Trust Government or God?
by Stephen Frank
In California, there are four counties without a single coronavirus case. Yet, Gov. Newsom has declared they should stay in complete shutdown. Now, the Boards of Supervisors of those counties have opened their communities. Which “government” should the people listen to—the State government or the county government?
The last weekend in April, tens of thousands of people flocked to the beaches in Orange County. The Governor got so upset he wanted to order all the beaches and state parks in California closed and to use law enforcement to force the people to comply. The City Council of Newport Beach voted 5-2 to keep the beaches open. Which government should the people obey—the State or the City?
These are troubling times. We have a deadly disease roaming the earth due to the irresponsible actions of a government—the Communist Chinese government. They withheld information, misled the world on the seriousness of the situation, and allowed a disease-carrier to travel the world. This is a government that imprisons people of faith, controls the churches and determines for students whether they go to college, where to go to college, or if they are sent to farms or technical schools.
In China, the people have no choices. Yet, the Bible says we must trust and respect government.
Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good (Titus 3:1, NLT).
Does China have the type of government we need to trust or respect? Should the people of China blindly follow the totalitarian government, while their freedoms are held in the hand of the military and their political party?
Another passage in the Bible says, Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God (Romans 13:1, NLT).
Governor Newsom has banned public demonstrations in Sacramento on government property and ordered NO permits be given to the public for any demonstration. In effect, he has repealed the First Amendment, from the federal laws/government and declared himself the Supreme Leader of California—he is taking away the right to assemble and the right to free speech, as well as the right to petition government.
The people have responded by protesting to the Chinese government-type orders from the California Governor. They are doing this though Governor Newsom has issued a ban on protesting at the Capitol. Indeed, a thousand protested on May 1, against the order of the Governor.
Around the State, there are at least ten demonstrations that I know of, from San Diego to Lake County. The people have decided that no government has the right to take away their freedoms. That is the difference between the people of the United State and those in China—we fight back.
There is a long-term problem for government. At what point do the people stop believing or listening to government? New York City is totally shut down by order of Mayor Di Blasio. Yet, Fox News reported on May 1 that construction sites all over the city opened, in defiance of the Mayor. In Auburn, California, two hair salons opened in defiance of Gov. Newsom. In my hometown, a local locksmith has been open—in defiance of orders of the Board of Supervisors. People are deciding that they need to retake their freedoms, their jobs, and their lives. In the past six weeks, 20% of working Americans became unemployed.
These folks need to choose between working and returning to freedom, or listening to government and become a Third-World state and nation.
Without permission of government, people are returning to their previous lives. The actions are loud and clear, government is out of control, no different than the government of China.
He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning (Daniel 2:21, NIV).
We also need to be discerning. The Kingdom belongs to the Lord, not the politicians. Our very lives and freedoms are at stake. These are troubling times. Government is made of man. Man, who is fallible. What do you think?
Stephen Frank is Senior Contributing Editor of California Political Review. Read California news that is incisive, hard-hitting, and solution-oriented with a free subscription to Steve’s daily emails at http://eepurl.com/UAspv
NOTE: Blogs published on the Judeo-Christian Caucus website are the opinions of their authors and not necessarily those of the Judeo-Christian Caucus.
