Can police, protests, and peace all exist together?
Or do you have to eliminate the police to find peace? Or eliminate the protests to find peace?
In this episode, Dr. Mark Sherwood tackles these challenging questions.
Show Notes
When we are living in chronic fear, chronic anxiety, and all kinds of upheaval, it absolutely will have a powerful effect on your system.
Romans 13:1-5 NIV – Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
Authority is from God.
There is order and authority in the family. The father is the leader of the household. Teachers are in positions of authority. Coaches are in positions of authority. The government is in a position of authority.
These concepts of authority are put in place by God for our good.
We are called to obey authority.
This doesn’t mean we can’t protest. We can protest to our coach, or to our government, or to our parents.
In other words, we can have disagreement because disagreement is an opportunity not for something negative but for something positive. It allows for people to see different sides of the coin.
So, protests are okay. Violent crime is not.
We should follow the rules.
Rules are put in place to help people, to give them guidelines. Good things happen when you follow the rules.
Whether we are in authority or under authority, we should follow the rules.
Do you want to be free from the fear of authority? Follow the rules.
We should pray for those in authority.
To be part of the solution, not the problem, you must pray for those in authority. Not talk bad about them. Pray for them.
Freedom from fear leads to peace.
When you do these things, you’ll be free from the fear of authority. As a result, you live in peace.
In other words, peace, protests and peace can all exist together.
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