Pastors Gone Wild!!!!!!!!

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 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." 2 Peter 2:9-10

True story: An American pastor driving down the road was stopped at a routine illegal alien check-point in California. He was not singled out, for he was stopped like everyone else. When asked by check-point officials the simple question, “Are you an American citizen?”, the pastor replied that he was actually a citizen of Israel. The officers then asked if the car he was driving belonged to him. He refused to answer. After refusing to answer a few more questions and also refusing to show any identification, he was asked to pull over to the side. There, the officials continued to ask some basic questions to finally determine if he was legally in the country. To show his "Israeli" citizenship, the pastor held up an opened Bible and began to read aloud Ephesians 2:11-19. He explained that because of the blood of Christ that he was now a citizen of Israel.

This did not impress the check-point officials, so they continued to press the pastor for the information they needed while he continued to refuse to answer their questions. Eventually, the pastor questioned the check-point officials' authority and asked for them to tell him what law gave them the right to ask such personal information. The pastor then cited the Constitution and his rights as an American citizen as reasons he did not need to answer their questions. He suggested that the check point was like what the Nazi’s would have done. He then stated that since they were not peace officers that he wasn’t required to give them his name. After some time, he decided to show them an unopened video presentation that he had made. On the back of the video cover was his picture, name, title, and name of his church. This pastor offered the video to them and told them that the video was all the personal information he was willing to give them at that time. He further suggested that they use the internet to verify his identity. After a little more time had passed, the officials gave the pastor back his video and sent him on his way.

This pastor’s behavior is so disturbing on so many levels. One may attempt to justify reactions to government matters: the “illegal” check points government has set up and the concern for protecting the rights and privacy of American citizens. However, is one to be an American or a Christian first?

Matthew 5:38-39a, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: …” (Compare Matthew 5:38-48 with Luke 6:27-36.)

Romans 13:1-2, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”

1 Peter 2:13-14,17, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”

1 Timothy 2:1-3, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;”

Titus 3:1-2, "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men."

1 Timothy 3:7, “Moreover he (a bishop) must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

There was a time when Christians realized that America was unusual in its religious freedoms and, thus, were appreciative of those liberties. Today, some -- if not most -- demand not only their religious liberties but other liberties as well, as if God has mandated in his word that governments allow Christians to live freely. God has obviously given each person freedom of thought and choice, but He clearly put man’s freedom of action under the authority of government. So, Christians are to not only obey God but are to also obey their government. Only when the government forbids their obedience to God or tries to force them to disobey Him are they allowed to stand against” the government, recognizing all the while that punishment may still come, as experienced by Peter and some of the apostles (Acts 5:17-40). With that said, it is biblically unjustifiable for anyone to excuse the behaviors of this pastor, for to answer the questions the check-point officials were asking in no way defies any command from God.

It is helpful for all Christians to reflect upon 1 Peter 2:11, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” Hebrews 11:13 also states that Christians are “pilgrims”, not truly belonging to this world anymore but having their citizenship in heaven. While in their earthly, fleshly bodies, Christians ought to be constantly on guard to not live according to the flesh. As Paul reminded them over and over, Christians are to exercise the mind of Christ they already have. For as it is well known, Christ did not concern himself with the affairs of this world but kept His focus on the reason He came, that being to seek and to save those that were lost. Jesus was certainly concerned with the spiritual condition of religious and government officials and not with His letting others know of His status as an Israeli citizen or as the Son of God. One can quite easily enjoy (in the flesh) this pastor’s defiance, but as a Christian one is to do everything to the glory of God, which this pastor’s actions do not do.

In closing, the pastor’s name nor the link to the video of his interaction with government officials are being provided. His story is solely being shared out of the concern that American Christians are more and more being easily side tracked with the cares and concerns of this world and, in so doing, sometimes forgetting the Christian testimony they are to be showing. One could assume that the check-point officials were men who are lost and on their way to hell. After their interaction with this pastor, what must these likely unsaved men be thinking of Christianity and Christians in general?

Philippians 2:14-16a, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life;…”

Philippians 1:27, "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ;..."

Ephesians 5:1-3, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour....as becometh saints;"