Spirit of Prophecy Counsels Relating To Church-State Relationships

We Are Not To Be Presumptuous

When the authorities come between us and God, we shall receive help if we only trust in Him as did the patriots, prophets, and apostles, and with them we shall be able to say, “Lord, thou art God., which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is.” But while we trust in God, no one should be presumptuous; and that we may not take an unwise course, we should pray constantly. We should not rush into danger unless God sends us there; nor should we call our brethren cowards because they are cautious in their plans that they may not unnecessarily provoke the rulers and powers of the earth. What was the strength of those who in the past have suffered imprisonment and death for Christ’s sake?—It was union with God, union with the Holy Spirit, union with Christ.... SPCCSR 39.1

We read in the Acts of the Apostles that after the miracle at the temple gate, many signs and wonders were wrought, and many were healed. “Then the high priest rose up, ... and all they that were with him, ... and were filled with indignation.” ... SPCCSR 39.2

And then they shut the disciples up in a prison, that the message of God should no longer be given to the people, but the angel of the Lord was there. All heaven was looking upon them than, and the angels are now looking upon those who are living at this closing period of earth’s history. The angel of the Lord came by night to the servants of God and said, “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” Here was an order directly contrary to the command given by the potentates of earth. But the direction of the angel was from the highest court in the universe. Did the apostles say to the angel, “We cannot do this until we have consulted the magistrates, and received permission of them”?—No; God had said “Go,” and they went forth to speak according to His commandment. SPCCSR 39.3

In the morning their enemies called a council, and sent to the prison that they might be brought before them, but when the officers found them not, they said, “The prison truly found we shut with all safety, ... but when we had opened, we found no man within.” The angel of God could take them through the prison walls, and they had no power to hold them. We have the same God today, and He works on the same plan. When they said the prison was shut, the chief priests doubted the keeper. God was working and the enemy was working, and the battle was waged between the God of heaven and the powers that be. Then the captain sent the officers and had them brought, because they feared the people, and when they were before the council, the high priest asked, “Did not we straitly command you, that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.” Then the apostles answered, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” We ought to be obedient to all the laws of our country, except when those laws come in collision with the law of God, and then we must obey God, irrespective of everything else.—The Review and Herald, April 22, 1890. SPCCSR 40.1