Just Say “No!” – Fifth Commandment

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Just Say “No!”

Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16

“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”

Daniel 4:27

“Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins…

No Time for Silence

If you’ve been following this column so far this week you might have been tempted to conclude that I don’t think we should ever speak up against what we regard as evil or wrong practices by the President and his administration. If so, today’s meditation should squelch that fear. Daniel makes it clear that there is definitely a time for speaking up against policies that we recognize as being contrary to the good purposes for which God has established civil government in our land, and this present administration in particular. Let us note, however, that Daniel had carefully ingratiated himself into the favor of King Nebuchadnezzar by honoring him in ways we have talked about thus far this week. He built up a good deal of capital with the king, which allowed him to speak freely and forthrightly concerning wicked practices and policies. Daniel was faithful servant of the king, but only because he was a faithful servant to the greater King, even the Lord. As we serve Him by seeking the welfare of our country, praying for our President and other magistrates, and doing and teaching good wherever we can, we will have plenty of opportunities to speak our mind about things that are not consistent with the good purposes of God. And when those opportunities arise, we must not chary to say “This is what the Lord says” as we explain why we oppose this or that policy or decision. God will speak through us when we stand firmly on His Word.

Can you discern any areas in the present administration’s policies thus far that might be seen to be contrary to the Law of God? How might you address these matters? To whom?

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“In the Gates” is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001,2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Editor’s note: The use of a translation other than the Authorised Version in an article does not constitute an endorsement in whole or in part by The Christian Observer.