Responding to Law Courts
 May
the Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. This month there were
four road reports filed. Only one police stop involved the issuing of citations. At the
other three stops, no citations were issued, nor were Heaven documents
confiscated. Yes, it is possible to be pulled over in a Heaven vehicle, show
your Heaven license and registration, and hear the officer say, "Your
papers are in order. Have a good day."
It would be an easy life if all traffic stops
ended this way, but the battle is far from over. It is inevitable as you travel
in the Kingdom, that someday you will be pulled over, hauled off to jail, and
forced to stand before the courts of men. When it is your turn, how will you
respond? Will you build a defense for your actions, even though what you are
doing has already been settled in Heaven? (Psalms 119:89) Will you play their
game, hoping to convince them you have broken no laws? Will you freeze up and
stand mute through the entire proceeding? What principles will guide your
actions? How should citizens of Heaven respond to court?
We researched how the early Christians viewed
the law courts of their day. We found that Christians, up until the time of
Constantine, regarded the law-courts as an evil which had to be patiently
endured, with submission to the will of God. Two principles set the early
Christians apart from those around them. First, they never compelled anyone in
any way. Second, they never went to law against another. They did not take part
in the judging of others and did not participate in the process whereby they
were judged and condemned by men's courts.
While I was in jail in 1987, God spoke many
truths to me about the courts. His Words have saved me from building false hopes
for a victory according to men's tribunals. Now I know:
1) There is no salvation in the
courts at any level. We must suffer injustice and be defrauded, just as
our King did. We must suffer for doing good.
2) Our only hope is putting our
faith in Jesus Christ. Our Lord is coming and we must stand until He
comes.
3) Though we are surrounded on all sides
by those who hate and want to destroy us, God's Kingdom rules in the
midst of our enemies (Psalm 110:2).
4) If God calls us out of the world, and
we renounce all ties with state and federal governments, we may lose our
loved ones, our possessions, and possibly even our own lives. WE MAY GO
TO JAIL. But we will also be racing toward an incorruptible crown, which
makes the loss of our possessions and our very lives of little
consequence.
Related articles:
Playing Court Game
Determine Citizenship
No Court
Obeying Authorities |
