THE RESISTANCE

THE RESISTANCE

Feb 17, 2023

THE RESISTANCE

There’s a recurring theme in a lot of movies: a heroic band of ragtag misfits fights against an oppressive enemy—outnumbered and outgunned, they battle overwhelming obstacles seeking deliverance, freedom. We munch our popcorn and wait for the good guys to find a way to beat the odds and end the tyranny. The story has been retold so many times, we tend to automatically root for the rebels. It feels like justice when the ruthless overlords are toppled. We like to say, “They got what was coming to them!”

But—are these stories, at their heart, telling us something true? Is being a part of “the resistance” really some sort of inherent good? Our instinct seems to be that this is obvious—common sense, even—that there’s a duty to rebel (at least if the authority is evil enough). Who could possibly want the oppressor to prevail? Isn’t it crystal clear that those who won’t support the fight are on the enemy’s side?

As is usual, Jesus stakes out a position quite contrary to our instincts:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person.” -Jesus

Jesus does not say the evil person is not evil, but He wants to teach us that our heart’s desire to retaliate simply is not good. The desire to give them “what’s coming to them” is not moral strength. Jesus calls us not to be the opposition. This is not a popular message—not today, nor at the time, when Israel was under an oppressive Roman occupation. Taxes (as is often the case) were one of the things the people were rebelling against:

“The Pharisees plotted together how they might trap Jesus in what He said, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that You teach the way of God in truth. Tell us then, is it permissible to pay tax to Caesar, or not?’ But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, ‘Show Me the coin used for the tax.’ They brought Him a denarius, and He said to them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ They said to Him, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then He said to them, ‘Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.’ And hearing this, they were amazed; and they left Him.” -Matthew

Rome was hated, and brutal. Caesar was hated, and brutal. The Israelites who collected these taxes for Rome were despised as traitors. But Jesus says, pay the tax. Be subject to Caesar. Do not rebel. He doesn’t say Rome is good, nor Caesar—only that rebellion is not. Willingness to choose subjection is the Biblical concept of submission. Our sinful nature bristles at submission, seemingly more than anything else. “Don’t tell me what to do!” we say. “You’re not the boss of me!”

This unyielding spirit is the very thing Jesus seeks to free us from. Refusing submission is rebellion. And rebels we are, all of us, by nature. No one wants to be led by the nose where they do not wish to go. Like the old poem says, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” And like the old song says, “I did it my way.” This wayward nature, within us all, is referred to as the flesh:

“The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so.” -Paul

The flesh does not subject itself. It does not submit. It cannot. Before I became a Christian, this was definitely the overarching reason—not a seeming lack of evidence for God, not the hypocrisy of religious people, but my own adamant hatred of the idea that God should be submitted to. “Don’t tell me what to do!” was a driving force in my life.

As I came to learn, submitting to God is just the beginning. Submission ripples outward:

“Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” -Paul

This was likely written when Nero was the Roman emperor. Nero murdered his own mother for political gain! Paul was definitely not saying Nero was worth submitting to—Nero was a madman. The quality of the leader or the government is irrelevant. Submit.

It gets more and more personal, too. None of our relationships escape the sword of submission:

“Subject yourselves to one another.” -Paul

“Children, obey your parents, for this is right. Honor your father and mother.” -Paul

“You younger men, be subject to your elders.” -Peter

“Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are harsh.” -Peter

“Wives, be subject to your husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won over without a word by the behavior of their wives.” -Peter

“The household of Stephanas have devoted themselves to ministry; be subject to such as these and to everyone who helps in the work.” -Paul

“Obey your leaders and submit to them—they keep watch over your souls.” -Hebrews

But—is there no exception? Are the rebels really never the heroes? Well, there was this one time…

After the resurrection of Jesus, His disciples (now usually called apostles) were forbidden by the Jewish high priest from speaking any longer in the name of Christ. But the apostles disobeyed, and they were brought again before the high priest:

“The high priest interrogated them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” -Luke

As far as submission to God, it is simple—there is never any exception. But if you are ever utterly commanded to do what God forbids (or utterly forbidden to do what God commands), then, and only then, are you to rebel. And then, you must!

But see the paradox: this rebellion, against whatever lesser authority, is still a submission—to God.

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