“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”! Acts 5:29
Shakespeare asked, “To be, or not to be, that is the question.” The Bible’s version of this is, “To obey, or not to obey, that is the question.” Samuel gave Saul the answer, “To obey is better.”
The background of our text is as follows: Peter and the other disciples had been preaching to the people the resurrection of Christ. This came to the ears of the religious leaders and they called them before the council who threatened them. Unless they ceased they would suffer the consequences, they were told. The disciples then returned to what they had been doing previously. They left it up to the authorities to determine in their own minds whether it was right or not; they had settled that question long before. Again they were arrested, this time beaten. When freed they once again returned to their daily ingrained custom, rejoicing they were counted worthy to suffer for His Name’s sake.
In every age Christians have been confronted as to the question of obeying the rulers of their day or to obey God’s Eternal Word. This has been an issue of God’s people in every culture, past or present.
The Scripture does not cover every little thing that arises in life. You see this in the saints’ coming to God for answers to their dilemma, Num. 15:32-35 cp. 27:1-7. In our age, with a completed Bible, when the particular is not clear, you go by the eternal principle found in God’s Holy Writ.
The Holy Bible teaches we are to obey those with authority over us, UNLESS IT IS IN DIRECT VIOLATION TO GOD’S REVEALED WORD! We see this in the actions of such saints as Moses’ parents, Daniel and his three friends, etc. No matter the cost, humiliation, misunderstanding, or misrepresentation! Bible Christians said YES! to God, and NO, to the authorities; when they were out of line with God’s Word.
In my almost 88 years on this earth I have never seen it so bad. That is, the powers that be taking control of everything. The time has come God’s Elect stand up and be counted. STAND! even if it is not considered by some to not be in the right way. Remember, it is better to do the right thing in the wrong way, than the wrong thing in the right way.
Martin Luther said, “I’d rather obey than work miracles”