Of course, that was not the
question at the time. But, as I pondered our conversation, I had to
grapple with the very real aspect of being Christian in this society.
There is a simple scripture that I thought would help to answer this
question and as I prayed and meditated on it, the LORD gave me an
even deeper understanding of some things.
For those who do not know,
Hobby Lobby is embroiled in a lawsuit over being forced to supply
insurance that would cover certain birth control methods that their
founder finds unacceptable and against his religious beliefs as a
Christian. There is more to it than that and there are always
additional facets to issues that make everything less black and
white. Yet, as I thought about it, it really is black and white.
In the book of Romans,
chapter 13, the first couple of verses, Paul writes to us a very real
truth. ALL authorities are established by GOD and to resist the
authorities is to resist the ordinances of GOD.
13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
In the case of Hobby Lobby, they have chosen to resist the ordinances of GOD by choosing to resist the authorities GOD has set in place. The provisions of Obamacare include the mandate that Hobby Lobby has determined to resist and to defend themselves against.
Regardless of who or why,
a lawsuit has been brought against them to force them to comply with
the law established by the authorities. In short, Hobby Lobby has
chosen to resist the ordinances of GOD, in the name of GOD, and have
asked GOD to help them.
They will stand before an
authority that is put in place by GOD and will be tried. The outcome
of this trial being fully in the hands of the GOD who has established
the authorities and the ordinances which are currently at odds with
Hobby Lobby and it's religious beliefs. Now, I would not have you
fully ignorant of the fact that there is extreme Biblical precedence
for this type of resistance to authority.
In the book of Daniel there
is a story of three young Hebrew boys who refuse to bow down to a
golden idol even though the offense is punishable by death. If I were
in the shoes of Hobby Lobby, I would reply to the judge of this case
in the exact same way these young Hebrew boys replied to the king.
As a Christian who is more
answerable to GOD than to men, I would place all of my hope in the
mercy and power of GOD. However, Hobby Lobby is likely placing
millions of dollars and a great deal of hope in some slick talking
lawyers who have no power at all to affect the outcome of this
lawsuit.
My response to the lawsuit
would be to ask forgiveness for resisting the authorities and for
mercy in the court ruling. My presentation to the judge would go
something like this;
“Since I know that the
authorities are established by GOD, and these current rulers are in
office as a chastisement and punishment of HIS people, I accept that
my resistance to the ordinances established by the current leaders of
our nation is a resistance to the ordinances of my GOD.
Throughout all of God's
dealings with HIS people, HE has chosen to raise up Godless men and
nations to take His people into captivity. So it it is today. I,
therefore, have acknowledged to God, and now to this court of law,
that I stand as the young Hebrew boys in the book of Daniel. We have
no defense against the charges brought other than to honor our
conscience before God in the way we have chosen.
Whatever happens in this
court is in the control of JESUS the CHRIST. Either He will save us
from the fiery trials and deliver us from this unscathed, or He will
let the full fury of the law and ordinances be felt upon us. Either
way, we cannot in good conscience bow down before this king or the
idols it has erected.
In times past, America has
been a nation of morality and decency. It is sad to see the decay
that has taken place over the last 100 years, or even the last fifty.
When this company was
founded, it was operated with Christian values and principals in
mind. It was started at a time when those things were celebrated.
Those times have passed. With them, perhaps, the time for this
company. Should it be found true and appropriate that our government
should have changed so much as to force a company to fund that which
is abhorrent to it's founders, then this court will establish that
truth. Should this court establish that truth, then Hobby Lobby will
no longer be able to continue to do business under the current rulers
of the nation.
The determination of these
things is in the hands of GOD. Should HE choose that Hobby Lobby
continue or end, HE is to be praised and what HE determines in this
courtroom will establish the future of this company.”
With that, I would give all
to the hands of GOD and whatever HE decrees through the judge would
be so. I know that the government and authorities are established by
GOD and the current ones are there to be a chastisement for HIS
people. So, even these laws, the laws that Christians wish to oppose,
are from HIS hand.
It is a slippery slope when
we decide GOD is no longer in control. Since HE controls everything,
it is only through real humility and repentance that we will ever see
HIS chastisements removed and HIS blessings returned.
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