Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
The verse commands submission to every human ordinance and civil authority for the Lord's sake, including the king as supreme and highest authority and governors. This submission is lawful and right. Civil government is ordained to preserve order and protect people from violence by punishing and restraining wrongdoing through penalties and commending those who do good.
Civil government exists because of sin and remains useful while sin exists. Its proper authority is limited to civil affairs and it has no role in religion or the church. This submission is part of serving God as His servants, and Christian freedom must not be used as an excuse or license for wrongdoing. Believers are to honor everyone, love fellow believers, fear God, and honor the king.
By doing good, believers can silence the ignorance of foolish people. Believers should avoid careless words and actions and any conduct that creates prejudice, gives a harmful impression, damages their influence, or obstructs and hinders their work. The verse calls God's workers, though living in the world, to remain as a people chosen out of the world, not of the world, forever separate and free from contaminating influences.
Applied to medical missionary work, this means that work is to be bound up with the gospel ministry rather than made the body. Physicians are to stand on the platform of truth and labor unitedly with the church and ministers in soul-saving work. They must not bind themselves with worldlings by inviting them into councils or dishonor the truth by bringing worldly lawyers into connection with God's work.
The verse commands submission to every human ordinance and civil authority for the Lord's sake, including the king as supreme and highest authority and governors. This submission is lawful and right. Civil government is ordained to preserve order and protect people from violence by punishing and restraining wrongdoing through penalties and commending those who do good.
Civil government exists because of sin and remains useful while sin exists. Its proper authority is limited to civil affairs and it has no role in religion or the church. This submission is part of serving God as His servants, and Christian freedom must not be used as an excuse or license for wrongdoing. Believers are to honor everyone, love fellow believers, fear God, and honor the king.
By doing good, believers can silence the ignorance of foolish people. Believers should avoid careless words and actions and any conduct that creates prejudice, gives a harmful impression, damages their influence, or obstructs and hinders their work. The verse calls God's workers, though living in the world, to remain as a people chosen out of the world, not of the world, forever separate and free from contaminating influences.
Applied to medical missionary work, this means that work is to be bound up with the gospel ministry rather than made the body. Physicians are to stand on the platform of truth and labor unitedly with the church and ministers in soul-saving work. They must not bind themselves with worldlings by inviting them into councils or dishonor the truth by bringing worldly lawyers into connection with God's work.