WEBVTT

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 Well, today as we come to the Word of God, we're looking back to something we skipped

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 over from Titus chapter 3 verse 1.

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 And we're going to tackle this difficult subject of how we, as followers of Jesus, should relate

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 to the government.

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 We're in Titus chapter 3 verse 1 and Jesus is speaking through the Apostle Paul to Titus

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 and he says this, remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient.

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 Second, we have this tendency to disobey.

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 We have this tendency to break the law or at least to want to, to go against the rules.

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 We inherited this from Adam and it's so deeply embedded in us that even today, whenever a

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 new law is made that in any way restricts our freedom, there's that little voice inside

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 of us that just hates it.

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 Don't tell me what to do.

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 And we're tempted.

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 What would happen if I just don't do it?

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 Why is it that the forbidden is so alluring?

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 The answer, according to the Bible, is because it's forbidden and we are rebels by nature.

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 And so when we come to these instructions that are given to us in Titus chapter 3 verse 1,

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 we're naturally disinclined to accept them.

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 Don't tell me this, Pastor Josh.

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 I'm not listening.

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 I don't want to be accountable to this.

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 But these are the very words of King Jesus to us.

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 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities.

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 To be obedient.

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 Do you feel the dislike for these words rising in your heart already?

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 Do you feel the inner lawyer emerging with a yes, but?

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 Yes, but?

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 Do you feel the inner weasel inside of you squirming to get away from the clear and obvious meaning

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 of these words?

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 He can't seriously mean that as a Christian, I must obey the government.

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 But what about?

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 But what if?

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 Can you feel the excuses rising to the surface?

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 There are a good many Christians who claim to stand on the word of God

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 and believe that every word of this Bible is inspired by God.

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 But when it comes to this verse and others like it,

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 it's as if they've made a few changes here.

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 Added a few exception clauses to the end.

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 Or for some, it's as if they've just stroked the phrase right out of their Bibles.

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 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities.

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 To be obedient.

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 And we make all kinds of excuses.

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 Maybe these instructions aren't for me.

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 Well, who are these instructions for?

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 As I pointed out a few weeks back,

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 these instructions are for all Christians, all believers.

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 That's who Paul is referring to when he says,

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 remind them.

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 Remind the people.

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 If we look back up just a few verses before this to chapter 2, verse 14,

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 he was saying,

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 Jesus Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness.

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 And he's just flowing right on.

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 So Titus, teach these things to them,

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 the redeemed of Jesus that are there on the island of Crete.

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 Who should be subject to rulers and authorities and be obedient to them?

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 Not only them, but also us.

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 All Christians.

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 All of us who have been redeemed by Christ and belong to him should be subject to rulers and authorities.

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 Excuse number two.

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 Maybe submit just means to kind of, you know, have a submissive attitude.

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 Well, let's look at what all Christians are to do here.

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 There are two infinitive verbs given.

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 And I'm going to put the most literal, hyper-literal translation on screen

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 so you can see the original word order here.

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 This is the original word order in the Greek language.

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 Remind them to rulers and authorities to submit, to obey.

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 This word order helps us see that both submit and obey are meant to be taken together here.

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 They are both together.

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 What we are to do to rulers and authorities.

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 All Christians are to submit and to obey.

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 These words kind of explain each other.

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 They're almost like the left and the right of a stereo speaker coming at you.

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 And they help us know a little bit of these two words, what each other means.

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 What does he mean by be subject or submit?

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 He means to be obedient to.

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 In other words, he's not just telling us to have a submissive attitude,

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 but to actually obey rulers and authorities.

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 And what does it mean to obey someone?

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 I'm going to open this one up to the kids.

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 What does it mean to obey your parents' kids?

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 To do what they say.

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 So then what does it mean to obey the government?

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 To do what they say.

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 It's that simple.

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 Great.

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 So we've got the who and we've got the what so far.

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 All Christians, all followers of Jesus are to submit, are to obey.

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 Excuse number three.

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 Well, who are these rulers and authorities anyway?

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 How can we submit to them if we don't even know what they are?

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 Rulers and authorities.

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 Why do you think Paul uses two words here to describe who we're to submit to today?

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 I think it's the stereo thing again.

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 It's the left and the right speakers.

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 Parallel words that help convey that this is a general command about how we're to treat various authority figures that we may have in our various situations.

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 He could have simply said, remind the people to be subject to the emperor.

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 Or he could have said, remind the people to be subject to your city mayor or your town magistrate.

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 But it's not just one particular person that he has in mind here.

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 It's not just one type of ruler or authority figure that he has in mind.

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 It's rulers, authorities, plural.

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 Rulers and authorities, plural.

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 This conveys that this is a general command about how we are to treat any of the various authority figures that we may have in our location.

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 Paul could have even listed out all the possible positions that he knew about on the island of Crete here where Titus is.

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 He could have said, be subject and obedient to your mayor, to your law enforcement officers, to the judges, to your regional governor, and to your emperor.

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 But then what if he had missed one in a particular town where they have another name for something?

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 You've got to know that those Christians would be saying, oh, well, look, I don't have to submit to my local leader

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 because it only says these ones.

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 And so rulers and authorities, plural.

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 It's a general whom that lets us know that this applies to all kinds of authorities that we may find ourselves under,

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 not just those of a certain type.

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 So let's put this all together.

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 The who, the what, and the to whom.

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 Jesus Christ, speaking through the Apostle Paul, is commanding Titus to remind the Christians,

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 all the Christians on the island of Crete, to be subject to and obey the rulers and authorities.

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 And at this point, it's worth thinking about what that meant to them back then.

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 Who were the rulers and authorities of these people in this time when this was written?

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 Well, Crete had a good number of cities and towns on this island.

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 And even though the islanders had a reputation of being lawless, of lying, cheating, stealing,

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 they did have government.

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 They did have local leaders and rulers.

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 They had people in positions of authority.

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 They likely had some kind of ruling council or judge or magistrate or mayor or governor

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 in each of the cities and towns on the island.

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 And then on top of that, there would have been the provincial governor.

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 Crete was under the rule of the Roman Empire.

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 And the whole island, plus a little bit in North Africa, were part of one province.

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 And so they would have had their own provincial governor.

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 If you think back to the land of Israel, during the time when Jesus walked the earth,

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 there was the Roman governor Pilate, who Jesus stood before.

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 Pilate was the governor of that whole province of Judea.

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 And here on Crete, they had a similar kind of role, a similar position.

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 A guy who ruled and had authority over the happenings of all the islanders.

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 And then, of course, over the whole Roman Empire, there was the emperor.

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 And in these days, the emperor was a dictator.

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 At this point in Roman history, the imperial cult was in full swing,

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 meaning that the emperor was deified.

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 And he was worshipped as a god.

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 So this is the historical and cultural situation of the Christians on the island of Crete.

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 And it's to these rulers and authorities that Jesus commands Titus

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 to remind the Christians to be subject to them and to obey them.

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 As Christians, Jesus wanted his followers to submit themselves to the rulers

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 and authorities of their day and to be obedient to them.

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 That's the who, the what, and the to whom of this instruction.

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 And it's important to notice.

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 Let's look at the whole first two verses here of chapter 3.

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 Is there a when?

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 Is there an if?

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 Is there an except?

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 Except.

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 Be subject to rulers and authorities.

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 Be obedient to them.

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 When?

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 If?

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 Except.

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 But.

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 However.

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 Unless.

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 No.

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 Now there is a biblical exception to this command.

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 But it's occasional enough.

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 It's rare enough that the general command to submit to

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 and to obey the governing authorities can be stated without the exception.

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 Paul didn't feel the need to mention the exception here.

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 In other words, the normal Christian life is to be one lived in submission

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 to human rulers and authorities.

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 The normal Christian life is to be one lived in obedience to human government.

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 And the exception, we're going to talk about it,

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 it's rare enough that it didn't need to be included

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 in Christ's general instructions about how his people should live.

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 Generally, they're to be peaceable.

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 They're to be considerate.

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 They're to slander no one.

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 They're always to be gentle toward everyone.

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 They're to be ready to do whatever is good.

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 They're to be subject to rulers and authorities

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 and obedient to them.

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 And yet, many Christians today do not hear these words.

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 They struggle to acknowledge this simple instruction from Jesus.

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 Instead of listening to it and accepting it,

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 we're tempted to go straight to the exception

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 and then from there to pile on a whole bunch more exceptions

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 and sometimes open that up so wide

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 that what's left of this straightforward and clear instruction

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 becomes absolutely irrelevant and meaningless to us.

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 Because we are sinners by nature,

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 we want to do what we want to do.

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 And who are you to tell me what to do?

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 And so we explain away, we diminish, we minimize these words.

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 And in so doing, we dishonor the Lord.

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 When it comes to rulers, authorities, government,

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 the law of our land,

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 this passage is telling us that as Christians,

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 we should be known generally as law-abiding citizens.

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 Not as rebels, not as protesters,

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 not as people who are always looking to subvert

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 or to undermine or sneak around the law.

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 We're to be known as people who,

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 regardless of what the culture is doing,

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 people who actually obey the law.

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 Now, we're going to look at some more exceptions,

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 some more excuses that Christians raise here

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 that are unbiblical.

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 But first, I want you to see just how clear this matter is

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 from a few other places in the Bible.

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 And we're going to stick with the New Testament,

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 even though you could see it in the Old Testament as well.

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 The first passage we'll look at is

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 what the Apostle Peter wrote in his letter.

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 He said,

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 Dear friends,

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 I urge you as foreigners and exiles

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 to abstain from sinful desires

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 which wage war against your soul.

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 Live such good lives among the pagans

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 that though they accuse you of doing wrong,

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 they may see your good deeds

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 and glorify God on the day he visits us.

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 Submit yourself for the Lord's sake

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 to every human authority,

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 whether to the emperor

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 as the supreme authority

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 or to governors

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 who are sent by him

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 to punish those who do wrong

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 and to commend those who do right.

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 For it is God's will

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 that by doing good

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 you should silence

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 the ignorant talk

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 of foolish people.

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 Live as free people,

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 but do not use your freedom

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 as a cover-up for evil.

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 Live as God's slaves.

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 Show proper respect to everyone.

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 Love the family of believers.

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 Fear God.

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 Honor the emperor.

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 So Peter commanded the believers

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 that were scattered throughout

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 the Roman provinces of Pontus,

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 Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia,

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 Bithynia

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 to submit themselves

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 to every human authority.

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 Even the highest human authority

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 on earth at the time,

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 which was the king

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 of the Roman Empire himself,

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 the emperor.

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 And to the governors

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 that he sent out

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 to each of those provinces.

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 Jesus wants his people

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 to submit to human authorities

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 and government

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 and to be obedient to them.

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 In Paul's letter to the Romans,

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 this is probably the longest passage

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 on the subject.

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 This is what he wrote

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 to the church in Rome.

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 He said,

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 Let everyone be subject

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 to the governing authorities.

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 For there is no authority

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 except that which God

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 has established.

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 The authorities that exist

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 have been established by God.

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 Consequently,

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 whoever rebels against

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 the authority

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 is rebelling against

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 what God has instituted.

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 And those who do so

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 will bring judgment

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 on themselves.

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 For rulers hold no terror

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 for those who do right,

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 but for those who do wrong.

00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:25.060
 Do you want to be free

00:16:25.060 --> 00:16:25.879
 from fear

00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:26.920
 of the one in authority?

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:28.480
 Then do what is right

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:30.080
 and you will be commended.

00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:32.340
 For the one in authority

00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:33.379
 is God's servant

00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.960
 for your good.

00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:37.420
 But if you do wrong,

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:39.080
 be afraid.

00:16:39.900 --> 00:16:41.620
 For rulers do not bear the sword

00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.900
 for no reason.

00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:44.940
 They are God's servants.

00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:46.920
 agents of wrath

00:16:46.920 --> 00:16:47.860
 to bring punishment

00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:49.040
 on the wrongdoer.

00:16:50.140 --> 00:16:50.480
 Therefore,

00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:51.320
 it is necessary

00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:52.860
 to submit to the authorities

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:54.340
 not only because

00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:55.400
 of possible punishment,

00:16:55.920 --> 00:16:57.240
 but also as a matter

00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:57.880
 of conscience.

00:16:58.840 --> 00:16:59.500
 This is also

00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:00.580
 why you pay taxes.

00:17:01.420 --> 00:17:02.200
 For the authorities

00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:03.460
 are God's servants

00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.980
 who give their full time

00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:05.519
 to governing.

00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:08.160
 Give to everyone

00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.100
 what you owe them.

00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:11.080
 If you owe taxes,

00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.200
 pay taxes.

00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:13.420
 If revenue,

00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:14.440
 then revenue.

00:17:15.080 --> 00:17:15.900
 If respect,

00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:17.300
 then respect.

00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:18.900
 If honor,

00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.300
 then honor.

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:22.960
 Now,

00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:23.740
 I'm not going to bring out

00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:24.360
 all the details

00:17:24.360 --> 00:17:25.080
 of this passage

00:17:25.080 --> 00:17:26.080
 or switch the sermon

00:17:26.080 --> 00:17:27.100
 over to this passage,

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:29.420
 but it's pretty clear

00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:30.140
 and straightforward.

00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:32.120
 Human authority,

00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:33.000
 human government

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.620
 is a thing

00:17:33.620 --> 00:17:34.480
 that God himself

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.220
 established

00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:36.039
 and ordained.

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:37.860
 He wants there to be

00:17:37.860 --> 00:17:38.759
 human government

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.560
 and authority.

00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:40.600
 And yes,

00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:42.279
 even in a fallen world,

00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:43.619
 even in a sinful world,

00:17:43.719 --> 00:17:44.379
 he wants it.

00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:46.899
 Human government

00:17:46.899 --> 00:17:47.699
 achieves

00:17:47.699 --> 00:17:49.480
 God's good purposes.

00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:52.379
 Some of his good purposes

00:17:52.379 --> 00:17:54.039
 for governing authorities

00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:55.899
 are to keep human evil

00:17:55.899 --> 00:17:56.599
 in check.

00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:59.779
 To see that wrongdoers

00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:00.679
 are punished.

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:03.079
 To see that tax revenues

00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:03.819
 are used

00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:04.539
 for the benefit

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.980
 of a society.

00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:09.660
 three times,

00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:10.339
 Paul says

00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:11.579
 that the one

00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.299
 in authority

00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.860
 is God's servant.

00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:15.980
 Which means

00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:16.960
 that they do things

00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:18.019
 for God.

00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.259
 And specifically

00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:21.259
 in verse 4,

00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:22.980
 he says,

00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:23.880
 the one in authority

00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:26.120
 is God's servant

00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:27.319
 for your good.

00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:31.000
 For your good.

00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:31.700
 That's you,

00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:33.200
 the Christians in Rome

00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:34.460
 who he's writing to.

00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:36.380
 For your good.

00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.220
 For your benefit.

00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:41.299
 Maybe the first

00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:42.100
 yeah but

00:18:42.100 --> 00:18:44.340
 is rising up here.

00:18:45.600 --> 00:18:46.420
 What about

00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:47.079
 when the person

00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:47.620
 in authority

00:18:47.620 --> 00:18:48.299
 is corrupt?

00:18:50.100 --> 00:18:51.340
 Here's another excuse

00:18:51.340 --> 00:18:51.940
 that we make.

00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.120
 Another unbiblical

00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:53.740
 exception

00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:55.620
 that we add

00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:57.220
 into the word of God.

00:18:58.819 --> 00:18:59.559
 Let everyone

00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:00.160
 be subject

00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.539
 to the governing authorities

00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:03.360
 except

00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:04.740
 when those authorities

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.379
 are corrupt

00:19:05.379 --> 00:19:06.179
 or immoral

00:19:06.179 --> 00:19:07.099
 or ungodly.

00:19:09.199 --> 00:19:10.319
 Is that what it says

00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:11.519
 in any of these

00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.179
 three passages?

00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.639
 Not in Titus,

00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:17.019
 not in 1 Peter,

00:19:17.139 --> 00:19:18.279
 not here in Romans 13.

00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:20.079
 Listen,

00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:21.559
 if a certain

00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.759
 morality

00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:24.079
 or integrity

00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.879
 or character

00:19:24.879 --> 00:19:25.539
 of the ruler

00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:26.279
 is required,

00:19:26.899 --> 00:19:27.319
 surely

00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:28.099
 Paul would have

00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:28.719
 said so here.

00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:30.419
 I mean,

00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.119
 Paul's writing

00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:31.759
 to Christians

00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:32.439
 in Rome.

00:19:33.399 --> 00:19:34.159
 Think of this.

00:19:34.459 --> 00:19:35.239
 This is the city

00:19:35.239 --> 00:19:35.619
 of Rome.

00:19:35.719 --> 00:19:36.379
 This is the very

00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:37.679
 heart of the Roman Empire.

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.739
 Who's in charge here?

00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:42.459
 It was the Roman

00:19:42.459 --> 00:19:43.379
 Emperor himself.

00:19:44.239 --> 00:19:45.199
 A man who

00:19:45.199 --> 00:19:46.239
 in the tradition

00:19:46.239 --> 00:19:47.319
 of Caesar Augustus

00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:48.799
 claimed to be a god

00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:51.119
 and worthy of worship.

00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:53.679
 None of the emperors

00:19:53.679 --> 00:19:54.759
 up until this point

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.799
 had been morally

00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:56.479
 virtuous

00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:58.799
 or men of integrity

00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:00.319
 or men of godly character.

00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.539
 In many cases,

00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:02.500
 they were brutal men.

00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:03.559
 Some of them

00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:04.259
 were responsible

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.299
 for persecuting

00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.039
 and even killing

00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:06.500
 Christians.

00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:09.160
 Look at what happened

00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:09.799
 with Pilate

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.920
 and Jesus.

00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:13.579
 Pilate handed Jesus

00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:14.660
 over to be crucified

00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:17.259
 after declaring

00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.220
 three times,

00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:19.860
 I find no basis

00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:20.480
 for a charge

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.039
 against him.

00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:23.200
 What kind of justice

00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:23.740
 is that?

00:20:24.620 --> 00:20:25.519
 That's corrupt.

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:29.099
 Jesus' point here

00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:29.860
 is not that

00:20:29.860 --> 00:20:30.940
 every human authority

00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:32.539
 that's good

00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:33.700
 is established

00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.400
 by God,

00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:35.839
 but that every

00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:36.720
 human authority,

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:37.620
 period,

00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.740
 is established

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.299
 by God

00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:40.799
 and serves

00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:41.680
 his good purposes.

00:20:42.360 --> 00:20:43.400
 Not perfectly,

00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:44.000
 of course,

00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.680
 but generally,

00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.400
 yes.

00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.539
 And so generally,

00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:48.860
 yes,

00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.920
 we are to submit

00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:50.819
 to and obey

00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:52.099
 the governing authorities

00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:52.720
 of our land.

00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.120
 I know that we tend

00:20:54.120 --> 00:20:54.819
 to want to run

00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.920
 to the exception here.

00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:58.220
 But before we run there,

00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.259
 let's consider,

00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:00.200
 let's think about

00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:01.400
 what points

00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:02.539
 in the story of God,

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:06.700
 where in God's story

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:09.120
 did he use flawed

00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:10.980
 and sinful human government

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:11.839
 to protect

00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:13.519
 and even serve

00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:15.920
 his own good purposes?

00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:18.539
 Think about the many times

00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:19.620
 when the Apostle Paul

00:21:19.620 --> 00:21:21.960
 was being viciously attacked

00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:24.980
 by his Jewish opponents

00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:26.279
 in various cities

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.759
 and towns.

00:21:26.860 --> 00:21:27.440
 How many times

00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:28.100
 was he rescued

00:21:28.100 --> 00:21:28.880
 from their grip

00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:30.600
 by civil servants,

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:32.940
 magistrates,

00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:34.620
 local government officials,

00:21:35.620 --> 00:21:36.380
 Roman soldiers?

00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:39.079
 How many times

00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:40.180
 did Paul's jail cell

00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:40.700
 for the night

00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.880
 save his life

00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:43.240
 from those

00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:43.819
 who would have

00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:44.579
 murdered him

00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:46.079
 had he not been

00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.720
 locked up

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.319
 and even protected

00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:50.039
 by the armed guard

00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:50.879
 outside the door?

00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:54.279
 And without Roman government,

00:21:54.399 --> 00:21:55.819
 would Paul's Roman citizenship

00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:57.159
 have done anything

00:21:57.159 --> 00:21:57.639
 for him?

00:21:58.639 --> 00:22:00.279
 On at least two occasions

00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:00.819
 we know of

00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:01.339
 in the scripture,

00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:03.500
 it was his protection,

00:22:03.679 --> 00:22:04.059
 it was his

00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:05.259
 get-out-of-jail-free card.

00:22:06.939 --> 00:22:07.720
 God used

00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:08.659
 the Roman government

00:22:08.659 --> 00:22:09.859
 and the judicial system

00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:10.539
 in Judea,

00:22:10.679 --> 00:22:11.679
 corrupt as it was,

00:22:11.899 --> 00:22:13.419
 to protect Paul

00:22:13.419 --> 00:22:14.279
 from the Jews

00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:15.500
 who were plotting

00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:16.980
 to kill him

00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.940
 in Jerusalem.

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.799
 God used the government

00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.619
 to give Paul

00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:21.859
 a detachment

00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:23.180
 of 200 soldiers,

00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.420
 70 horsemen

00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:25.700
 and 200 spearmen

00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:26.779
 to safely lead him

00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.660
 out of Jerusalem

00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.740
 to another city.

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.639
 And then on top of that,

00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.240
 Paul was given

00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.480
 trial after trial.

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.599
 God used the government

00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.559
 to see that Jesus

00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.279
 was proclaimed

00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:38.440
 to all these people.

00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:41.819
 And then God used

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:43.339
 the government,

00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:44.319
 the Roman law,

00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:45.819
 to see that Paul

00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:46.539
 was guaranteed

00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.559
 safe passage

00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.379
 to Rome.

00:22:49.459 --> 00:22:50.419
 And when he got

00:22:50.419 --> 00:22:50.899
 to Rome,

00:22:51.619 --> 00:22:53.179
 God used the government

00:22:53.179 --> 00:22:54.259
 to protect him

00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:55.139
 until the trial

00:22:55.139 --> 00:22:55.919
 so that he could

00:22:55.919 --> 00:22:57.099
 proclaim the gospel

00:22:57.099 --> 00:22:58.899
 without hindrance.

00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.099
 Now yes,

00:23:02.199 --> 00:23:03.119
 Christians were killed

00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:04.159
 by Roman emperors

00:23:04.159 --> 00:23:05.059
 and history has it

00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:05.859
 that Paul himself

00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:07.099
 was later executed

00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:08.559
 by a Roman emperor.

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.939
 But that doesn't change

00:23:10.939 --> 00:23:12.220
 the straightforward command

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:14.360
 that Christ has

00:23:14.360 --> 00:23:15.319
 for his people

00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:17.279
 in these passages.

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.420
 Remind the people

00:23:20.420 --> 00:23:21.200
 to be subject

00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:21.779
 to rulers

00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:23.200
 and authorities,

00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:25.380
 to be obedient.

00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:27.980
 Look at Jesus'

00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:29.000
 own life and teaching.

00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:29.740
 Think about it.

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.720
 What was he like

00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.220
 with respect

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.259
 to the governing authorities?

00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:33.799
 Was he a rebel?

00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:36.200
 Was he an insurrectionist?

00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:38.779
 He was the rightful

00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.559
 king of Israel,

00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:41.480
 chosen by God himself,

00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:42.640
 and yet he did not

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.559
 resist the governing

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.160
 authorities.

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:45.819
 In fact,

00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:46.680
 Peter says that

00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:47.840
 he's the example

00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:48.400
 to follow

00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:49.799
 when he describes

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.880
 how it's commendable

00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:52.500
 to bear up

00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.700
 under unjust suffering.

00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:57.380
 They tried to trap

00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:58.519
 Jesus over the issue

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.980
 of paying taxes.

00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:00.920
 Do you remember this?

00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:03.039
 Was Jesus loyal

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.680
 to God

00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:06.620
 or to the imperial cult?

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:09.560
 And what did Jesus say?

00:24:12.060 --> 00:24:12.980
 He said,

00:24:13.340 --> 00:24:14.220
 render to Caesar

00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:16.320
 what belongs to Caesar.

00:24:17.840 --> 00:24:19.400
 Pay your taxes.

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:22.440
 On another occasion,

00:24:22.580 --> 00:24:23.660
 the temple tax collectors

00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.180
 came around

00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:24.800
 to collect

00:24:24.800 --> 00:24:26.140
 the temple tax,

00:24:26.340 --> 00:24:27.480
 and this is a tremendously

00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.420
 helpful passage

00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:29.940
 in Matthew chapter 17.

00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:32.519
 They came to get

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.880
 some tax from Jesus,

00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.920
 and did Jesus

00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.920
 agree with the tax?

00:24:37.600 --> 00:24:38.560
 He has this little

00:24:38.560 --> 00:24:40.240
 conversation with Peter,

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:42.480
 which basically

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:44.920
 reveals that no,

00:24:45.100 --> 00:24:45.759
 he didn't think

00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.860
 that the tax was right.

00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:49.640
 He didn't agree with it.

00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.840
 It was ill-conceived.

00:24:51.600 --> 00:24:52.279
 But what did he say

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.120
 to Peter at the end

00:24:53.120 --> 00:24:54.060
 of that little discussion?

00:24:55.140 --> 00:24:56.100
 Chapter 17,

00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.860
 verse 27.

00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:58.120
 He said,

00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.019
 but so that we may

00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.920
 not cause offense,

00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:01.120
 go to the lake

00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:01.980
 and throw out your line,

00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.360
 take the first fish

00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:03.940
 you catch,

00:25:04.340 --> 00:25:05.060
 open its mouth,

00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:05.560
 and you'll find

00:25:05.560 --> 00:25:06.660
 a four drachma coin.

00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:07.740
 Take it

00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:09.180
 and give it to them

00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:10.440
 for my tax

00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.460
 and yours.

00:25:12.300 --> 00:25:13.480
 Now we like to focus

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.360
 on the miracle there,

00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.500
 and it's a wonderful miracle,

00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:16.920
 but let's notice today

00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:18.180
 the stuff around it.

00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.240
 What was Jesus'

00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.080
 response here?

00:25:21.800 --> 00:25:23.100
 So that we may not

00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:23.820
 cause offense,

00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.660
 pay the tax anyway.

00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:27.980
 This is another excuse

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.980
 that we sometimes make,

00:25:29.060 --> 00:25:30.080
 another unbiblical

00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:31.120
 exception clause

00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:31.880
 that we add

00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:33.360
 to Christ's clear teaching

00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:34.000
 about submitting

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.040
 to governing authorities.

00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:36.220
 We say,

00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:36.779
 well,

00:25:36.820 --> 00:25:37.980
 if the law is unjust,

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:39.640
 or if the law is unfair,

00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:41.640
 or ill-conceived,

00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.820
 or just plain stupid,

00:25:43.560 --> 00:25:44.240
 then we don't need

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:44.840
 to obey it.

00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:47.820
 But even Jesus himself

00:25:47.820 --> 00:25:48.560
 paid a tax

00:25:48.560 --> 00:25:49.900
 he deemed ill-conceived,

00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:52.880
 so that we may not

00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.960
 cause offense,

00:25:55.280 --> 00:25:57.220
 pay the tax.

00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:59.340
 We can disagree

00:25:59.340 --> 00:26:00.080
 with the laws,

00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:02.200
 Jesus did,

00:26:02.780 --> 00:26:04.120
 but we're not free

00:26:04.120 --> 00:26:05.160
 to just disobey them

00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:05.920
 just because we

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.759
 disagree with them.

00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.519
 Another unbiblical

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.840
 excuse that some make

00:26:11.840 --> 00:26:14.940
 a reason given

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.880
 for why we don't need

00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:16.640
 to submit to

00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:18.300
 the governing authorities

00:26:18.300 --> 00:26:19.480
 is that as a Christian,

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:20.420
 there's only one

00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:21.380
 who has authority

00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:21.920
 over me,

00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:23.720
 and it's Jesus.

00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:24.900
 He is the head

00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.519
 of the church.

00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:27.700
 There's only one Lord,

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.400
 one King,

00:26:28.860 --> 00:26:29.799
 one head of the church,

00:26:29.900 --> 00:26:30.799
 and therefore the government

00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.900
 has no jurisdiction

00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:32.519
 over me.

00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:35.900
 But this is faulty logic.

00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:37.759
 Absolutely,

00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.700
 Christ is the head

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.259
 of the church.

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.700
 He is the Lord.

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.920
 He is the King of Kings.

00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:44.860
 And he has told us

00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:46.120
 through his apostles

00:26:46.120 --> 00:26:48.559
 to obey human government.

00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:51.259
 If you think that there's

00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:52.720
 only one authority over you,

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:54.220
 and that's Jesus,

00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:56.420
 you're living in a Christian fantasy.

00:26:57.839 --> 00:26:59.700
 Jesus is the ultimate authority,

00:26:59.860 --> 00:27:00.039
 yes,

00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:01.160
 but if you are a child,

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:02.880
 he commands you

00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:03.860
 to obey your parents,

00:27:04.860 --> 00:27:06.019
 to submit to their authority.

00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:07.079
 If you're a bondservant,

00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:08.400
 he expects you to fulfill

00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:10.299
 your contractual obligations

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:11.640
 to your master

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:12.519
 and submit to him

00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:15.200
 as one under authority.

00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.140
 If you're a wife,

00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.279
 he commands you

00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:18.779
 to submit to your husband

00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:20.519
 as the head of your home,

00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:21.220
 just as Christ

00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:22.200
 is the head of the church.

00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:24.759
 And no matter who you are,

00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.500
 if you're a Christian,

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.840
 Christ commands you

00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:28.019
 to submit to your leaders

00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:29.019
 in the church.

00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:30.700
 Hebrews chapter 13,

00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.460
 verse 17.

00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:34.240
 And no matter who you are,

00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:35.019
 if you're a Christian,

00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:37.360
 he commands you

00:27:37.360 --> 00:27:38.660
 to submit to the rulers

00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:39.980
 and authorities of the land,

00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.819
 just as we've seen

00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:41.980
 in every one

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.740
 of these passages.

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:44.279
 And so saying,

00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:45.319
 I don't have to submit

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:45.980
 to the government

00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:47.319
 or obey the law

00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:48.420
 because Christ

00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:49.339
 is the head of the church

00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:50.519
 is just faulty logic.

00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:52.180
 It's totally unbiblical.

00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:56.220
 Another unbiblical excuse

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:58.279
 that we sometimes make,

00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.559
 we should only submit

00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:01.279
 to the law

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:03.359
 if the law

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:05.000
 is constitutional.

00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.579
 This is a devious

00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:09.059
 and clever sounding excuse

00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:10.559
 that we sometimes

00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:11.120
 come up with.

00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:11.599
 Essentially,

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.339
 it's argued that

00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:13.099
 the law that's being

00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:13.740
 put in place,

00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:13.919
 well,

00:28:13.959 --> 00:28:14.779
 it's not a good law.

00:28:15.199 --> 00:28:16.599
 It's a bad law

00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.619
 because it goes against

00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:18.639
 the Charter of Rights

00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:19.179
 and Freedoms,

00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:20.079
 the Canadian Charter

00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:20.939
 of Rights and Freedoms.

00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:22.759
 And I think there's

00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.419
 a certain appeal

00:28:23.419 --> 00:28:25.259
 to this line of thinking.

00:28:25.439 --> 00:28:26.119
 Many will say,

00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:27.000
 well,

00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:28.559
 by disobeying this new law,

00:28:28.639 --> 00:28:28.859
 I mean,

00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:29.980
 I'm actually doing good.

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:32.179
 I'm standing up

00:28:32.179 --> 00:28:33.299
 for the Charter

00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:34.139
 of Rights and Freedoms.

00:28:34.199 --> 00:28:34.619
 This is like

00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:35.500
 a righteous thing

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.079
 that I'm doing,

00:28:36.459 --> 00:28:37.339
 protesting this

00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.679
 by disobeying it,

00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.539
 by breaking it.

00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.619
 It's going to help

00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:42.119
 expose just how bad

00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:42.799
 a law it is,

00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:44.059
 how unconstitutional

00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.719
 it is.

00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:48.279
 But this is another failure

00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:49.479
 to submit to the clear,

00:28:49.959 --> 00:28:51.159
 straightforward command

00:28:51.159 --> 00:28:51.759
 of Christ

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:53.359
 to submit to authorities.

00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:54.859
 And to see this,

00:28:54.919 --> 00:28:55.719
 I think we need to just

00:28:55.719 --> 00:28:57.619
 take this passage

00:28:57.619 --> 00:28:58.219
 and apply it

00:28:58.219 --> 00:28:59.819
 to our own context today.

00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.859
 Who is the ruler

00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:04.839
 of Canada

00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:07.459
 that we have to submit to?

00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:13.460
 Anyone brave enough to...

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:16.819
 We're so confused

00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.740
 about our own government.

00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:18.840
 It's so complex.

00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:22.039
 But how can we be obedient

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.660
 to this command

00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.799
 if we don't even understand

00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:25.039
 how our own government works?

00:29:27.600 --> 00:29:28.019
 Admittedly,

00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:29.220
 we do have a complicated

00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:29.940
 form of government

00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:30.440
 in Canada.

00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:31.539
 The Prime Minister

00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:32.819
 is not the ruler

00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:33.360
 of Canada.

00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:35.880
 He's a member

00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:36.460
 of Parliament.

00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.380
 who represents

00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:39.120
 his riding.

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:41.100
 And he is the head

00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:41.700
 of the government,

00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:43.220
 but he has limited power

00:29:43.220 --> 00:29:44.600
 as such,

00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:46.240
 except in the case

00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:46.880
 of emergencies.

00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:49.340
 So this is your opportunity

00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:50.640
 to breathe a sigh of relief.

00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:52.340
 You do not have to do

00:29:52.340 --> 00:29:53.480
 whatever the Prime Minister

00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:53.960
 says.

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.620
 Technically speaking,

00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.779
 the ruler of our land

00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:59.920
 is King Charles.

00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:03.160
 We are a constitutional monarchy.

00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:04.440
 Pretty soon,

00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:05.300
 it will be his face

00:30:05.300 --> 00:30:05.920
 that you'll see

00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:07.660
 on all the coins

00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.200
 in Canada.

00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:10.480
 But as most of us know,

00:30:10.560 --> 00:30:12.440
 the role of the Governor General

00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:14.300
 on behalf of the King

00:30:14.300 --> 00:30:15.160
 or Queen in Canada

00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:16.820
 is largely symbolic today.

00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:19.120
 And so who

00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:20.360
 or what

00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:21.660
 holds authority

00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:22.779
 over the citizens

00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:24.039
 of our nation?

00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:34.279
 Any guesses?

00:30:36.159 --> 00:30:37.039
 In Canada,

00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:37.759
 we are a people

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.680
 ruled by law.

00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:40.319
 The law

00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:41.619
 is that

00:30:41.619 --> 00:30:43.099
 highest authority

00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:44.480
 in our land.

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:46.559
 And the government

00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:47.019
 of the day

00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:47.880
 only has authority

00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:48.599
 over us

00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.360
 to the extent

00:30:49.360 --> 00:30:50.259
 that the law says.

00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:52.400
 Now,

00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.759
 the members of Parliament

00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:55.019
 who are representatives,

00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:55.920
 they do have the power

00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.759
 to make laws

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.819
 and to change laws

00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:58.920
 if they hold

00:30:58.920 --> 00:31:00.059
 a majority of the seats

00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:01.980
 in the House of Commons

00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:02.860
 and if the bill

00:31:02.860 --> 00:31:03.880
 makes it through the Senate.

00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:05.920
 We're not just

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:07.559
 a constitutional monarchy,

00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.259
 we're also

00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:10.339
 a parliamentary democracy.

00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:13.299
 So at the end of the day,

00:31:13.360 --> 00:31:14.460
 it's not the Prime Minister

00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:16.000
 that we must submit to.

00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:18.180
 He's not a dictator

00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:18.759
 or ruler.

00:31:19.840 --> 00:31:21.360
 He has limited power

00:31:21.360 --> 00:31:22.500
 and is himself

00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.299
 under the law.

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.120
 How does this apply?

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:31.180
 We're not being called

00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:32.019
 to submit to

00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:33.059
 person,

00:31:33.420 --> 00:31:33.960
 a person,

00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:34.980
 so much as to

00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:36.000
 a body of laws

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:37.480
 that have been established

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.440
 by people

00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:39.160
 in our nation

00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:39.940
 over the years.

00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:41.740
 What is it

00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.799
 that the police officers

00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:43.180
 enforce?

00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.579
 Is it the Constitution?

00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:47.720
 The Charter of Rights

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.240
 and Freedoms?

00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:50.200
 It's the law.

00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:51.759
 That's what the police

00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.660
 officers enforce.

00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:53.759
 That's what they're

00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:54.519
 supposed to enforce.

00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.319
 What is it

00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:57.039
 that the judges

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:58.500
 go by

00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:59.460
 to give their verdict

00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:00.980
 or to sentence

00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:01.440
 a criminal?

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.000
 It's the law.

00:32:05.120 --> 00:32:06.140
 The law of the land

00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:07.100
 is the thing of authority

00:32:07.100 --> 00:32:08.039
 which we are under

00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:08.920
 here in Canada

00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:10.720
 and since it is

00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:11.400
 we're to submit

00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:12.940
 to the law

00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:14.500
 and obey the law

00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.519
 of our nation.

00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:17.400
 And here's where

00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:18.060
 the excuse

00:32:18.060 --> 00:32:18.860
 that I just mentioned

00:32:18.860 --> 00:32:20.039
 before unravels a bit.

00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:21.360
 The Canadian Charter

00:32:21.360 --> 00:32:22.240
 of Rights and Freedoms,

00:32:22.320 --> 00:32:22.539
 I mean,

00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:25.759
 it does not have

00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.920
 that same authoritative

00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:28.220
 position in our country

00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:29.519
 that the law does.

00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:31.400
 The Charter of Rights

00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:31.900
 and Freedoms

00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:33.120
 is a guiding document.

00:32:33.119 --> 00:32:35.739
 It's a thing

00:32:35.739 --> 00:32:36.599
 that was agreed on

00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:37.439
 in Canadian history

00:32:37.439 --> 00:32:38.739
 for the making of laws.

00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:40.559
 It sets out

00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.439
 an agreement

00:32:41.439 --> 00:32:42.039
 on what are

00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:43.019
 the core values

00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:43.699
 and freedoms

00:32:43.699 --> 00:32:44.759
 we believe

00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.899
 that all should have

00:32:45.899 --> 00:32:46.819
 in Canada.

00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:48.099
 However,

00:32:48.199 --> 00:32:49.119
 the Charter itself

00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:50.099
 is not the law.

00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:51.799
 It's more of

00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:52.839
 a value statement.

00:32:54.719 --> 00:32:56.759
 Even in the Charter itself,

00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.679
 rights and freedoms

00:32:57.679 --> 00:32:58.639
 are guaranteed,

00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:00.819
 but even the Charter

00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:01.719
 recognizes that

00:33:01.719 --> 00:33:02.459
 rights and freedoms

00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:03.460
 cannot be absolute

00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:04.779
 in a democracy.

00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:06.480
 And there are instances

00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:07.100
 where governments

00:33:07.100 --> 00:33:08.299
 must put laws in place

00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:08.960
 that limit

00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:10.660
 people's freedoms

00:33:10.660 --> 00:33:11.980
 in order to protect

00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:13.220
 the lives and security

00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:14.779
 and freedoms of others.

00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:16.160
 So the Charter

00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:17.460
 is just a guiding document.

00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:20.420
 If the government

00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:20.860
 of the day

00:33:20.860 --> 00:33:21.940
 brings in a new law

00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:23.579
 that in our judgment

00:33:23.579 --> 00:33:24.720
 goes against the Charter

00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.480
 and infringes

00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:26.400
 upon our freedoms,

00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:28.100
 that's not an excuse

00:33:28.100 --> 00:33:29.120
 for us to just

00:33:29.120 --> 00:33:29.900
 break that law

00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:31.740
 because the Charter

00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.440
 is not the law.

00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:35.240
 The law is the law.

00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:36.860
 And we must obey the law

00:33:36.860 --> 00:33:37.600
 because it's the

00:33:37.600 --> 00:33:38.559
 authoritative thing

00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:39.819
 in our land.

00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:41.460
 The police enforce

00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:43.059
 the law,

00:33:43.360 --> 00:33:44.700
 not the Charter.

00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:46.259
 The judges render

00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:47.460
 verdicts based on the law.

00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:47.880
 And yes,

00:33:47.940 --> 00:33:48.960
 they can consult

00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:49.460
 the Charter

00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:49.960
 and they do

00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:50.440
 and sometimes

00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:51.519
 they overturn the law.

00:33:51.620 --> 00:33:52.460
 They change the law.

00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:54.460
 But in our system,

00:33:54.779 --> 00:33:55.340
 that's the role

00:33:55.340 --> 00:33:55.819
 of the judges

00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:56.600
 to do that,

00:33:57.039 --> 00:33:58.079
 not our role.

00:33:58.079 --> 00:34:01.039
 And so it doesn't hold

00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:02.679
 that we are honoring

00:34:02.679 --> 00:34:04.019
 Christ's command

00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:05.079
 when we break the law

00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:05.859
 because we deem it

00:34:05.859 --> 00:34:06.799
 unconstitutional.

00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:07.939
 It's not our place

00:34:07.939 --> 00:34:09.039
 in our system of government

00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:10.199
 to judge whether laws

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:11.259
 are unconstitutional

00:34:11.259 --> 00:34:11.840
 or not.

00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:13.199
 That's the role of judges.

00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.920
 Now I know that

00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:18.500
 all of this may sound

00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.380
 a little abstract,

00:34:19.819 --> 00:34:20.860
 to think of submitting

00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:21.619
 to the law.

00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:22.860
 He says,

00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:23.559
 remind the people

00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:24.139
 to be subject

00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:24.659
 to rulers

00:34:24.659 --> 00:34:25.340
 and authorities,

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:26.119
 to be obedient.

00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.820
 But we should remember

00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.659
 that the law

00:34:29.659 --> 00:34:30.539
 does empower

00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:31.480
 certain people

00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:33.279
 to do certain things

00:34:33.279 --> 00:34:35.519
 like law enforcement

00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:36.099
 officers

00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:39.059
 or tax collection

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:40.320
 agents,

00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:41.920
 judges,

00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:42.619
 ministers.

00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:44.799
 So in some cases,

00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:46.400
 obeying the law

00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:47.179
 does mean

00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:48.259
 obeying the person

00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:49.039
 who wields

00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:49.659
 the authority

00:34:49.659 --> 00:34:50.340
 of the law.

00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:52.659
 It's not entirely

00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:53.340
 impersonal

00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:53.840
 and abstract,

00:34:54.140 --> 00:34:54.880
 but on the whole,

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:55.539
 we need to know

00:34:55.539 --> 00:34:56.380
 that here in Canada,

00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:58.019
 the supreme authority

00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:59.980
 is the law.

00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:02.960
 We also need to know

00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:03.380
 that there are

00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:04.940
 three levels of law,

00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:06.200
 three levels of government

00:35:06.200 --> 00:35:07.160
 in Canada.

00:35:08.120 --> 00:35:09.320
 There's the federal law,

00:35:09.680 --> 00:35:10.720
 the laws of the nation,

00:35:11.240 --> 00:35:12.780
 there are the provincial laws,

00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:13.700
 the stuff that we

00:35:13.700 --> 00:35:15.059
 have to abide by

00:35:15.059 --> 00:35:16.300
 here in Saskatchewan,

00:35:16.600 --> 00:35:17.680
 and then there are

00:35:17.680 --> 00:35:19.480
 the municipal laws,

00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:20.720
 the things in the town

00:35:20.720 --> 00:35:21.519
 or in the city

00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.220
 where you live

00:35:22.220 --> 00:35:23.180
 here in Davidson.

00:35:23.340 --> 00:35:24.460
 The bylaws.

00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:27.760
 And all of these

00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:28.200
 are included

00:35:28.200 --> 00:35:28.940
 by this command

00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.620
 to be subject

00:35:29.620 --> 00:35:30.140
 to rulers

00:35:30.140 --> 00:35:31.260
 and authorities,

00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:31.860
 whether it's

00:35:31.860 --> 00:35:32.519
 speed limits,

00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.519
 town bylaws,

00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:36.180
 building codes,

00:35:36.660 --> 00:35:37.480
 parking laws.

00:35:39.180 --> 00:35:40.200
 There's only one

00:35:40.200 --> 00:35:41.220
 exception in the Bible.

00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:43.140
 One situation

00:35:43.140 --> 00:35:44.100
 in which we may

00:35:44.100 --> 00:35:45.700
 disobey

00:35:45.700 --> 00:35:47.160
 rulers and authorities,

00:35:47.320 --> 00:35:48.019
 or in our case,

00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.460
 break the law.

00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:51.019
 And that's when

00:35:51.019 --> 00:35:51.880
 the law of our land

00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:52.659
 says that we should

00:35:52.659 --> 00:35:53.179
 do something

00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:54.220
 that is clearly

00:35:54.220 --> 00:35:55.460
 prohibited

00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:57.079
 by God

00:35:57.079 --> 00:35:58.159
 in His word.

00:35:59.559 --> 00:36:00.000
 Or,

00:36:00.260 --> 00:36:00.900
 the converse,

00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.059
 when the law

00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:02.900
 prohibits us

00:36:02.900 --> 00:36:03.659
 from doing something

00:36:03.659 --> 00:36:04.220
 that God has

00:36:04.220 --> 00:36:05.320
 clearly commanded us

00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:05.760
 to do

00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:07.360
 in His word.

00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:08.260
 That's the only

00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:09.380
 exception in the Bible.

00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:11.019
 Shadrach,

00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:11.440
 Meshach,

00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:12.000
 and Abednego,

00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:14.380
 they disobeyed

00:36:14.380 --> 00:36:15.599
 King Nebuchadnezzar

00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:16.340
 when he commanded

00:36:16.340 --> 00:36:17.340
 them to worship

00:36:17.340 --> 00:36:17.960
 his idol.

00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:20.159
 Why?

00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:21.659
 Because God

00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:22.519
 had clearly said,

00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:23.219
 you shall have

00:36:23.219 --> 00:36:23.980
 no other gods

00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.579
 before me

00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:25.420
 and you shall not

00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:25.860
 bow down

00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:26.780
 to a graven image.

00:36:26.860 --> 00:36:27.480
 That's the first

00:36:27.480 --> 00:36:28.500
 of the Ten Commandments.

00:36:29.320 --> 00:36:29.840
 And God

00:36:29.840 --> 00:36:30.739
 vindicated them

00:36:30.739 --> 00:36:31.420
 and saved them

00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:33.000
 in that moment.

00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:34.539
 Daniel defied

00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:35.300
 King Darius

00:36:35.300 --> 00:36:36.320
 when Darius

00:36:36.320 --> 00:36:37.099
 decreed that

00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:38.219
 no one should pray

00:36:38.219 --> 00:36:38.780
 to anyone

00:36:38.780 --> 00:36:39.599
 other than him.

00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:41.219
 Why?

00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:42.840
 Because God

00:36:42.840 --> 00:36:43.659
 has commanded us

00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:44.500
 to pray to him.

00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:47.179
 And so Daniel

00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:47.980
 defied him

00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:48.639
 and God

00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:49.239
 saved him

00:36:49.239 --> 00:36:49.760
 from the mouth

00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:50.340
 of the lions

00:36:50.340 --> 00:36:51.420
 and vindicated him.

00:36:53.760 --> 00:36:54.739
 The apostles

00:36:54.739 --> 00:36:56.420
 were commanded

00:36:56.420 --> 00:36:57.179
 by the religious

00:36:57.179 --> 00:36:58.659
 leaders of the Jews

00:36:58.659 --> 00:37:00.300
 not to speak

00:37:00.300 --> 00:37:00.820
 anymore

00:37:00.820 --> 00:37:01.840
 in the name of Jesus

00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:04.019
 in the book of Acts

00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:04.860
 chapter 4.

00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:06.619
 But Jesus

00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:08.400
 had commanded them

00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:10.380
 speak in my name

00:37:10.380 --> 00:37:11.619
 go make disciples

00:37:11.619 --> 00:37:12.339
 of me

00:37:12.339 --> 00:37:14.400
 all through the nations

00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:15.440
 preach the gospel.

00:37:17.079 --> 00:37:18.480
 And so they had to say

00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:19.619
 to the religious leaders

00:37:19.619 --> 00:37:21.239
 which is right

00:37:21.239 --> 00:37:21.980
 in God's eyes

00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:22.880
 to listen to you

00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:24.339
 or to him.

00:37:25.139 --> 00:37:26.159
 You be the judges.

00:37:26.279 --> 00:37:26.759
 As for us

00:37:26.759 --> 00:37:27.519
 we can't help

00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:28.519
 speaking about

00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:29.219
 what we have

00:37:29.219 --> 00:37:29.960
 seen

00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:31.099
 and heard.

00:37:31.299 --> 00:37:31.420
 So

00:37:31.420 --> 00:37:33.019
 there is a time

00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:34.299
 for civil disobedience.

00:37:34.599 --> 00:37:35.539
 There is a time

00:37:35.539 --> 00:37:36.739
 to break the law

00:37:36.739 --> 00:37:38.019
 but it is only

00:37:38.019 --> 00:37:38.579
 in the case

00:37:38.579 --> 00:37:38.939
 where there is

00:37:38.939 --> 00:37:39.859
 a direct conflict

00:37:39.859 --> 00:37:40.599
 between being

00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:41.139
 obedient

00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:42.479
 to what God

00:37:42.479 --> 00:37:42.979
 has clearly

00:37:42.979 --> 00:37:43.439
 commanded

00:37:43.439 --> 00:37:45.039
 and what human

00:37:45.039 --> 00:37:45.599
 authority

00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:47.059
 has commanded.

00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:49.139
 And thankfully

00:37:49.139 --> 00:37:49.779
 in our day

00:37:49.779 --> 00:37:50.799
 these situations

00:37:50.799 --> 00:37:51.619
 are relatively

00:37:51.619 --> 00:37:52.079
 rare

00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:53.519
 and occasional.

00:37:54.659 --> 00:37:55.199
 That might

00:37:55.199 --> 00:37:55.839
 change

00:37:55.839 --> 00:37:56.679
 in the near future

00:37:56.679 --> 00:37:57.019
 here

00:37:57.019 --> 00:37:58.559
 but I want to

00:37:58.559 --> 00:37:59.119
 encourage us

00:37:59.119 --> 00:38:00.039
 to stick to

00:38:00.039 --> 00:38:00.959
 the word of God.

00:38:01.559 --> 00:38:02.079
 Sometimes

00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:03.079
 another excuse

00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:03.500
 we make

00:38:03.500 --> 00:38:03.819
 we say

00:38:03.819 --> 00:38:04.440
 well I just

00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:05.079
 feel like

00:38:05.079 --> 00:38:05.420
 the Lord

00:38:05.420 --> 00:38:05.799
 would have

00:38:05.799 --> 00:38:06.539
 me do this.

00:38:07.659 --> 00:38:09.000
 I don't need

00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:09.639
 to do this.

00:38:09.779 --> 00:38:10.139
 I don't need

00:38:10.139 --> 00:38:11.059
 to obey the law.

00:38:12.900 --> 00:38:13.340
 Don't

00:38:13.340 --> 00:38:14.360
 go by your

00:38:14.360 --> 00:38:14.799
 feelings

00:38:14.799 --> 00:38:15.860
 Christian.

00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:17.199
 I've known

00:38:17.199 --> 00:38:18.039
 lots of good

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:18.759
 mature

00:38:18.759 --> 00:38:19.460
 Bible believing

00:38:19.460 --> 00:38:19.880
 Christians

00:38:19.880 --> 00:38:20.480
 over the years

00:38:20.480 --> 00:38:20.860
 who said

00:38:20.860 --> 00:38:21.199
 the Lord

00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:21.920
 told me

00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:23.699
 only to find

00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:24.000
 out

00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:25.059
 later

00:38:25.059 --> 00:38:25.920
 that actually

00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:26.340
 they were just

00:38:26.340 --> 00:38:26.900
 kind of hearing

00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:27.779
 their own fears

00:38:27.779 --> 00:38:29.319
 their own thoughts

00:38:29.319 --> 00:38:30.380
 their own anxieties

00:38:30.380 --> 00:38:31.519
 or reasons.

00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:33.119
 If you're a Christian

00:38:33.119 --> 00:38:33.480
 and you're going

00:38:33.480 --> 00:38:34.179
 to break the law

00:38:34.179 --> 00:38:36.159
 it better be obvious

00:38:36.159 --> 00:38:36.759
 in the Bible

00:38:36.759 --> 00:38:37.360
 that the law

00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:37.980
 goes against

00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:38.539
 what the Lord

00:38:38.539 --> 00:38:39.159
 has commanded.

00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:41.239
 Otherwise

00:38:41.239 --> 00:38:42.780
 heed the warning

00:38:42.780 --> 00:38:44.400
 from Romans

00:38:44.400 --> 00:38:45.599
 chapter 13

00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:46.179
 verse 3

00:38:46.179 --> 00:38:46.980
 rulers hold

00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:47.599
 no terror

00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:48.380
 for those

00:38:48.380 --> 00:38:49.000
 who do right

00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:50.400
 but for those

00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:51.059
 who do wrong.

00:38:54.699 --> 00:38:55.840
 There's a better way

00:38:55.840 --> 00:38:57.380
 with the Lord's help

00:38:57.380 --> 00:38:59.019
 we just need

00:38:59.019 --> 00:38:59.679
 to simply listen

00:38:59.679 --> 00:39:00.139
 to this

00:39:00.139 --> 00:39:01.239
 straightforward

00:39:01.239 --> 00:39:01.919
 instruction

00:39:01.919 --> 00:39:02.399
 that he's

00:39:02.399 --> 00:39:03.000
 given us.

00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:05.879
 Be a law

00:39:05.879 --> 00:39:06.259
 abiding

00:39:06.259 --> 00:39:07.199
 Christian

00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:08.719
 in our land.

00:39:09.819 --> 00:39:10.159
 Do what's

00:39:10.159 --> 00:39:10.679
 right by the

00:39:10.679 --> 00:39:10.899
 Lord

00:39:10.899 --> 00:39:11.359
 and by the

00:39:11.359 --> 00:39:11.739
 law of the

00:39:11.739 --> 00:39:12.019
 land.

00:39:13.399 --> 00:39:13.759
 And I'm

00:39:13.759 --> 00:39:14.339
 just going to

00:39:14.339 --> 00:39:15.079
 I'm going to

00:39:15.079 --> 00:39:15.639
 end with two

00:39:15.639 --> 00:39:16.239
 examples

00:39:16.239 --> 00:39:18.819
 different examples.

00:39:20.159 --> 00:39:20.619
 If the government

00:39:20.619 --> 00:39:21.479
 passes a law

00:39:21.479 --> 00:39:22.579
 here in Saskatchewan

00:39:22.579 --> 00:39:23.399
 that all highway

00:39:23.399 --> 00:39:24.059
 speed limits

00:39:24.059 --> 00:39:24.719
 shall from now

00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:25.379
 on be reduced

00:39:25.379 --> 00:39:26.279
 to 90 kilometers

00:39:26.279 --> 00:39:26.799
 an hour

00:39:26.799 --> 00:39:28.899
 is that a stupid

00:39:28.899 --> 00:39:29.239
 law?

00:39:31.239 --> 00:39:31.919
 Maybe.

00:39:32.919 --> 00:39:34.019
 Is it fair?

00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:36.699
 Maybe not.

00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:38.019
 Does it

00:39:38.019 --> 00:39:38.699
 infringe on your

00:39:38.699 --> 00:39:39.399
 personal freedoms?

00:39:40.339 --> 00:39:41.019
 Yes.

00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:43.279
 Does it matter

00:39:43.279 --> 00:39:43.939
 if the government

00:39:43.939 --> 00:39:44.799
 who passes this

00:39:44.799 --> 00:39:45.539
 law is corrupt?

00:39:46.399 --> 00:39:47.119
 No.

00:39:47.919 --> 00:39:48.539
 Do you have to

00:39:48.539 --> 00:39:49.099
 like the law

00:39:49.099 --> 00:39:49.839
 or agree with it?

00:39:50.839 --> 00:39:51.279
 No.

00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:52.279
 Is there a place

00:39:52.279 --> 00:39:52.759
 in the Bible

00:39:52.759 --> 00:39:53.199
 where God

00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:53.679
 has commanded

00:39:53.679 --> 00:39:54.279
 us to drive

00:39:54.279 --> 00:39:55.119
 faster than 90

00:39:55.119 --> 00:39:56.079
 kilometers an hour

00:39:56.079 --> 00:39:56.739
 on a highway?

00:39:56.739 --> 00:39:57.219
 No.

00:39:59.019 --> 00:39:59.699
 What if your

00:39:59.699 --> 00:40:00.179
 wife's about

00:40:00.179 --> 00:40:00.719
 to give birth

00:40:00.719 --> 00:40:01.239
 in the car?

00:40:03.539 --> 00:40:04.299
 Doesn't matter.

00:40:05.259 --> 00:40:06.039
 Do you trust

00:40:06.039 --> 00:40:06.419
 the Lord?

00:40:08.399 --> 00:40:09.239
 Then you must

00:40:09.239 --> 00:40:09.959
 obey the law.

00:40:11.239 --> 00:40:11.899
 Jesus says

00:40:11.899 --> 00:40:12.879
 yes I want

00:40:12.879 --> 00:40:13.379
 my people

00:40:13.379 --> 00:40:13.839
 to submit

00:40:13.839 --> 00:40:14.339
 to rulers

00:40:14.339 --> 00:40:15.000
 and authorities

00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:15.699
 which in our

00:40:15.699 --> 00:40:16.500
 context means

00:40:16.500 --> 00:40:17.379
 to be law

00:40:17.379 --> 00:40:18.259
 abiding citizens.

00:40:18.899 --> 00:40:19.559
 Here's another

00:40:19.559 --> 00:40:20.419
 example the other

00:40:20.419 --> 00:40:20.759
 way.

00:40:21.500 --> 00:40:22.359
 On February 26

00:40:22.359 --> 00:40:22.919
 the government

00:40:22.919 --> 00:40:23.419
 of Canada

00:40:23.419 --> 00:40:24.279
 introduced the

00:40:24.279 --> 00:40:25.139
 Online Harms

00:40:25.139 --> 00:40:25.579
 Act.

00:40:25.579 --> 00:40:27.000
 And the main

00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:27.639
 purpose of this

00:40:27.639 --> 00:40:28.860
 act is to

00:40:28.860 --> 00:40:29.400
 make online

00:40:29.400 --> 00:40:30.440
 content providers

00:40:30.440 --> 00:40:31.819
 responsible to

00:40:31.819 --> 00:40:32.860
 moderate content

00:40:32.860 --> 00:40:33.559
 that's served

00:40:33.559 --> 00:40:34.019
 on their

00:40:34.019 --> 00:40:34.579
 platforms.

00:40:35.880 --> 00:40:36.519
 Now before you

00:40:36.519 --> 00:40:37.480
 throw the baby

00:40:37.480 --> 00:40:38.099
 out with the

00:40:38.099 --> 00:40:39.019
 bathwater consider

00:40:39.019 --> 00:40:39.759
 that one of the

00:40:39.759 --> 00:40:40.360
 things that this

00:40:40.360 --> 00:40:41.340
 act will do is

00:40:41.340 --> 00:40:42.340
 force online

00:40:42.340 --> 00:40:43.299
 content providers

00:40:43.299 --> 00:40:44.079
 to keep child

00:40:44.079 --> 00:40:45.279
 pornography off

00:40:45.279 --> 00:40:45.599
 of their

00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:46.799
 platforms even

00:40:46.799 --> 00:40:47.400
 if it's just

00:40:47.400 --> 00:40:48.199
 the users who

00:40:48.199 --> 00:40:48.679
 would upload

00:40:48.679 --> 00:40:48.920
 it.

00:40:49.880 --> 00:40:50.659
 That's a good

00:40:50.659 --> 00:40:51.000
 thing.

00:40:52.039 --> 00:40:52.519
 However

00:40:52.519 --> 00:40:54.099
 there's also

00:40:54.099 --> 00:40:54.719
 in all of this

00:40:54.719 --> 00:40:55.440
 an attempt being

00:40:55.440 --> 00:40:55.900
 made to

00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:56.659
 criminalize

00:40:56.659 --> 00:40:57.099
 hatred.

00:40:58.280 --> 00:40:59.240
 This bill would

00:40:59.240 --> 00:40:59.679
 amend the

00:40:59.679 --> 00:41:00.400
 Canadian Human

00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:01.159
 Rights Act to

00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:02.220
 define a new

00:41:02.220 --> 00:41:03.019
 discriminatory

00:41:03.019 --> 00:41:04.280
 practice of

00:41:04.280 --> 00:41:05.220
 communicating hate

00:41:05.220 --> 00:41:06.019
 speech online.

00:41:07.159 --> 00:41:08.220
 With a reporting

00:41:08.220 --> 00:41:08.960
 mechanism and

00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:09.740
 everything you see

00:41:09.740 --> 00:41:10.400
 something that you

00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:11.220
 think is hate you

00:41:11.220 --> 00:41:12.139
 can report that

00:41:12.139 --> 00:41:13.440
 online.

00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:16.360
 The problem is

00:41:16.360 --> 00:41:16.960
 with how this

00:41:16.960 --> 00:41:17.480
 new hate

00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:18.240
 offense is

00:41:18.240 --> 00:41:18.720
 defined.

00:41:19.679 --> 00:41:20.440
 As part of the

00:41:20.440 --> 00:41:21.320
 proposed amendments

00:41:21.320 --> 00:41:22.240
 hate speech would

00:41:22.240 --> 00:41:23.340
 be defined based on

00:41:23.340 --> 00:41:24.320
 Supreme Court of

00:41:24.320 --> 00:41:25.260
 Canada decisions.

00:41:26.140 --> 00:41:26.920
 The bill defines

00:41:26.920 --> 00:41:27.980
 hate speech as the

00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:29.340
 content of a

00:41:29.340 --> 00:41:30.720
 communication that

00:41:30.720 --> 00:41:32.440
 expresses detestation

00:41:32.440 --> 00:41:34.940
 of an individual or

00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:36.480
 group of individuals on

00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:37.260
 the basis of

00:41:37.260 --> 00:41:39.340
 prohibited grounds of

00:41:39.340 --> 00:41:39.980
 discrimination.

00:41:40.620 --> 00:41:41.440
 The grounds of

00:41:41.440 --> 00:41:42.780
 discrimination are

00:41:42.780 --> 00:41:44.600
 race, national or

00:41:44.600 --> 00:41:46.420
 ethnic origin, color,

00:41:47.160 --> 00:41:49.680
 religion, age, sex,

00:41:49.679 --> 00:41:51.480
 sexual orientation,

00:41:52.179 --> 00:41:53.619
 gender identity or

00:41:53.619 --> 00:41:54.199
 expression.

00:41:55.859 --> 00:41:56.619
 And some of you may

00:41:56.619 --> 00:41:57.099
 see where the

00:41:57.099 --> 00:41:57.879
 problem is here.

00:41:58.960 --> 00:42:00.079
 By this definition

00:42:00.079 --> 00:42:01.339
 God himself could be

00:42:01.339 --> 00:42:02.099
 accused of hate

00:42:02.099 --> 00:42:04.000
 speech because of

00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:04.879
 what he has said in

00:42:04.879 --> 00:42:05.599
 the Bible about

00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:06.559
 deviant sexual

00:42:06.559 --> 00:42:07.039
 behavior.

00:42:08.039 --> 00:42:09.099
 If this becomes

00:42:09.099 --> 00:42:10.079
 law in Canada it

00:42:10.079 --> 00:42:11.039
 would be illegal for

00:42:11.039 --> 00:42:11.940
 me to preach a

00:42:11.940 --> 00:42:12.839
 sermon on Leviticus

00:42:12.839 --> 00:42:15.059
 18.22 where God

00:42:15.059 --> 00:42:16.039
 says that homosexual

00:42:16.039 --> 00:42:17.779
 conduct is detestable.

00:42:17.780 --> 00:42:21.019
 And then to post

00:42:21.019 --> 00:42:22.540
 that sermon online as

00:42:22.540 --> 00:42:23.480
 I do all my other

00:42:23.480 --> 00:42:23.860
 sermons.

00:42:24.440 --> 00:42:25.140
 And so what should I

00:42:25.140 --> 00:42:26.160
 do in that situation?

00:42:27.660 --> 00:42:28.700
 When I come to that

00:42:28.700 --> 00:42:29.880
 passage in Leviticus

00:42:29.880 --> 00:42:31.380
 should I skip over it?

00:42:33.040 --> 00:42:34.180
 Should I be silent

00:42:34.180 --> 00:42:34.720
 about it?

00:42:36.760 --> 00:42:37.720
 Should I just not

00:42:37.720 --> 00:42:39.000
 upload it to the

00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:41.640
 internet just to stay

00:42:41.640 --> 00:42:42.260
 under the radar?

00:42:42.260 --> 00:42:45.180
 Has God given a

00:42:45.180 --> 00:42:46.080
 clear command that we

00:42:46.080 --> 00:42:46.760
 should preach his

00:42:46.760 --> 00:42:47.020
 word?

00:42:49.500 --> 00:42:50.960
 Second Timothy 4.2

00:42:50.960 --> 00:42:51.980
 says preach the

00:42:51.980 --> 00:42:52.320
 word.

00:42:52.660 --> 00:42:53.760
 Proclaim what God

00:42:53.760 --> 00:42:55.360
 has said to his

00:42:55.360 --> 00:42:55.740
 people.

00:42:56.300 --> 00:42:57.260
 So this is a case

00:42:57.260 --> 00:42:58.060
 where man's law

00:42:58.060 --> 00:42:59.380
 prohibits what God

00:42:59.380 --> 00:43:00.460
 himself has clearly

00:43:00.460 --> 00:43:00.920
 commanded.

00:43:02.340 --> 00:43:03.080
 Thankfully they

00:43:03.080 --> 00:43:03.780
 haven't made that

00:43:03.780 --> 00:43:04.880
 determination that the

00:43:04.880 --> 00:43:05.940
 Bible contains hate

00:43:05.940 --> 00:43:06.700
 speech yet.

00:43:07.480 --> 00:43:08.760
 But if this were to

00:43:08.760 --> 00:43:09.800
 happen I must obey

00:43:09.800 --> 00:43:11.520
 God and I must

00:43:11.519 --> 00:43:12.820
 disobey human

00:43:12.820 --> 00:43:13.259
 government.

00:43:14.500 --> 00:43:15.699
 These situations are

00:43:15.699 --> 00:43:16.519
 not always easy.

00:43:17.679 --> 00:43:18.619
 But may the Lord

00:43:18.619 --> 00:43:19.480
 find us faithful.

00:43:19.739 --> 00:43:20.400
 May he give us what

00:43:20.400 --> 00:43:20.800
 we need.

00:43:21.199 --> 00:43:22.000
 Let's ask for that

00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:22.259
 now.

00:43:22.400 --> 00:43:23.139
 Let's pray together.

00:43:26.380 --> 00:43:27.599
 Lord Jesus there are

00:43:27.599 --> 00:43:28.699
 two really challenging

00:43:28.699 --> 00:43:30.079
 things that we come to

00:43:30.079 --> 00:43:31.440
 from these words.

00:43:32.860 --> 00:43:35.820
 First there is how

00:43:35.820 --> 00:43:36.639
 you want us to

00:43:36.639 --> 00:43:37.239
 submit to the

00:43:37.239 --> 00:43:37.980
 government and obey

00:43:37.980 --> 00:43:39.000
 the government as

00:43:39.000 --> 00:43:40.199
 the ordinary course of

00:43:40.199 --> 00:43:41.139
 everyday life.

00:43:41.519 --> 00:43:42.380
 And that's hard.

00:43:43.559 --> 00:43:44.420
 So we pray and ask

00:43:44.420 --> 00:43:45.759
 for your help to be

00:43:45.759 --> 00:43:47.500
 willing to do it, to

00:43:47.500 --> 00:43:50.019
 be honest about it, and

00:43:50.019 --> 00:43:50.840
 to carry it out.

00:43:53.900 --> 00:43:55.739
 Second there may come

00:43:55.739 --> 00:43:56.639
 time where we do need

00:43:56.639 --> 00:43:57.759
 to disobey the

00:43:57.759 --> 00:44:00.039
 government to obey

00:44:00.039 --> 00:44:00.420
 you.

00:44:00.900 --> 00:44:02.119
 And that will be hard

00:44:02.119 --> 00:44:02.559
 as well.

00:44:03.119 --> 00:44:04.019
 And so we pray and ask

00:44:04.019 --> 00:44:04.659
 that you would give us

00:44:04.659 --> 00:44:06.400
 courage and wisdom and

00:44:06.400 --> 00:44:08.980
 a resolute conviction

00:44:08.980 --> 00:44:10.179
 that we are going to

00:44:10.179 --> 00:44:11.619
 follow you no matter

00:44:11.619 --> 00:44:11.960
 what.

00:44:13.599 --> 00:44:14.559
 Help us with these

00:44:14.559 --> 00:44:15.800
 things in the days

00:44:15.800 --> 00:44:16.099
 ahead.

00:44:16.500 --> 00:44:17.400
 Show us the areas in

00:44:17.400 --> 00:44:18.159
 our lives where we

00:44:18.159 --> 00:44:19.920
 have been failing and

00:44:19.920 --> 00:44:22.260
 give us power and joy

00:44:22.260 --> 00:44:23.840
 to submit ourselves to

00:44:23.840 --> 00:44:25.519
 you for the glory of

00:44:25.519 --> 00:44:26.199
 your son Jesus.

00:44:27.199 --> 00:44:27.460
 Amen.

00:44:27.460 --> 00:44:27.619
 Amen.

00:44:27.880 --> 00:44:28.320
 Amen.

00:44:28.320 --> 00:44:29.240
 Amen.

00:44:29.320 --> 00:44:29.820
 Amen.

00:44:29.820 --> 00:44:30.159
 Man shouldéfice

00:44:30.159 --> 00:44:41.740
 like you

00:44:41.740 --> 00:44:42.500
 learn the

00:44:42.500 --> 00:44:43.920
 people

00:44:43.920 --> 00:44:44.920
 drop in

00:44:44.920 --> 00:44:45.340
 your

00:44:45.340 --> 00:44:46.440
 record

00:44:46.440 --> 00:44:46.639
 and

00:44:46.639 --> 00:44:47.740
 we

00:44:47.740 --> 00:44:47.780
 share them

00:44:47.780 --> 00:44:48.019
 a

00:44:48.019 --> 00:44:48.179
 document

00:44:48.179 --> 00:44:48.679
 and

00:44:48.679 --> 00:44:48.960
 and

00:44:49.300 --> 00:44:49.720
 we

00:44:49.720 --> 00:44:51.420
 get

00:44:51.420 --> 00:44:51.559
 out.

00:44:51.920 --> 00:44:53.480
 Everybody