Acts 5:29:
No, not theocracy. I said when the government does evil things like as stated in the OP murder people.
Shouldn’t we be forgiving all such trespasses while vigorously turning the other cheek? Judging not, lest we be judged?
I don’t see anything in the passage you quoted that gives an exemption for rebellions against “evil” governments. Quite the contrary, it seems to be arguing that anything a government does must, by definition, be good, because governments are anointed by God.
Paul’s Letter to the Romans, as a complete treatise, does in fact offer such advice. But when you quote individual verses out of the context in which he wrote them, why,then,
So are you saying there are times we must obey God rather than do what the Bible tells us?
When Is Rebellion/Revolution Justified?:
When the other side’s got a Death Star.
Seriously, Qin Shi Huangdi, I dont know how or why you do it, but you either leave a a starting cryptic OP to which you never come back or (and even on interesting subjects) you poison the well right away and derail your very own question in the very same sentence that it is asked. What in your right mind could lead you to back your question with a quote from the Bible, as if it was an authority source on either Rebellion or Revolution. The Bible has a very good answer for Rebellion, it’s called Hell.
Even if he actually existed, he doesn’t say anything. And if he actually started talking, I see no reason that I owe him obedience.
You’re just not following the logic. See he does exist, and he told you to be obedient to men. But Qin says not to do that. Be obedient to him. It’s quite simple if you don’t think about it.
Sometimes even God can be an idiot.
Did you mean for the question in your title to be “When is a rebellion or a revolution against a government justified according to the Bible?”
I have no issue with Qin citing the Bible as his authority. But I’m still trying to understand how he can cite the Bible as his authority to do the opposite of what the Bible says.
Or even partly encode christian morality into law.
Rebellion against the government is *always *justified. Because they’re the government, and we shouldn’t have those (as separate entities, anyway.)
Not that you can get away with it most of the time, but that’s got squat to do with moral justification, which is what the OP seemed to be asking.
if all else fails, why not just say that the alleged “government” is really an evil criminal gang whereas your own gang is in fact that very “magistrate” carrying the sword to protect the people from the depredations of the former, as per the cite? That’s what these guys did.
Actually, the morality called for by Jesus the Christ from His followers is not a terribly bad thing to found a political system on: Judge as you yourself would prefer to be judged; give sacrificially to your family and generously to others, being merciful and compassionate, especially to those in need and those with no or inadequate resources; etc. The problem lies in those who think they themselves are entitled to judge others in His stead while excusing away their own faults, and who have “logical” reasons for holding others up to those standards. They fail to observe the clear warning of their Lord according to their own Scriptures, and are justly held to scorn as hypocrites.
Hey, that first stone’s not going to cast itself.
Sounds a lot like the reasoning for killing abortion doctors, doesn’t it?
It’s okay to kill, if they are breaking God’s laws, to protect life. Sigh, I smell yet another thinly disguised anti abortion justification. Badly framed of course.
Unfortunately the verse quoted clearly says, ‘The authorities that exist have been established by God.’ Sounds to me like our authorities, which exist, and hence have been established by God, and support ‘choice’, (via our democratic process), should be obeyed, not questioned.
How about it? Are you willing to follow your own bible and do as this verse describes, obey the authorities, and their laws which support choice for all?
Or are you not going to do as your bible dictates, in this specific passage, instead picking and choosing which verses to follow because they fit your personal political agenda? Doesn’t that kind of make you a cafeteria Christian, ignoring this verse, but standing by that one? Do you even understand, how doing so, is the reason why many people think devout Christians are weak minded?
What, like that’s a new thing under the sun?!
No, that’s a good foundation for social relations. A political system is a very different thing. It needs to be “designed” on the assumption that many people will not act like that.