When
Satan tempted Jesus to make stones into bread, Jesus responded by saying,
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of
the mouth of God"
(Matt. 4:4).
This was a reference to the incident recorded in Deuteronomy 8 when God gave
the Israelites manna in the wilderness. He gave specific instructions as to
how much to gather for a day's supply. Any more than that would breed worms
and stink and they could not use it. They were to look beyond the actual
manna to the source of their very existence. God was their provider and they
were answerable to him. So it is in all human relations. The God who made
the world and who made us has the right to command, to direct, and to
enforce obedience. He also has the right to enact punishment upon the
disobedient.
Order in the Family
Concerning the
family Jesus said, "Have you not read, that he which made them at the
beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man
leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they two shall be
one flesh? Wherefore they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God
hath joined together, let not man put asunder"
(Matt. 19:4-6).
Marriage was created by God, even as he created the universe and set in
motion the laws by which it is ordered. As God made man and determined the
bounds of his habitation, even so God made marriage and set in motion the
laws by which it functions. Notice that "at the beginning" he made them male
and female. That denies evolution, even the theistic brand. Both male and
female were distinctly formed by God and that was done "at the beginning."
Notice further
that in marriage male and female become one. There is a perfect and intimate
union of mind, soul, and body. They function not as adversaries, or
competitors, but with one heart and soul. This union is a divine creation
and it is just as damaging to disregard that as it is to reject God's
authority in the natural creation. For man to "put asunder" what "God hath
joined together" is to invite great harm upon this relationship. The balance
of moral behavior is poised upon the permanence and stability of God's
divine order for the family. To "put asunder" what God has joined together
is to tear down the basic unit of all orderly human society. No wonder such
violation of divine authority results in broken hearts, devastated children,
rebellious behavior, hatred, and every evil work. Malice, bitterness,
jealousy, envy, hatred, lying, cheating, stealing, and murder often follow
in the wake of man's presumption in tearing apart what God joined together.
There is
something else here worthy of note and that is that marriage is more than a
social or civil ceremony. While the customs and laws of man require certain
things which validate a marriage in any given culture (and devout people
ought to respect such things), it is God who creates the bond. Only divinely
expressed authority can sever that. Death severs this bond
(Rom. 7:1-3).
In the context
of the passage we are considering
(Matt. 19),
Jesus taught that fornication grants the injured party the right to put away
the guilty
(v. 9).
But while we
debate the exception, let it not be forgotten that there is a rule here. It
is simply that God created marriage. He establishes the bond and man is not
to put it asunder. Any violation of what he taught about it flaunts divine
authority. That cannot be done without a price to pay.
Order in Civil Government
The same divine
power that created the universe, made man in his image, designed the family
and fashioned the laws by which each of these is ordered, designed civil
government for the good of mankind. "Let every soul be subject to the higher
power, for there is no power but of God and the powers that be are ordained
of God"
(Rom. 13:1).
Without specifying any one form of civil rule over another, God still
ordained "the powers that be." By di-vine authority they function. Peter
clearly stated the design of civil government. "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
evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well"
(1 Pet. 2:13-14).
It is the duty
of civil rulers to "punish the evil doers." Lawbreakers, the rebellious,
those who do not respect the rule of law, are not to be tolerated. They are
to be punished. In every dispensation this principle is revealed. In
Genesis 9:6
God said, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." It
is this same principle revealed in the law of Moses which contained over 30
instances in which capital punishment was to be inflicted. Ezra spelled out
the demand for punishment upon the law-breakers, showing the punishment
suited to the seriousness of the crime. "And whosoever will not do the law
of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon
him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of
goods, or to imprisonment"
(Ezra 7:26).
Note that whatever punishment was to be ad-ministered to suit the nature of
the crime, it was to be done "speedily" (KJV, NKJV). The New American
Standard Version reads "strictly." There was to be no dalliance. The
offender was not to "get off." The punishment was exact, determined
beforehand according to the offense and it was to be executed with speed.
Solomon added that failure to carry out sentence against an evil work
"speedily" would cause the hearts of men to be set on evil
(Eccl. 8:11).
Is strict punishment a deterrent to crime? The Lord thought so and revealed
it through inspired men. The whole debate on this issue now springs from a
lack of respect for the divine authority of the Almighty.
In the New
Testament, Paul said the civil ruler is "the minister of God to thee for
good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the
sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath
upon him that doeth evil"
(Rom. 13:4).
The civil ruler has a "sword," a weapon of force. Who gave it to him? By
what right does he use it? "He is the minister of God, a revenger, to
execute wrath on him that doeth evil." Civil law exercised without prompt
and certain punishment for those who violate that law, opens the door to
anarchy. When policemen are stripped of power, when the system is rigged in
favor of the criminal and his "rights" transcend those of his victims, then
justice is perverted and an escalation in crime is inevitable. When cases
are decided without regard to the evidence and verdicts are based on emotion
in spite of clear evidence, then the rule of law has suffered a serious
blow.
Peter said the
rulers are also to "praise those who do well." The rights and safety of
those who are submissive to law must be secured by rulers. The greatest
asset which law enforcement has is the presence of God-fearing, law-abiding
citizens who are not only concerned with their "rights" but the "rights" of
others as well. People who pay their debts, go to work on time, work hard,
and observe the laws (whether the speed limit, the requirement for hunting
or fishing licenses), rear decent and honorable children, and who practice
the Golden Rule are benefactors to the powers that be. They ought to be
encouraged in right doing. Any time laws are slanted to punish people for
doing right, then God's will is not done. When married people are taxed at a
higher rate than those who simply "live together" then evil is encouraged
and those who do well are disadvantaged. Instead of mocking and working to
punish those who live by the law, not just out of fear of punishment, but
because they believe this to be the will of God, civil rulers ought to
protect and praise those who do well, as Peter said. Something surely is out
of whack in these times! What is the real problem? It is disrespect for God
who authorized civil government.
Guardian of Truth - January 18, 1996
Other Articles by Connie W. Adams
Diving Authority and the Creation
In
Remembrance of These Things
The Perception Is ...
Sound Speech or Sound
Silence?
Protecting Churches From Error
The Problem of Private
Lust
The Trend Among the Young
Preachers
Old Song, New Singers
Umbrella Religion
Lest Anyone Should
Deceive You
For Past Auburn Beacons go to:
www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm
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