Long Island Abundant Life Church 長島豐盛生命教會
  • Home
  • About Us 關於教會
    • Mission Statement - 使命宣言
    • Statement of Faith - 信仰立場
    • Biblical Marriage - 合乎聖經的婚姻
    • Church Leadership - 教會同工
    • Directions - 路線圖
    • Documents - 表格與文件下載
    • Contact Us - 聯絡我們
    • Ministry openings
  • Chinese Ministry 華語事工
    • 崇拜
    • 講道集 >
      • 主日信息
      • 特會 / 講座
    • 主日學
    • 門訓小組 >
      • 門訓小組介紹
    • 團契
    • 讀經
  • English Ministry 英文事工
  • Youth 少年事工
    • Worship
    • Sunday School
    • Youth Fellowship
    • Events
    • Our Vision
    • Connect with Us
    • Parent Resources
    • Youth Prayer Requests
  • Children's Ministry 兒童事工
    • Children's Worship - 兒童崇拜 >
      • Children's Songs - 歌曲
      • Junior Worship, Archive - 學習內容
      • Junior Worship, Current - 學習內容
      • Preschool Worship, Archive - 幼兒崇拜
    • Sunday School - 主日學 >
      • Preschool - 低年級
      • Middlers, Current - 高年級
      • Elementary, Archive - 高年級
    • VBS-特别暑期聖經班 >
      • EVENTS- 特別活動
    • Nursery - 幼兒照顧
    • Resources - 資源
  • Missions/Evangelism 宣教/佈道
    • Global Mission 全球宣教
    • Missions Ministry 宣教事工
  • Chinese School 中文學校
  • Church Activities / News / Calendar 教會活動 / 消息 / 行事曆
    • Special/urgent 特別/緊急
    • Calendar 教會行事曆
    • Bulletin 週報
    • Archive 檔案 >
      • Pray for Hindus 2018 為印度人禱告
      • Seek God 2019 尋求神
      • Misc. 其他
  • Chinese Student Ministry 学生事工
    • Campus Ministry 校园事工
    • CSF 衣
    • CSF 食
    • CSF 住
    • CSF 行
  • Links 资源鏈接
  Long Island Abundant Life Church 長島豐盛生命教會

Titus 2–3

11/8/2012

 
Click here to read today's passage on Bible Gateway.

I Pledge Allegiance...
A timely passage for today.  I don't usually get involved in things like this, especially on this blog, which is focused on Bible study, not issues, but as I said, our reading for today is very timely.  Here's  quick reminder of some of what the Bible has to say about us and our relationship to our governing authorities:

Titus 3:1
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work...


Romans 13:1

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

1 Peter 2:13-15
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

1 Timothy 2:1-2
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

It's pretty clear:  no matter what you think or who you voted for, be subject to those who rule over you, be submissive, pray for them. 

Our country happens to have systems in place to register/make know our opinions if we disagree with the government.  Make use of those:  write your congressman if you feel strongly enough.  But please consider that snide remarks spoken between friends or in your home are not fitting for the people of God.  We as citizens of the US have the right of free speech, but we as citizens of the Kingdom are restrained by wise and God-honoring speech.  Nothing you say is private, because God always knows.  Seek to honor and pray for our leaders.  Know these passages and consider them before you speak.

That being said, there are much larger issues at hand.  It's easy in an election year to get caught up in the process, in opinions and results.  Sadly, every four years I see many Christians acting and speaking in ways that are definitely not honoring to God or to their neighbors.  We would do well to remember that our salvation will never come through an elected official.  It will never come from a "Christian America".  It won't come through laws, though there are issues and ideas that are very important.  God is in control of all things and we are ultimately foreigners in this country and this world anyway.

I pledge allegiance to a King.  I am a citizen of a Kingdom that is not of this world.

Thanks to Derek Webb for a great song that reminds us of this.  Pay particular attention to the chorus, which is so important to remember at a time like this:
A King, A Kingdom by Derek Webb

Who's your brother, who's your sister
You just walked passed him
I think you missed her
As we're all migrating to a place where our Father lives
Because we married in to a family of immigrants

So my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man

My first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
It's to a King & a Kingdom

There are two great lies that I’ve heard

“The day you eat of the fruit of that tree, you will not surely die”
And that Jesus Christ was a white, middle-class republican
And if you wanna be saved you have to learn to be like Him

So my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man

My first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
It's to a King & a Kingdom

But nothing unifies like a common enemy

And we’ve got one, sure as hell
He may be living in your house
He may be raising up your kids
He may be sleeping with your wife
Oh no, he may not look like you think


Thoughts?  Comments?  Questions on the song or anything else?
Rachel Vruggink
11/8/2012 04:09:34 am

Good thoughts! :)

Josiah
11/11/2012 01:26:35 pm

Could you explain this section a little bit: "As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him"

Greg
11/16/2012 04:23:41 am

It has to do with the church. If someone is constantly trying to rip apart the church, don't associate with them. If need be, they may come under church discipline as well.


Comments are closed.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.