is, “are stay at home orders, which prevent the congregating of the brethren in the physical church building against God’s will?”. This question bring me to my second point:

The church is not the building, but in our hearts.

A stay at home order does not mean you should stop serving God. You can serve God and worship at home. We forget that the church is not the physical building, but our hearts. 1st Peter 2:5.

5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1st Peter 2:5, NIV).

 Some will say they do not want to forsake the gathering of the brethren. Thank God for technology, because prayers or services can be broadcasted from the Pastor’s office, study or even living room, and viewed in real time, online. Of course the choir and the instruments cannot be there with him, but we do not rely on those things to worship God, as we ourselves should be the instrument of worship .

 

Your Experience with God Should Rely on God

Please, do not let anyone use God’s name and earthly authority they have to lure you into disobedience and error. In the same way you get politicians against God’s words, please do the same to spiritual leaders and brethren. Other than the fact, that disobedience should not be done in God’s name, since it is against His words, you might also get sick. 

If you are so certain that being out and about will not get you sick, then go to the ICU without protective gear and hug the patients there. It will be the equivalent of deliberately volunteering to drop into a lion’s cage in the zoo, because after all Daniel did it. Do not tempt God (Matthew 4:7).

In these times, and always, do not follow the wisdom of men, including yours. Do not draw wisdom from your own understanding or from others, but from God. If you do not believe in the scientists you trust for your Tylenol and BP medication, trust in God who has asked you to listen to your leaders.

God will continue to protect us, in Jesus name.