The Apostles' Example
But, some will argue, didn't the Apostles disobey the authorities in preaching the Message of Christ?
The answer involves the fact that they had been given a DIRECT COMMAND from an angel of God: "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life" (Acts 5:20).
This command from God was in fact NOT "illegal" as far as the Roman civil administration of Palestine was concerned. For the Roman rulers allowed the various Jewish sects much latitude in the exercise of their religion. The command involved the "right" of every Jew to use the temple as a stated place of public worship and preaching.
The command to preach Christ's Message peacefully, in a stated place of worship, had NO RELATION to violent street "demonstrations," blocking public thoroughfares, resisting officers of the law, and MURDERING fellow human beings!
When threatened for their peaceful preaching by the religious leaders of the Jews, Peter and the other Apostles answered: "We ought to obey God rather than man" (verse 29).
As a result of God's direct command, the Apostles intended to continue preaching the truth. But even when they were BEATEN for this, they did not resist, riot, or fight back!
Rather, "they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ" (verses 40-42).
They certainly continued preaching, but notice that they incited NO RIOTS or rebellion against constituted authority!
The modern "civil rights" leaders need to learn THAT LESSON — and learn it WELL!
The peaceful preaching or teaching of a religious or political message in the proper place is one thing. But illegal demonstrations, interference with the normal business or rights of others, theft, violence and MURDER are NOT countenanced anywhere in the Sacred Word of God!
The Responsibility of the True Ministers of Christ
The Apostle Peter, who led the preaching in the occasion just mentioned, was inspired by God to write: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well" (I Pet. 2:13-14).
Note that Peter did not say, "Obey every ordinance." For he knew there would be many human regulations that were wrong. But he did state that we are to "submit" to the legal authorities — not to resist or riot.
If a Christian must, in rare instances, disobey one of the laws of man in order not to directly disobey one of the commands of God, he should still do so peacefully. As the early Apostles did, he should submit himself to the legal authority for whatever punishment they choose to administer. Then he should look to GOD — the author of all government and all authority — to right his wrong in due time. For the true Christian knows that God LIVES and RULES over the kingdoms of men, and that in our day he will soon intervene to set up His Kingdom here on earth!
Meanwhile, the true Christian should cooperate with and RESPECT the civil power — knowing that these offices are ordained of God.
In his second epistle, the Apostle Peter warned that in our day there would be false teachers creeping in to lead the people into REBELLION against constituted authority. He stated: "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there SHALL BE false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction" (II Pet. 2:1).
In verse 10, Peter described the attitude of these self-appointed leaders: "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and DESPISE GOVERNMENT. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities."
In the recent riots, thefts and MURDERS, we are now witnessing the "fruits" of that very attitude!
God help us to UNDERSTAND!
God is going to hold the false ministers and false leaders strictly ACCOUNTABLE for the bloodshed and human suffering which their false "gospels" are bringing upon us!
It is the responsibility of every true minister of Christ to preach SUBMISSION to law and constituted authority. Most of all, everyone should be taught wholehearted OBEDIENCE to the laws and ways of the Great God who RULES over the kingdoms of men.
The extent to which modern preachers are failing to carry out this responsibility demonstrates the extent to which they are FALSE MINISTERS. For God states: "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a LIAR, and the truth is not in him" (I John 2:4).
Let every thinking person HEED this inspired statement of God!
Where Racial Revolt Is Leading
We need to remember that there have been and ARE many injustices affecting the Negro people in the United States, and racial minorities in many other nations around this earth.
We need to realize and admit that the mob "lynching" of Negroes in the South, the beatings and oppressions, and the more recent MURDERS of young civil-rights workers there is a heinous and inexcusable CRIME against God and man.
But there is a vital lesson in this.
Two wrongs do NOT make a right! Just because there have been injustices in the past is no reason to perpetrate further violence and injustice on a FAR GREATER SCALE such as is now being done!
And the ugly, stupid spectacle of "every man becoming his own Supreme Court" is utter INSANITY. Yet this is the very way large segments of our population are being led by human reason and human leaders today!
Did you know that the Bible gives an example of this very kind of reasoning and its tragic results?
God REVEALS Where Human Reason Leads
The book of Judges gives a full, vivid and bloody account of human reason and human passions unrestrained — apostasy, insurrection, murder, whoredom, idolatry, war, rape, desolation and DEATH.
The reason?
It is mentioned TWICE in this book — so we get the point!
After the account of Samson's whoredoms, his captivity and his ultimate slaughter of thousands of Philistines, followed by an account of apostasy from the true religion, God inspired this statement: "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his OWN eyes" (Judges 17:6).
Again, after another tale of rape and murder, and the unequal and violent method of providing wives for the hapless Benjamites, God states: "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his OWN eyes" (Judges 21:25).
In like manner, when entire segments of the population begin to despise the governing authority in our land and do what is right in their OWN eyes — total ANARCHY and unrestrained violence, rape, robbery and DEATH will be the sure result!
We need to LEARN how practical the Bible teaching is for our day!
What Lies AHEAD?
Speaking to the modern British and American peoples, God says through Ezekiel: "Make a chain: for the land is full of BLOODY CRIMES, and the city is full of VIOLENCE. Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled" (Ezek. 7:23-24).
The foregoing prophecy — written over one hundred years after the previous punishment and captivity of the nation of Israelis referring specifically to what lies just ahead for our peoples! For the British and American people are definitely identified in Bible prophecy as the descendants of the so-called "Lost Ten Tribes of Israel" — the people referred to as "Israel" over and over again in Biblical prophecy. If you do not yet understand our national identity and its tremendous importance, write immediately for Mr. Armstrong's free booklet, "The United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy."
Through the general breakdown of law and order — with RACIAL VIOLENCE playing a key part — our people are preparing themselves for the worst national PUNISHMENT God has ever meted out to any peoples!
The Prophesied REVOLT of the Gentiles in Our Land
Notice God's statement in Deut. 28:43: "The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low!" The Hebrew word here translated "stranger" is clearly referring to the GENTILES or peoples of other races — who are living in the midst of modern-day Israel.
The Bible considers any non-Israelitish — or Gentile persona "stranger." Many Old Testament scriptures refer to the uncircumcised Gentiles as "strangers." [See Ex. 12:48; Num. 9:14; Deut. 17:15] In the class considered as "strangers" would be the TWENTY MILLION NEGROES, one-half million Indians, one million Orientals, one and one-half million Latins — plus any non-Israelitish Europeans.
The Negroes are the largest of the groups who are "strangers" in our land. Hence, any prophesied racial strife would naturally involve them!
But our racial crimes, our racial riots, and our other personal and civil LAWLESSNESS and strife are simply preparing the way to total defeat in World War III by WEAKENING the national fiber of our peoples — and by promoting the SIN for which God intends to punish our nations!
What YOU Should Do
The true Christian should take NO PART in the coming racial strife and violence, one way or the other.
Rather, he should follow Jesus' example, when He said, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from hence" (John 18:36). When you read the Bible account, you will see that Christ took NO PART in the politics or wars of His time. He came to love and serve His fellow man, and preach a Message of OBEDIENCE to the laws of God. He taught respect and submission to the laws of man as long as human kingdoms are allowed by God to continue governing.
God tells the true Christian to remain APART from this world's societies, competitions and hates. Through the Apostle Paul, He commands: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (II Cor. 6:17-18).
So the attitude of the true Christian is that of a stranger and pilgrim on the earth, looking for a city or nation whose Builder and Maker is God (Heb. 11:13-16). "For our citizenship [correct Greek rendering] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 2:20).
The true Christian is here on earth as a REPRESENTATIVE of the Kingdom of God which will soon come to earth. For Jesus Christ is soon to be established as King of kings and Lord of lords over ALL races, nations and peoples!
Prepare for YOUR PART in God's GOVERNMENT
Our purpose and our prayers should be preparing for this Kingdom — learning to submit our will to that of our Maker — and learning His WAYS and His LAWS that we may teach them to others in the World Tomorrow.
Man is utterly FAILING to solve the race problem. But it WILL be solved with justice, wisdom and love — when Jesus Christ returns to RULE this earth!
You need to prove to yourself the REALITY of God and His living laws. Practicing obedience as a way of life, you will be able to say with David: "Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments halt made me wiser than my enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation" (Ps. 119:97-99).
Then, in the World Tomorrow, we will help rule this earth with Christ (Rev. 5:9-10) and teach the people of this earth GOD'S way to peace, equality and joy. "And we will walk in his paths: for the LAW shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Micah 4:2-3).
God speed that day!