OK, that’s a big claim. So let me limit it a bit. “The most disobeyed commandment in the church in the last four months.”
Now, let’s see, what happened four months ago?
Oh, yes, President Obama won re-election.
But what’s that got to do with any commandment?
Well, try the fifth for size.
Honor my father and mother? Obama’s not my Dad.
No, but the fifth commandment covers all inferior-superior relationships, including that of citizen-President. As the Westminster Larger Catechism puts it:
By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant, not only natural parents, but all superiors in age and gifts; and especially such as, by God’s ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family, church, or commonwealth (A. 124).
Answer 125 goes on to explain that superiors like Presidents are called father and mother to make us more willing and cheerful in performing our duties to them, as if they were our parents!
Gulp!
It get’s worse, better, worse, whatever. Answer 127 tells us what honor we owe to the President:
- All due reverence in heart, word, and behavior
- Prayer and thanksgiving for them
- Imitation of their virtues and graces
- Willing obedience to their lawful commands and counsels
- Due submission to their corrections
- Fidelity to, defense and maintenance of their persons and authority
- Bearing with their infirmities
- Covering them in love
8x Gulp!
Many Christians have shattered this commandment in a thousand pieces over the last four months, perhaps even over the last four years.
Sure, we must defend the sanctity of life and of marriage, but we must not do so at the expense of the fifth commandment. Since when do we get to pick and choose which commandments are most important and which are irrelevant?
Serious moral errors in some areas of government policy and practice are no excuse for failing to obey this commandment in all other areas.
Thankfully and mercifully, God offers forgiveness for this sin too – if we repent of it and believe in Jesus.
I’m guessing this will be the most unshared, unliked, and un-tweeted post I’ve ever written. But I’ll probably make up for that tomorrow when we’ll look at exceptions to the fifth commandment – what we should do when the Government tries to be God.
Update: Here’s a link to When Government tries to be God.
As a Canadian, who lives with leaders very much like Mr. Obama, this was definitely stinging in a good kind of way. I have a particular bugaboo with our provincial premier. Stinging is good every now and than.
Well said brother. Here is one small step we could all take to submitting to this fifth commandment- stop using insults or disrespect in how we refer to the President. I have no quarrel with “The President has no respect for the Constitution, and his vow to protect, defend and uphold it was deceptive from the beginning.” I do quarrel with “O’Bummer has no respect…” or “The Kenyan Jackal has no respect…” I doubt there are few people in the world more opposed to the President’s policies. But I pray the least respectful think I ever call him is Mr. Obama.”
Well put.
Dr. Murray,
I appreciate your post and agree, many of us have gone far afield of loving our president in the way we ought, even in the midst of very real and very serious disagreement. For some Christians, for whatever reason, public figures, and especially those in politics, seem to be immune to our responsibility as Christians in terms of being gracious and loving them, even when we disagree and debate. These are what we owe any person created in God’s image, not just those in authority.
My question really has to do with the type of government the United States is and where the authority actually resides. I would argue, as a constitutional republic, the authority of the nation that we are called to submit to is not any individual, but rather the rule of law (i.e. the constitution) itself. If this were a monarchy, we would certainly be called to honor the king, or an aristocracy, the ruling body – but as a constitutional republic, I don’t think the president is automatically given the authoritative role that the Bible calls us to submit to. This, of course, does not eliminate the love and respect that is due to all humans on my part according to the Word of God, but the specific commands with regards to our authorities don’t seem to me to fit our political system in the way of applying them to specific individuals, and specifically the President. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Thank you!
Nick,
I realize that your question was not directed to me, but I so appreciated what you said as I’ve had to struggle through it myself that I hope you don’t mind my replying.
You are correct in asserting that the authority of the nation is found in the constitution, however, the constitution itself defers specific powers to the individuals that make up the governing bodies that it establishes. In other words, the Constitution is the absolute law of the land, but that doesn’t remove the measure of power and authority granted to the individuals who make up the executive, legislative, or judicial branches. Because of this, I believe that the kind of authority we are called to submit to would still be well defined in the person of the presidency. By way of biblical support, Romans 13 refers to servants, plural, as well as authorities, plural.
Thanks!
The best thing about this post is that it cites the Westminster Larger Catechism as it’s authority and not Scripture. Every so often outlaws ride in and take over a town. They’re there by God’s decree but not by his precept. Not all who have power have authority. In the US the US Constitution is our God-given authority for civil government, not men. When one seeks to destroy what he has sworn to uphold he no longer has the authority which is invested in the office which he occupies. Evil men should be opposed lawfully. There is coming a day, if the current course of events continues,where Christian will either compromise the truth or they will not be allowed to speak in their churches, much less the public square. Nevertheless, Christians should pray for the salvation of the president, just as we should for men such as Kim Jong-un of N. Korea.
Gordon, I agree with you about the worrying trends we are seeing. See my blog post “When the Government tries to be God.”
I don’t agree with your attempt to separate constitution/laws from those who administer them. I don’t see that distinction in the Bible. Paul’s instructions, and Jesus’, are very personal.
The catechism is a brief summary of biblical teaching. As other commenters have pointed out, it’s not too difficult to find the verses that support the principle, but the catechism helps to gather together the teaching in a succinct summary – quite helpful for a brief blog post. Romans 13 is an application of the moral principle summarized in the fifth commandment.
Very well said! So true.
Very well said!
Whoa! I am going to have to chew on this a while. I look forward to the next article. Way to make me think!
This is good. Christians would also have some duty to apply this to Nero Caesar, even while in his courtyard waiting for the torch–I’m not being cynical, just pushing at the consequences.
Also, how would the Law of the Lesser Magistrate (cf. Rom. 13:3-4) fit with this?
I appreciate the post. But is your claim overplayed? The most violated of the Ten Commandments is always the First: “You shall have no other gods in my presence.” Make God the highest priority, the non-negotiable issue underlying all other issues. When we get the First Commandment fundamentally right, all the other commandments begin to fall into place.
Conversely, disorder in obeying the First Commandment leads to all other disorders, including the current disorder about the Fifth Commandment and the federal government that you so rightly point out. If the federal government would obey the First Commandment, then it would be much easier to “render honor where honor is due,” as the NT tells us.
But what would the prophet Jeremiah have said about this administration?
Hi Bryon,
I humbly urge you to read carefully, before you speak.
It was mentioned:
“OK, that’s a big claim. So let me limit it a bit. “The most disobeyed commandment in the church in the last four months.””
Also see:
“Since when do we get to pick and choose which commandments are most important and which are irrelevant?”
What I read from this blogpost is:
a) …in the church…. last four months…
b) … when to we get to pick and choose…
I believe careful review will help all of us to not be quick to criticize.
“If the federal government would obey the First Commandment, then it would be much easier to “render honor where honor is due,””
I don’t follow the conclusion you have made, that others (whether Christian or not) obeying God’s law, is what helps us to do the same. We have our own obligation.
Mr. Obama and the US government will not be representing us when we stand before Christ our Judge!
Thank you Jorge. You put it better than I could have.
Great Post! So true and a great way to reveal the gospel to non believers.
Any thoughts on the Resistance movements throughout Europe during WWII?
Legitimate and lawful opposition to unlawful invasion and occupation.
The claim is definitley overplayed. The most disobeyed commandment is the sixth. When “christians” vote for a zealous pro-abortionist like Obama they are violating the sixth commandment. (Remember that one?….”Thou shall not kill”) That is a far more heinous and greater sin than not showing enough honor to a political figure head. And yet, the numbers from the last election showed that millions of “christians” went and did it anyway. I’ve got a great idea. Lets admonish and rebuke some true believers for not being nice enough, and lets let the wicked continue to freely strut about while they do what is vile in God’s eyes (vote for abortionists and yet claim to honor and obey God).
Love the principle you are talking about, but why not just go to Roman’s 13:1 instead of extrapolating from the OT law which we are free from?
NT ethics are applications of the moral principles summarized in the ten commandments. Romans 13:1 is an application of the moral principle at the core of the fifth commandment.
It just seems to me that the most disobeyed commandment is always the first one. The rest simply explain in what ways we are disobeying it. Having said that, thanks for this post. Good work.
I think your point is well-taken, but I think you could have picked a better verse that clearly makes your point (Romans 13, Jeremiah 29, etc).
Better to get your principle from the Bible than a Catechism.
The catechism is a brief summary of biblical teaching. As you’ve pointed out, it’s not too difficult to find the verses that support the principle, but the catechism helps to gather together the teaching in a succinct summary – quite helpful for a brief blog post. Romans 13 is an application of the moral principle summarized in the fifth commandment.
There are verses that support the idea in your article, but the 5th commandment is not one of them. The 5th commandment does not extend to other authorities. Would the OT Jews read that verse as, ‘honor the rulers over you so that your days may be long in the land the Lord is giving you’?
Yes.
Good point Marcia! Too bad no one told Dietrich Bonhoffer about honoring the king. He could’ve lived a nice, long, comfortable life as a theologian or pastor.
See today’s post, Jeff. Obedience to civil authority is not required when the Government commands us to do what God forbids. From what I’ve read of Bonhoeffer, he would have agreed with this post. He wrestled mightily with his own conscience over this. He would also have agreed with Acts 4:19.
AMEN!! I get so tired of the ugly attitudes towards our President and the intellectual dishonesty to admit that we might find some good in him. I am a right wing conservative who is disgusted with all the name calling, because first I am a follower of Christ. At no point, did Christ respond to secular government with dishonor. He was more zealous against the religious leaders. IF readers don’t find your case for the fifth commandment to be convincing then 1 Peter 2 should do:
“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[d] of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”
The emperor at the time was Nero.
Blessings,
Tina
Exactly. Our weapons are not those of the flesh.
I would add -
Philippians 2:5-11
Acts 23:5
To the list of applicable passages as well.
David,
To reinforce your post, have a look at how Edward Fisher handles this commandment in his Marrow of Modern Divinity (second dialogue)
Would we honor Hitler?
See next article.
David, I add my AMEN! to what you say. We are to pray for president Obama and our leaders, no matter who they are. I am shocked at the disrespect and disdain that some Christians have for President Obama, when in reality his Christian confession is virtually identical to that of Preside George W. Bush. For the record, I voted against both Obama and Bush, and I can’t/couldn’t stand either one as President, but I pray earnestly for them as our leader(s).
Thanks, and peace in Christ.
I am thinking the 4th commandment is the most often disobeyed as we are routinely told by churches/leaders that we are no longer obligated to keep this one. At least we are still occasionally convicted to keep the other nine. There is a lot of picking and choosing of God’s laws that we wish to follow.
Sorry – I don’t believe this:
“No, but the fifth commandment covers all inferior-superior relationships, including that of citizen-President. As the Westminster Larger Catechism puts it:
By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant, not only natural parents, but all superiors in age and gifts; and especially such as, by God’s ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family, church, or commonwealth (A. 124).
Answer 125 goes on to explain that superiors like Presidents are called father and mother to make us more willing and cheerful in performing our duties to them, as if they were our parents!”
I accept your conclusion, but not your premise. I think we are to honor President Obama based on Romans 13, not the 5th commandment. As a reformed person myself, I’m so tired of reformed people telling me why the Scripture doesn’t mean what it says.
There’s a lot of biblical reasoning behind the catechisms, Lisa. Have a look at some of the proof texts and commentaries. The men who wrote them had more love for the Bible than we ever will.
We do not have a Presidential government, we do have a Constitutional government. We are called to give to Ceasar what is due Ceasar, and to be subject to the rulers who are over us. However the rulers are not equal to our parents in authority or respect. The above is a very elastic mis-use of the 5th commandment.
I would argue that coveting (commandment #10) is either at the top or near the top. Many evangelicals don’t even know what it is and most have never heard a sermon about it. And yet, 90% Americans are consumed with a desire to keep up with the Jones’. Most of us are in debt (many chronically), we are giving 1 or 2% of our income rather than a tithe and we live in the richest civilization in the history of mankind.
My conscience is quickened in that I do not pray enough for our president, but that’s as far as I go on this. The constitution and the rule of law are what Obama has sworn to uphold; that is the job of any president for that matter, so while I acknowledge the authority of the president, the current president is usurping the the higher authority of our constitution. That is what is suppose to govern the United States of America. Obama gets my respect because he has been hired by the people to do this job, but the people are his boss and he gets a bad job review from me. I stand to be corrected here. I am only educated to the twelfth grade and was not a good student.
Heya, David. This article might take an interesting historical application of yours here. It somewhat takes “loving and prayerful subservience to the established power” (excepting those attempting to thwart God’s commands) to its root by taking a look at The American Revolution. There are some interesting points that can garner agreements and disagreements from both sides. Granted, the Revolution wasn’t fought 100% strictly by those attempting to be “Bible adhering” Christians (though it was much more prominent back then perhaps), so the “10 commandment rightness” of it all can’t be uniformly applied to all those involved, especially since most of the reasons for American colonies’ rebellion against their established king had little to do with religious reasons and more to do with monetary/sales/tax reasons. Many today, have issues with both (hence your other article, When the Government Tries to Play God).
I’m not trying to make a particular polemic statement with this really, I guess it’s just an interesting notion to me that America as it stands today with Christian and non-Christian citizens alike rebelling or reveling in their hearts over the parade of their elected leaders every 4 to 8 years, have their country’s successful origin staked in rebellion against an established governmental (or monarchical as the case was) power. The Old Testament had a more clear cut case of God essentially telling his people directly to topple evil or sinful nations, but after those days, it becomes more of a wrestling of conscience when feeling spite and wrath in our hearts toward our leaders whom we feel to be “in the wrong.” Obviously, the ideal to follow as Christians is prayerful submissive obedience to the powers we disagree with (excluding-again-any laws attempting to thwart or undermine God’s laws), and then asking Him to soften our hearts and thoughts of bitterness and rage. At the same time, had the colonies done this, America might not be here today (let alone the follow up history of poisoning and lying to Native American’s to expand our borders). This can of course tie in to the bigger Theological ideas of free will and God’s ability to still accomplish his purposes despite human disobedience and the misapplication of His name for human purposes…etc, haha. Ahh man, life is complicated, yes?.
That’s all…just food for thought I guess.
http://thecripplegate.com/was-the-american-revolution-sinful/
What is needed most of all is an understanding of the Doctrine of Authority. This will allow us to know how to obey the commands without compromising our faith or standards. See: http://www.pocketcollege.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Doctrine_of_Authority
Holiness, ‘Without which no one will see the Lord.” Heb 12.14
As to Hitler, if nothing else, the law called The Enabling Act which essentially made him Fuhrer was passed with Nazi troops/thugs watching over the vote. That’s a legislative process which was unlawful; parliamentary votes are not binding when force is used to cause them. In other words, Hitler brought about an unlawful coup of a democratic government, which would’ve been grounds for resistance and revolution. But lets not forget that Hitler had a lot of help in Germany.
Nice try, but “Answer 127″ (and those like it) is not divine. Please do not corrupt the fifth commandment.
In the USA, our president and congress people and so forth are called. . .
“public servants.”
There is a reason for this. They are not kings. They are servants, servants of the public, and their job is to keep order, uphold the Constitution (which they publicly swear to do), and perform incidental duties of the office.
So the whole attitude being uplifted — as though they are some sort of anointed king — is, I think, wrongly presupposed.
I am not in rebellion if I criticize the President. I am in rebellion if I refuse to lawfully submit, if I mischaracterize or slander, or if I mock in a personal way.
But they work for me. I don’t work for them. That is how our government is set up, and rightly so, I believe.
Sorry, dude. The only man a title conferred mandatory respect on was the Son of God. All others, whether preachers, politicians, or paupers have to earn it.
How old are you Tom? Dude. LOL
Authority is conferred upon those with whom we are called to respect. Parental authority is an example. God requires that we be respectful of authority so if you are disrespectful of authority as God commands it you are disrespecting God. See my comments and the scriptures I list below.
This is not an easy lesson to learn. It is one that I have had to learn time and time again. Respecting authority doesn’t mean that we appreciate what authority might do by action. It doesn’t mean we submit to commands that are unlawful. I think that is where a lot of people get confused. It does mean we have an attitude of honor for the position an authority might have. It means we respect office bearers with the dignity that office is afforded to the glory of God. It means we love and care for them as persons humbly seeking God for their benefit even if they are our enemies.
At the same time I do not believe we are commanded to respect those whom have conferred upon themselves an authority that was not given to them. But we are to pray for them as we are commanded by our Lord to pray for our enemies.
I have no respect for the Pope as an authority. His office is not ordained by God as a civil office or a true office in the Church. I am to respect the dignity of the man as he is created in the image of God though. I hope that makes sense. Does that make sense?
Now, I would admonish you to be respectful of Dr. Murray and address him in a more respectful attitude. He is not a dude but a Doctor in the Church of our Lord. He has had hands laid on him by the Presbyters. He should be afforded that respect as he has not only had the office conferred upon him but as he is also a man whose conversation and life exhibit the very qualities of a good worker in the Vineyard of our Lord.
Please don’t take what I said as being harsh. I am not angry nor trying to be harsh with you.
Mr. Snyder, I accept your admonishment. I fully agree with all your points. The tone of my remark was born of the frustration of living under a government, that in my opinion, has completely deserted it’s God-given authority. Also from having seen pastors hide behind “touch not mine anointed” while tearing their churches apart. I do, however, reject Dr. Murray’s premise that government is analogous to parents. I also think respect for, and obedience to, authority are 2 different things.
P.S. I’m probably older than you think. Thanks.
I’m not a big one for titles. I’ve been called worse than “Dude.”
Here is a question I have long thought over….in the American Revolution, was America correct in fighting for independence? If the King was their leader, were they not going against this commandant and verses in going against him? I have heard arguments for both sides and am curious as to what you would say.
Beth, having studied a bit of this out also I have to think that there were correct things about it and wrong things. I opposing a tyranical magistrate is needful. When a Magistrate starts stealing from the people to their harm (and I don’t mean removing luxuries for the purpose of building roads) and starving his kingdom then something needs to be done. I must also say that we have to look back through the eyes of Providence and see the Will of God being performed. God uses sinful men to accomplish His purposes in redemption. All authority and dominion was given to Christ as mediator over all for the purpose of redeeming His Church. That is probably the best way to look at the past.
At the same time we should pray for wisdom if we are ever put in a place where we might be living under a terrible tyranny. The Church was persecuted in the Colonies. The King enforced what he perceived to be his divine right over all subjects in his domain and the only true lawful Church was the King’s Church (Anglican). It is known as Erastianism. He overstepped his bounds making himself head of the Church on Earth. He inherited that from his forefathers.
I am an old Military guy. So bear with me. We learned about authority and respect due to the office of our authorities. If we had a disagreement with our superiors we were told to respond first with the phrase, “In all due respect,” before we made our appeal. We were allowed to disobey unlawful orders but not allowed to be disrespectful. I had to apologize a few times for the disrespectful attitude I had. The same goes for all people in authority. In that respect (concerning the 5th commandment) is the implication that we are to love our Parents. Parental authority is also the height of our learning respect for all authority. It is where it starts. In I believe it is the pinnacle of this place of learning this principle. It isn’t marriage as I understand Genesis. In Genesis it seems Adam recognizes this when he says that when a man is married he is to cleave to his wife (thus leaving his parents). I could be incorrect on this but that has been my thinking for decades.
A few other passages to contemplate are:
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
2Pe 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2Pe 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
Jud 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
Jud 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Rebuking sin respectfully is of utmost importance. We are also to remember:
1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Great points and well said. And to encourage us not to try to pick and choose which commandment WE think is the most disobeyed, I remind us all (me included) of James 2.10-12: “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.” The Ten Commandments are simply a summary of all God’s laws. We break one, they are all broken. Many of the comments here are a good reminder that we are each convicted on different ones perhaps recently, but we are all in the same place when it comes to the breaking of them all. Thanks for good discussion.
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