Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 133

Freedom and reason make brave men; Take these away, what are they then?- Mere groveling brutes, and just as well The beasts may think of heaven or h.e.l.l.

Know, then, that every soul is free To choose his life, and what he'll be; For this eternal truth is given: That G.o.d will force no man to heaven.

He'll call, persuade, direct him right, Bless him with wisdom, love, and light, In nameless ways be good and kind, But never force the human mind.

The Powers That Be

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Worship Interfered With By The State. Christians surprised by troops while worshiping in a cavern.

1. Who should be subject to civil government?

"Let _every soul_ be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of G.o.d." Rom. 13:1.

2. By whom are the powers that be ordained?

"The powers that be are ordained of _G.o.d_." Same verse.

3. What does one resist, who resists civil authority?

"Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth _the ordinance of G.o.d_: and they that resist shall receive to themselves d.a.m.nation." Verse 2.

NOTE.-"That is, they who rise up against _government itself_, who seek anarchy and confusion, who oppose the regular execution of the laws. It is implied, however, that those laws shall not be such as violate the rights of conscience or oppose the law of G.o.d."-_Dr. Albert Barnes, on Rom. 13:2._

4. What do the Scriptures indicate as the proper sphere and legitimate work of civil authority?

"For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the _evil_.... If thou do that which is _evil_, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of G.o.d, _a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil_." Verses 3, 4.

5. For whom is law made?

"Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but _for the lawless and disobedient_." 1 Tim. 1:9.

6. How are Christians admonished to respect civil authority?

"Put them in mind to be subject to princ.i.p.alities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work." t.i.tus 3:1. "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well.... Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear G.o.d. Honor the king." 1 Peter 2: 13-17. "For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are G.o.d's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor." Rom. 13:6, 7.

7. In what words does Christ show that there is another realm outside of Caesar's, or civil government?

"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; _and unto G.o.d the things that are G.o.d's_." Matt. 22:21.

8. To whom alone did He say worship is to be rendered?

"Thou shalt worship _the Lord thy G.o.d_, and _Him only shalt thou serve_."

Matt. 4:10.

9. What decree did King Nebuchadnezzar once make respecting worship?

"To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye _fall down and worship the golden image_ that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up. And whoso falleth not down and worshipeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." Dan. 3:4-6.

NOTE.-This decree was in direct conflict with the second commandment of G.o.d's law, which forbids making, bowing down to, and serving images. It was religious, idolatrous, and persecuting in character.

10. What answer did the three Hebrew captives, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, return when asked by the king why they had not fallen down and worshiped the golden image, as he had commanded?

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our G.o.d whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that _we will not serve thy G.o.ds, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up_." Verses 16-18.

11. What did Nebuchadnezzar then do?

"Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: ... and he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to _cast them into the burning fiery furnace_." Verses 19, 20.

12. After their miraculous deliverance, what did Nebuchadnezzar say?

"Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the G.o.d of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent His angel, and delivered His servants that trusted in Him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any G.o.d, except their own G.o.d." Verse 28.

NOTE.-By preserving these men in the fire, and thus changing the king's word, G.o.d was demonstrating before all the world, through this greatest of then-existing earthly kingdoms, that with the question of religion civil governments can of right have nothing whatsoever to do; that religion is a realm outside the legitimate sphere of civil authority; and that every individual should be left free to worship, or not to worship, according to the dictates of his own conscience. The lesson to be learned from this is that, although ordained of G.o.d, civil governments are not ordained to direct or oppress men in religious matters.

13. How only did the envious princes and rulers under King Darius conclude that they could effect the downfall of Daniel?

"Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him _concerning the law of his G.o.d_." Dan. 6:5.

14. To this end, what decree did they prevail upon the king to make and sign?

"That whosoever shall ask a pet.i.tion of any G.o.d or man for thirty days, _save of thee, O king_, he shall be cast into the den of lions." Verse 7.

NOTE.-Unlike the decree of Nebuchadnezzar, this decree forbade the worship of the true G.o.d, and was therefore in direct conflict with the first commandment, which forbids the worship of any other than the true G.o.d. Like it, however, it was religious and persecuting in character.

15. How did Daniel regard this decree?

"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, _he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, __ and prayed, and gave thanks before his G.o.d, as he did aforetime_." Verse 10.

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Daniel Praying In Babylon. "When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, ... he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, ... as he did aforetime." Dan. 6:10.