by Aaron Shafovaloff
Since Biden was inaugurated as President we should:
1) Pray for
2) Submit to
3) Call to repentance
1) "I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
2) "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." (1 Peter 2:13-14)
3) "Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled." (Psalm 2:10-12)
When should we practice civil disobedience?
- When a ruler commands what God prohibits or prohibits what God commands.
- When a ruler commits clear overreach of "sphere sovereignty" -- principled boundaries to institutions of family, church, government, and conscience.
- When a ruler contradicts legal government. When he disregards the higher rule of law.
- When a ruler disrupts freedoms necessary for obedience to conscience or Scripture in an ongoing or substantial way.
- When a ruler's emergency incidental interference with regular freedoms is no longer “temporary and localized", but "lasts longer and extends farther than the conditions that gave rise to it.”
- When a ruler opposes Christ in a way that presents an opportunity for holy and meaningful (perhaps symbolic) defiance from believers.
Apart from these, we bend sharply in the direction of cheerful submission, including in attitude.
The Westminster Confession on honoring superiors (in rank)
"The honor which inferiors owe to their superiors is, 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, according to their several ranks, and the nature of their places; bearing with their infirmities, and covering them in love, that so they may be an honor to them and to their government."
Common sins:
"The sins of inferiors against their superiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward them; envying at, contempt of, and rebellion against their persons and places, in their lawful counsels, commands, and corrections; cursing, mocking, and all such refractory and scandalous carriage, as proves a shame and dishonor to them and their government."
May the Lord mature the way I think and speak about this.