1950 This Means Everlasting Life - A2Z.org

SUBJECTION TO THE AUTHORITIES 203
Christians were regarded as anarchists hoping to destroy
the state ; as pacifists who felt it a violation of
their faith to enter military service . They would not
hold political office . They would not worship the emperor.-On
the Road to Civilization, A World History, by
Heckel and Sigman 1937 , pages 237, 238 . An American
high-school textbook in Indiana, 1938-1943 .
16
The inspired Scriptures show our lives, our
worship and our unquestioning obedience belong
to the Supreme Authority, Jehovah God, and we
must pay them back to Him because owing to him .
When faced with the question of obeying the unrighteous
commands of worldly rulers against the
will and orders of the Supreme Authority, the
apostles Peter and John said to the Jewish Sanhedrin
: "Whether it is righteous in the sight of God
to listen to you rather than to God, make your decision.
But as for us, we cannot stop speaking about
the things we have seen and heard . . . . We must
obey God as ruler rather than men . . . . And we
are witnesses of these matters, and so is the holy
spirit which God has given to those obeying him
as ruler."-Acts 4 :19,20 and 5 :29-32, NW.
17 As for the Theocratic organization, those in
it who have divine authority serve God in a public
way for the good of the organization . They are
to be respected, and Theocratic submission is to
be rendered in connection with them . "For they
are God's public servants constantly serving this
very purpose. Render to all their dues, to him
who calls for tribute, the tribute ; to him who calls
16. Faced with unrighteous human commands, whom
must we obey?
17. a Who are God's public servants? b With what
exception should we not be in debt to anybody?