CQOD: 05/27/07 -- Calvin: resistance to tyrants
Christian Quotation of the Day
May 27, 2007Pentecost
Commemoration of John Calvin, renewer of the Church, 1564
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
-- Romans 13:1-7 (NIV)
Quotation:
However these deeds of men are judged in themselves, still the Lord accomplished his work through them alike when he broke the bloody scepters of arrogant kings and when he overturned intolerable governments. Let the princes hear and be afraid. But we must, in the meantime, be very careful not to despise or violate that authority of magistrates, full of venerable majesty, which God has established by the weightiest decrees, even though it may reside with the most unworthy men, who defile it as much as they can with their own wickedness. For, if the correction of unbridled despotism is the Lord’s to avenge, let us not at once think that it is entrusted to us, to whom no command has been given except to obey and suffer.
... John Calvin (1509-1564), The Institutes of the Christian Religion [1559]
Quiet time reflection:
Lord, grant me the humility to obey Your word.
See Believer's Desktop Companion 2007
http://www.cqod.com/cqoddtcb.html
CQOD Compilation Copyright 2007, Robert McAnally Adams, Curator
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posted by Robert McAnally Adams at 5/25/2007 11:05:00 AM
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