Re: Priests as freedom fighters

Steve Hayes, <news:[email protected]>
> On Wed, 5 Mar 2025 11:31:12 +0300, "Oleg Smirnov" <[email protected]>

>>>> Any authority is a good from God, it's established by God.
>>>
>>> Indeed, but when it is corrupt, its corruption is not from God.
>>
>> It's sinful to think one can know God's will/plan in full.
>>
>> Holy Scripture says clearly any authority is established by
>> God, whereas a Christian's duty is to submit to authorities
>> rather than "fight" against what he or she may dislike.
>
> St Peter and St John seem to disagree with you:
>
> Act 4:19-29 - But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether
> it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto
> God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen
> and heard.
>
> Act 5:28-29 -  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should
> not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with
> your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then
> Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God
> rather than men.

Here "men" is generic, while "authorities" is more specific,
and since an authority is a gift from God, obendience to God
implies obendience to what is established by God.

> And also, though St Paul said this:
>
> Rom 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.
>
> he also said this:
>
> Eph 6:11-12 -  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
> stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh
> and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
> rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
> high places.

From Eph 6:

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear ..."

"... the sword of the Spirit ...", not a fight for freedom.

> The word "powers" (Greek=exousias) is perhaps better rendered into
> English as "authorities".

Also, fights "for freedom" and "against corruption" aren't equal.