Navigating Faith and Authority in Today's Culture

Devotional

Day 1: Navigating God-Ordained Authorities

God-ordained authorities are not always God-honoring, and this can be perplexing. However, God's sovereignty means He works all things for our good and His purposes, even when leaders act contrary to His will. This understanding helps us navigate the tension between respecting authority and recognizing its flaws. We see this in the life of the Apostle Paul, who submitted to governing authorities even when they were unjust, trusting that God was ultimately in control. This perspective allows us to maintain our faith and integrity even in challenging political climates. [17:31]

Romans 13:1-2 (ESV): "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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."

Reflection: Think of a current leader or authority figure you struggle to respect. How can you trust God's sovereignty and pray for this person today?

Day 2: Generational Faithfulness and Discipleship

As a church, we must focus on generational faithfulness and discipleship. This involves equipping our children and grandchildren to navigate a culture and political context that is increasingly divergent from our own. Preparing them for both receptive and hostile environments is crucial for their spiritual resilience. We must teach them to stand firm in their faith, whether they find themselves in a "Nathan culture," where leaders are receptive to God's word, or a "John the Baptist culture," where leaders are hostile. This preparation will help them remain steadfast in their faith regardless of the cultural climate. [19:29]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Reflection: How can you intentionally teach and model faithfulness to the next generation in your daily life?

Day 3: Living Distinctively Christian Lives Locally

While we have responsibilities to the state and nation, our primary concern should be our immediate community. Living distinctively Christian lives in our local context can have a significant impact. We should seek to influence, be salt and light, and speak prophetically to those in authority. By focusing on our local community, we can create a ripple effect that extends beyond our immediate surroundings. This local engagement allows us to build relationships and demonstrate the love of Christ in tangible ways. [40:37]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can be a light in your local community this week?

Day 4: Engaging with Governing Authorities

There are two paradigms for engaging with governing authorities: the Nathan culture, where leaders are receptive to God's word, and the John the Baptist culture, where leaders are hostile. We must prepare ourselves and the next generation for both scenarios, understanding that our engagement may lead to different outcomes. By recognizing these paradigms, we can approach our interactions with wisdom and discernment, knowing when to speak boldly and when to act with caution. This preparation helps us remain faithful to God's calling regardless of the response we receive from those in power. [33:27]

1 Kings 18:17-18 (ESV): "When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, 'Is it you, you troubler of Israel?' And he answered, 'I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.'"

Reflection: How can you prepare yourself to engage with governing authorities in a way that honors God, regardless of their receptiveness?

Day 5: Moral Reasoning and Public Square Engagement

We must teach our young people to engage in moral reasoning and to bring both common grace and revealed grace into the public square. While we cannot impose Christianity on others, we can argue for scriptural admonitions and moral truths, understanding that these are grounded in God's design for humanity. This engagement requires us to be well-versed in both biblical principles and the cultural context in which we live. By doing so, we can effectively communicate God's truth in a way that resonates with those around us. [46:22]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Reflection: What is one area of public life where you can bring God's truth and grace today? How can you prepare yourself to engage in this area effectively?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good evening, everyone. Tonight, we continue our reflections on the Christian attitude toward government, a topic we began this morning. We delved into Romans 13, focusing on the sovereignty of God as the foundation for our understanding of political authority. However, having a foundation is just the beginning; we must build upon it, especially as we consider generational faithfulness and discipleship. We need to equip our children and grandchildren to navigate a culture and political context that is increasingly divergent from what we grew up with.

One key point is that God-ordained authorities are not always God-honoring. This can be confusing because we often see leaders who act in ways that are contrary to God's will. Yet, God's sovereignty means He works all things together for our good and His purposes, even when it doesn't seem that way. We looked at examples from 2 Chronicles and the life of the Apostle Paul to illustrate this point.

We also discussed the importance of preparing the next generation for engagement with the culture and government. There are two paradigms for this: the Nathan culture, where leaders are receptive to God's word, and the John the Baptist culture, where leaders are hostile. We need to prepare our young people for the possibility of both scenarios.

Finally, we talked about the importance of living distinctively Christian lives in our local context. While we have responsibilities to the state and nation, our first concern should be our immediate community. We should seek to influence, be salt and light, and speak prophetically to those in authority. We must also teach our young people to engage in moral reasoning and to bring both common grace and revealed grace into the public square.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Ordained Authorities and Their Actions**: God-ordained authorities are not always God-honoring, and this can be perplexing. However, God's sovereignty means He works all things for our good and His purposes, even when leaders act contrary to His will. This understanding helps us navigate the tension between respecting authority and recognizing its flaws. [17:31]
2. Generational Faithfulness and Discipleship: As a church, we must focus on generational faithfulness and discipleship. This involves equipping our children and grandchildren to navigate a culture and political context that is increasingly divergent from our own. Preparing them for both receptive and hostile environments is crucial for their spiritual resilience.

3. Living Distinctively Christian Lives Locally: While we have responsibilities to the state and nation, our primary concern should be our immediate community. Living distinctively Christian lives in our local context can have a significant impact. We should seek to influence, be salt and light, and speak prophetically to those in authority.

4. Engaging with Governing Authorities: There are two paradigms for engaging with governing authorities: the Nathan culture, where leaders are receptive to God's word, and the John the Baptist culture, where leaders are hostile. We must prepare ourselves and the next generation for both scenarios, understanding that our engagement may lead to different outcomes.

5. Moral Reasoning and Public Square Engagement: We must teach our young people to engage in moral reasoning and to bring both common grace and revealed grace into the public square. While we cannot impose Christianity on others, we can argue for scriptural admonitions and moral truths, understanding that these are grounded in God's design for humanity.

### [17:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[15:50] - Introduction to Christian Attitude Toward Government
[16:16] - Building on the Foundation of God's Sovereignty
[17:31] - God-Ordained Authorities Not Always God-Honoring
[19:29] - Equipping the Next Generation
[20:17] - Example of Amaziah in 2 Chronicles
[23:16] - Jeremiah's Prophecies
[25:40] - Apostle Paul's Submission to Authority
[27:09] - Clement's Account of Paul's Martyrdom
[33:27] - Nathan vs. John the Baptist Culture
[40:37] - Living Distinctively Christian Lives Locally
[46:22] - Moral Reasoning and Public Square Engagement
[51:18] - Prayer for Equipping the Next Generation
[54:39] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Romans 13:1-7, what is the Christian's responsibility towards governing authorities?
In 2 Chronicles 25:20, why did Amaziah refuse to listen to good counsel, and what was the consequence?
How does Jeremiah 29:11 provide hope to the people of Judah during a time of distress?
What are the two paradigms for engaging with governing authorities mentioned in the sermon? ([33:27])

Interpretation Questions

How does understanding that God-ordained authorities are not always God-honoring help Christians navigate their relationship with political leaders? ([17:31])
What does the example of Amaziah in 2 Chronicles 25:20 teach us about the consequences of ignoring godly counsel?
How can the promise in Jeremiah 29:11 be reconciled with the harsh reality described in Jeremiah 18:11? ([23:16])
What are the implications of living in a "Nathan culture" versus a "John the Baptist culture" for Christians today? ([33:27])

Application Questions

Reflecting on Romans 13:1-7, how can you show respect for governing authorities while also recognizing their flaws? What practical steps can you take to balance this tension in your daily life?
Considering the example of Amaziah in 2 Chronicles 25:20, have there been times when you ignored wise counsel? What were the consequences, and how can you seek to listen better in the future?
Jeremiah 29:11 offers a promise of hope. How can you hold onto this promise during challenging times in your life? What specific actions can you take to remind yourself of God's plans for you?
The sermon mentioned the importance of preparing the next generation for both receptive and hostile environments. How can you contribute to this preparation within your family or church community? ([19:29])
Living distinctively Christian lives locally was emphasized in the sermon. What are some ways you can be salt and light in your immediate community? ([40:37])
How can you engage in moral reasoning and bring both common grace and revealed grace into the public square? Identify one specific issue where you can apply this approach. ([46:22])
Reflect on the two paradigms for engaging with governing authorities. Which paradigm do you think is more prevalent in your current context, and how can you prepare yourself and others for both scenarios? ([33:27])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "God works all things together for our good and for his purposes. And I wanted to give you a couple of examples as we think this through tonight. I've got basically two things I want to talk about tonight. First is just this idea of understanding that God ordained authorities are not always God honoring." [19:04] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We take refuge in the Lord and he is our great defender. So the just a couple of thoughts here on on this possible way forward. What should we seek to do. In light of not only Romans 3 or 13 you know where it's saying you know render honor render reverence. Well we should seek to influence to the degree that we can we have to be wise there we only got so many hours in the day we've only got so many resources." [39:05] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "One of the most important things we can do for the world that the Lord has put us in is to seek to live a distinctively Christian life. And a salt and light sort of a life in Henderson. Kentucky. OK. In your zip code right here we have responsibilities to the state and to the nation and even to the world but our first investment our first concern is right here right now and it's the place where we can do often the most good." [40:37] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We need to speak prophetically to rulers and those in authority. And to the degree that we have we can and in the ways that we have in front of us to be able to rebuke them for unrighteousness. And to warn them of judgment. Because as we read this morning as we saw this morning we've got a lot of people in. Halls of authority. Who are not in any way thinking about the. The reckoning that is coming for them." [41:43] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We shouldn't having said all this we can't expect heaven on earth. Okay we pray your will be done your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. But that waits for the final culmination at the end of time. Part of the reason Paul was writing what he was writing in the verses that we read this morning is that God he wants to assure. The Roman citizens who are in the capital city of the empire many of these people probably had. Connections they knew people who were you know it's like being in Washington everybody's connected to the government somehow." [49:37] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "God ordained authorities are not always God honoring And that is very important In fact that's why This is a very tense issue for us If everything we saw Presidents, princes, and kings do Was perfectly in alignment With God's will Then that would reduce Our problems greatly Now we still would have Some problems Because we're sinners But if everything they did Was like just from Tablets of stone from on high Then we once again Our problems would be Greatly diminished." [17:31] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "It's important for us to realize That God works all things together For our good And for his purposes And I wanted to give you A couple of examples As we think this through tonight I've got basically two things I want to talk about tonight First is just this idea Of understanding that God Ordained authorities Are not always God honoring And then the second one Is to try and just lay A couple of markers out there As we think about equipping Especially like our young students Coming up and saying How should we try to help them Prepare to think through Their engagement." [19:04] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We need to be helping not only ourselves but those who are going to grow up in this culture that we are entering into and to help them be as bold as John if we if we think let them think listen you're in a Nathan culture when you bring God's word into the public square everybody's going to clap and patch on the back but yet we're actually in a John the Baptist culture we are not preparing them well we're not preparing them well we're not preparing them well." [37:16] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We are not restricted in our moral reasoning or what we bring to the public square if you will to just general revelation that any Hindu Muslim or anyone could agree with although that's helpful for us to understand where those circles are right we are also able to bring revealed grace or special revelation it is okay to argue for scriptural admonitions and the public square." [46:22] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We know that God knows how we're built. God knows what marriage is God knows what a man is God knows what a woman is and he's told us those things very clearly he's told us a lot of other things. And if we bring those insights into the public square. You know we don't necessarily have to tell them where we got them from. They go wow that's that's impressive. Like yeah I know it is I didn't come up with it but I heard a guy. I heard a guy tell me something." [49:37] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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