it back passively and allow evil to continue? No, we are to rebel. As Martin Luther said, "I can no longer stand idly by and merely watch my ungracious lords and angry princes. I must resist then."God makes one distinction in regards to rebellion. That is, rebellion can never be done for personal gain, but only for the good of our neighbor. Groups can rebel against injustice, but individuals are to turn the other cheek because rebellion due to a personal injustice roots itself in selfish ambition. Rebellion to protect another person, however, is rooted in love and selflessness. Nowhere in the Bible does God advocate sitting idle while our brothers die and are persecuted. Like Edmond Burke once said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
1 comment:
Good stuff Nate-o-Rama:
The only thing I would change is possibly the perspective. The "universal good" should more accurately be called "for the Glory of Christ" which, in the end is the univeral good. But that doesn't always mean that we, sinful and self centered children, always see the outcome of rebellion against an earthbound authority as universally good. Our limited vision obscures our ability to see the "universal good" if we only consider the "good of humans, or of our selves". Consider Peter and John who testified in to the council in Jerusalem. Thier answer when ordered to never teach about Jesus was clearly defiant. "Do you thinkGod wants us to obey you or to obey him? We cannot keep quit about what we have seen and heard."
Peter and John knew that their personal "universal good" was in grave danger, and that proved to be profetic in relation to thier earthly outcomes. But their objective was to Glorify the name of Jesus, by speaking in Truth. Universally that was good. Only by maintaining an objective of glorifying God can we even see the "universal good".
Peace & Love
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