A mother called one of our customer service reps at Answers in Genesis to renew her Answers magazine subscription. She wanted to let us know that she gave her teenage sons the choice as to which magazine they wanted to renew: Answers or another Christian magazine, since they can only afford one publication this year. They wanted our Answers magazine hands down with an immediate response.
Answers magazine is certainly getting rave reviews! Don’t miss out—subscribe through the AiG website. No matter what country you live in, you can subscribe to Answers—we have a special place on the website for international subscriptions.
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:1–8It is also good to be reminded of the account in Acts 5 (I encourage you to read it) where Peter and the Apostles disobeyed an order by the authorities not to preach the gospel (as they had been doing). I include here a section from the commentary by John Gill on this section:
Ver. 29. Then Peter, and the other apostles, answered and said, &c.] Peter began, as the mouth of the apostles, being the eldest man, and very bold and zealous; and the rest followed, or joined, with him in what he said:
We ought to obey God rather than men; this is said in answer to the charge of disobedience to the orders and commands of the council: men, civil magistrates, and ecclesiastical rulers, are to be obeyed in things which are not repugnant to the will of God; but in things that are, God is to be obeyed, and not men. God had commanded by an angel, that the apostles should go to the temple, and there preach the doctrines of the Gospel; the sanhedrim had forbid them to speak and teach in the name of Christ; who were now to be obeyed? God, and not men: from whence it appears that the apostles were to be justified in disregarding the council, and neglecting its orders; and which is no ways contrary to that obedience and submission, that is to be yielded to those that are in authority, in things civil and lawful.We should be reminded of this particularly when reading the new president’s agenda taken directly from the official White House website:
Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.The Bible is very clear and specific that marriage is to be between one man and one woman regardless of what any human declares.
The White House website also states:
Supports a Woman’s Right to Choose: President Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women’s rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Adminstration [sic]. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in that case.The Bible is very clear that human life begins at the moment of initial conception (see Get Answers: Abortion and Euthanasia). Abortion is clearly the deliberate killing of a human being regardless of what any human declares.
Give us more than we hadThanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,(Luke 18:22) Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Designating Jesus Christ as our personal Lord is not a light act, and when He tests the sincerity of our decision it is always to give us more than we had.
Ken
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.