Table of Contents
Opposing Sedition and Rebellion
This topic of sedition and rebellion may be an unpopular one to oppose at this point in history, but it’s one that needs to be addressed. These views may seem unbelievable coming from me, but that’s simply a testament to the restorative power of Yeshua and how He opens the eyes of the blind.
These aren’t the positions of a person. They’re the clear positions of Scripture that I should have known years ago.
Some could rightly argue that this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. I would reply that Yahweh has the power to turn a black pot tzitzit blue and closer and closer to white as snow every day, and that rather than condemning or chastising my friends I’m only sharing timely, hard learned lessons with people I love.
I hope these lessons will translate. I was incomprehensibly wrong, and I’m forever grateful that Yahweh will forgive the indiscretions of our youth.
The Scriptures outright forbid rebellion and sedition, or even political backbiting and mean jokes. It isn’t out of the goodness of my heart I’m saying this, because Yah knows that in times past I was positively dead set against many of the positions of my own country, the United States, and of the world government being established now.
The Scriptures have finally taught me to be uninvolved and uninterested, if for no other reason than my interests should lie in the Kingdom of Elohim and with my family. I’ll explain why as we go along and comment on these Biblical witnesses.
There is a time to respectfully disobey the authorities, but sedition is not respectful disobedience. When the law of the land is in opposition to the Law of Yahweh then we are to disregard the law of the land. Examples for how and why to do this are found in the book of Daniel.
Matthew 22
The ultimate witness against sedition, Yeshua, makes clear that whatever belongs to Caesar should be given to Caesar and that what belongs to Elohim should be given to Elohim.
Mat 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.
Mat 22:16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of Elohim truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.
Mat 22:17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
Mat 22:18 But Yeshua, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?
Mat 22:19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.
Mat 22:20 And Yeshua said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”
Mat 22:21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to Elohim the things that are Elohim’s.”
Mat 22:22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
The Pharisees first came with flattering lips, complimenting Yeshua for His reliance on His own thoughts. Their intention was to trap Him in His words, and in His wonderfully characteristic way He blew their minds and sent them away speechless.
The principle behind this episode seems clear to me. That overarching principle is that political matters are not the concern of the followers of Yeshua. His Kingdom is not of this world.
Do you use Caesar’s currency? Do you use that of the Federal Reserve Bank? Do you make transactions in Euros Yuan, Rubles or Pesos? Whose name is on it? Then render the duties for using that currency.
That political matters aren’t the main concern of followers of Yeshua is not to say that if a person lives in a country with an open political process in which votes are considered we shouldn’t participate. If believers are allowed to hold office then perhaps it is good if they do, although that can be an exceedingly slippery slope for the office holder.
It’s vital to understand, though, that a national government can have whatever process it deems fit, but the Kingdom of Elohim is a Monarchy. Yeshua of Nazareth is King of Kings and the only vote we get is to decide whether to be a citizen of it or not.
We don’t need to agree with a government’s policies in order to be subject to it. The behavior of the Roman government in Judea was certainly not something we should aspire to. Romans could be vicious, and ruled their land with an iron fist and fear tactics.
Rather than being a political revolutionary in opposition to Rome Yeshua simply went about the business of His Father, preaching the Kingdom. At no time did He threaten the political structure, or bother with it at all. He didn’t try to actively change anything involving politics.
Instead He taught matters of the heart to individuals regarding their own behavior and beliefs, which did eventually and inevitably change society around the values He instilled in us.
Yeshua was a massive threat to the political structure of the Jewish people, but that was a theocratic institution run by the Pharisees and Sadducees and was based on oral traditions which were held in higher esteem than Yahweh’s Law, the Torah. That the oral law and the teachings of the sages were regarded as higher than the law of Yahweh was in fact sedition against Yah.
Yeshua taught and affirmed the Torah as Law and did not abolish it, but none of that was a threat to the actual political authorities, the Romans.
Romans 13
Rom 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from Elohim, and those that exist have been instituted by Elohim.
Rom 13:2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what Elohim has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
Rom 13:4 for he is Elohim’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of Elohim, an avenger who carries out Elohim’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
Rom 13:5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid Elohim’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
Rom 13:6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of Elohim, attending to this very thing.
Rom 13:7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
I’ve heard it said that this passage refers to the Levites, as they were charged by Elohim with bearing the sword and were responsible for enforcing the decree to kill those who were in rebellion in the wilderness. That may be true, however in light of the full context of the Word and the following examples I don’t think it matters.
We are required to obey the authorities, whomever they may be. They are appointed by Yahweh, and the ones who resist will incur judgement. Sedition and rebellion against the authorities is rebellion against Yahweh.
Paul also reiterates the necessity of paying taxes.
1 Timothy 2
1Ti 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
1Ti 2:2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
1Ti 2:3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of Elohim our Savior,
1Ti 2:4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Paul encourages us in other places to live, insofar as it depends on us, in peace with all men. Here he instructs us to pray and intercede for those in high positions, rather than to mock and excoriate.
Much like a quiet and dignified wife might lead her unbelieving husband to salvation by her excellent behavior, believers, by their peaceful and dignified manner may encourage others who don’t believe to question why or how they are able to cope with injustices and maintain an upright lifestyle.
Sedition in the face of injustice can be extremely appealing in a worldly sense, but as a witness for our faith it is in all likelihood damaging.
It can be lighthearted and a lot of fun to take jabs at the president or those in the congress, or at kings and authorities, but over time these jabs can turn into haymakers which could eventually lead to riots and chaos.
I think the point of these biblical teachings is that while others may do so, believers should deny themselves this little pleasure so as not to incur blame for the Kingdom when it eventually goes wrong.
Instead, when it does go wrong then people may remember the good behavior of believers and side with them in moderation and self control, and maybe choose Yeshua instead of sedition.
Titus 3
Tit 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
Tit 3:2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
Tit 3:3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
Tit 3:4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
Tit 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
Tit 3:6 whom he poured out on us richly through Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah) our Savior,
Tit 3:7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Again, we should be submissive and obedient and speak evil of no one, including the authorities referred to in this very sentence. Our ultimate concern is the hope of eternal salvation, so when the political process we participate in becomes a hindrance to our right behavior the Kingdom has to take precedence.
It’s the goodness and loving kindness of Elohim which makes that possible, because we are no longer slaves to political and social passions. It may be good to look at verse 3 in this passage and then aspire to be the opposite.
Be wise, obedient, follow the narrow Way, free from passions and pleasures, pass our days with good will and generosity, and hate no one. Avoid sedition.
If someone lives this way the only people who can hate them are desperately wicked.
1 Peter 2
1Pe 2:13 Be subject for the Master’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
1Pe 2:14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
1Pe 2:15 For this is the will of Elohim, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
1Pe 2:16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of Elohim.
1Pe 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear Elohim. Honor the emperor.
1Pe 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
1Pe 2:19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of Elohim, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
1Pe 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of Elohim.
1Pe 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1Pe 2:22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
1Pe 2:23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
1Pe 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
1Pe 2:25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
The first line of this passage brings the whole argument together. It isn’t for our sake that we should avoid sedition and rebellion. It’s for the sake of the Master Yeshua and His Kingdom. It’s not about social expediency or smooth, easy sailing with the political winds in our favor. It’s about behaving well in order to reflect the values of the Kingdom of Elohim. For Yeshua’s sake believers must be obedient until forced to be disobedient.
At no time, however, should our disobedience cross the line into sedition or rebellion. Simple disobedience and willingly accepting the consequences, as did Daniel who refused to stop praying, or Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshech and Abednigo) who would not bow to the image Nebuchadnezzar erected, is an ultra powerful witness.
These young men’s humble example of refusing to submit to worldly authority when it clearly infringed on the requirements of faith has echoed through thousands of years.
I have to mention a special case, the United States of America. There are possibly others, but I am not aware of them. Resistance to tyranny is written into the founding documents of the USA and is part of the law. The founding documents are considered the supreme law of the land. All I can say about that is that the supreme law has not been in effect for some time now. Only the Scriptures and your conscience can tell you what you should do.
Sedition should be approached with extreme caution, because it will be dealt with with extreme prejudice and will be turned against you in the public space. Regardless of what actually takes place, in the court of public opinion sedition will be demonized. If believers do it then our Messiah will be unjustly demonized, even though He will not be the one to incite it.
It comes down, for me, to a question of what is more important: The freedoms we were promised at the signing of our founding documents or the perception, whether accurate or not, of the followers of Yeshua as law abiding citizens or lawless gunslingers. The media can create any reality they wish.
What is important to me has shifted dramatically over the years, and I have dishonored Yeshua with my behavior far more than enough. I intend to avoid political struggles entirely.
The Body as a Witness
The debates between the late Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins and the other New Atheists and believers tend to be focused around arguments based on the behavior of the church. I’ve noticed that these secular giants rarely use their own scientific specialties in favor of their atheism, primarily because as far as I can tell as a layman their scientific arguments don’t really support atheism. They also don’t always involve the Bible, except for a few specific tidbits like the presence of evil, slavery and the conquest of the Promised Land.
Rather these debates usually revolve around the behavior of the church. Inquisitions, restrictions on sexual positions which aren’t mentioned in Scripture but are well known in Missionary circles, pedophilia in the pulpit and other oppressive examples are used against the position of faith. It’s the behavior of the church as a body, rather than the Scriptures, which is often cited as a good enough reason to reject a Creator and faith in Him.
People of faith are watched very carefully in the hopes of pinning something against Yeshua and His followers. We are expected to uphold the values we preach about. People outside the faith sometimes think we should uphold them perfectly, which is unreasonable and hypocritical, but they expect it just the same and will blame Yahweh for our indiscretions.
In this case and at this time, rebellion against authorities is becoming more and more likely. If it happens it happens, but I do hope that the people of Elohim will make the Kingdom their highest priority and behave accordingly in whatever political context they may be in. I hope, whatever action someone may take, that they consult the Scriptures and the Father in prayer earnestly and honestly first and base their decision on what they find.
