Who Is Your Authority?

I continued thinking about yesterday's post for many hours and thought, "Yeah, I need to say more ..."

All of my kids, at one time or another, even in unison howled, "You are not my boss!"  Well, on the one hand they were approaching this from the viewpoint of I am not their biological father, I am not Russian (save for a little on my Grandmother's side, and they did not choose me!  So, I should have no input or over ride of their desires!  Those whom fought the hardest - are my most ardent supporter within the family - because I never led them incorrectly - and always in their best interest.

So, I would laugh, they would get angry, if not turn beat red and blow their stack while cursing me out in Russian!  LOL, well I still think it funny.

Mark 11:27-33
Mark 12:13-17

Jesus did a good job of trashing the outer court of the Temple, leaving the question in the Rabbi's lips, the populous' mind and to the Disciple observers: 

Who is in Authority?

Jesus ALWAYS!
Authority comes FROM Jesus.
Evidenced by:
Nature obeyed Jesus
Demons obeyed Jesus
Sickness/disease/handicap obeyed Jesus

Jesus has the authority:
Matthew 7:29
Matthew 8:9
Matthew 9:8
Matthew 28:18-20

The Crowd NEVER!
Mark 11:27
Mark 12:13

Jesus is seen as a real threat by the religious leaders.
Enemies within the Jewish system came together to plot an end to Jesus.
They sought to trap him ...
They tried flattery.

The Government MOSTLY!
 The tax Jesus was asked concerning was a head tax, to be paid because you were alive to the Emperor, using a coin declaring Ceasar to be the god!
And, Jesus called them on their hypocrisy!  You use this coin to buy and sell - so pay your taxes with it!

Romans 13:1 - you must pay

But, many rebel.

1.  God is the authority
2.  State is the authority
3.  God and State are the authority, but State comes first
4.  God and State are the authority, but God comes first

Correct approach is 4. 
You obey the State when it does not come in conflict with God (what the Bible clearly states!).

When is it okay to disobey?

And here we have the topic of my very first book!  It is a very real subject and complex, but let us distill this down to:

Anytime you are told to disobey God - then be disobedient to the State!
Told not to meet.
Told not to pray.
Bibles are outlawed.
Told you must kill.
Told you must compromise your faith/beliefs.
Told you may not give.

etc - all examples from just my lifetime!

Make your stand only in God's love for mankind,
Witness of His love to whom you address,
Be a physical threat to no one,
Proclaim Jesus Gospel - His cross and resurrection alone.

AND THEN - be willing to take the consequences of your statement of faith .....