Secular law?

[Father Thomas Martin]

You say God commands us to follow secular law...I have proof to the contrary!

Acts 5:29

But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority."

How do you reconcile that to your verses...Or do you think they contradict each other, and throw it away as trash?

[Mrs. Mary Whitford]

Re: Secular law?

You say God commands us to follow secular law...I have proof to the contrary!

Acts 5:29

But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority."

How do you reconcile that to your verses...Or do you think they contradict each other, and throw it away as trash?

First let's see what the Bible actually says...

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

As you can see, it says "ought to" instead of "must", and "ought to" gives a lot more leeway. However, we really do have to obey God. And God tells us to obey secular authority. No contradiction there.

[Father Thomas Martin]

Re: Secular law?

First let's see what the Bible actually says...

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

As you can see, it says "ought to" instead of "must", and "ought to" gives a lot more leeway. However, we really do have to obey God. And God tells us to obey secular authority. No contradiction there.

Is it just the NRSV, or are you trying to find a loophole?

MUST means MUST.

[Roberta]

Re: Secular law?

Dear Father Martin,

How do you feel about our ongoing Crusade? The Catholic Church attempted to scourge the infidel a thousand years ago and failed. Don't you think McCain's determination to rid the world muslims and jews is well founded? Think how peaceful our world would be without them (and how cheap gasoline would be).

When we win this war, we can make Israel an American colony. Because God loves America (US) best, I think this would please him. We could probably confer retroactive US citizenship on Jesus. What a coup this would be! The romance language speaking people of our world think that He is exclusively theirs.

I am subjected to regular lashings because I continue to air my beliefs. Sometimes I get so worked up that I just have to get myself off.

Robbie (called the harlot)

[Bobby-Joe]

Re: Secular law?

Is it just the NRSV, or are you trying to find a loophole?

MUST means MUST.

No need to get you collar in a twist; by obeying secular law we are obeying God since God is the source of All Law.

[Mrs. Mary Whitford]

Re: Secular law?

Is it just the NRSV, or are you trying to find a loophole?

MUST means MUST.

But the Bible doesn't say "must". Obviously the word is in whatever satanic bastardization you quoted from, but the REAL Bible says "ought to".

[Pastor Billy-Reuben]

Re: Secular law?

Yes, the Bible says "ought to" rather than "must", but that is beside the point.

As Mr. Martin is wont to do, he has once again taken a verse out of context and twisted it to support his diabolical agenda to undermine confidence in the Holy Bible. The Catholic "Church" has been attempting to do this since its inception.

Mr. Martin, there are no contradictions in the Bible. There is nothing to "reconcile" here. As always, we understand verses in the context of the surrounding passage.

Acts 5:29 is not, as you claim, a general call to recklessly disregard secular law. Peter was saying that he and the other apostles should continue to preach in Jesus' name, no matter what the Sadducees say.

Pastor Billy-Reuben