Resist Tyranny

Biblical submission was never meant to become passive obedience to evil.
When earthly authority stands against the commands of God, believers are called to stand firm in truth.

“We must obey God rather than men.”

The Kingdom needs modern-day lesser magistrates — fathers, husbands, pastors, and leaders with the courage to resist wickedness, protect the innocent, and uphold righteousness without fear.

Not rebellion.
Not anarchy.

Holy conviction under the authority of God. In a time when corruption, exploitation, and injustice are increasingly normalized, Christian men must have the courage to stand for truth, defend the innocent, and obey God above men.


#BiblicalMasculinity #SMC #KingdomMen #FaithAndCulture #ProtectTheInnocent


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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:05

Hey guys, this is Major Henry Hastings, and welcome to the SMC podcast: Restoring Biblical Masculinity by Raising Up Modern Day Minute Men in the natural and spiritual realms. This is where we tackle real issues men face from leadership and purity to history, spiritual warfare, and discerning the times at hand like the sons of Issachar. So you can stand in the gap at a moment's notice. Let's get into it. All right, guys, we've finally gotten to the Magdeburg confession and the duty to resist tyranny. Our scriptural anchors are Acts 5.29. We must obey God rather than men. And therefore, submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. First Peter chapter 2, verse 13 and 17. Scripture commands submission to governing authorities, but it never commands blind obedience to evil. The same Bible that tells us to honor the king also records countless examples of righteous resistance. The Hebrew midwives refusing Pharaoh's order to murder infants, Daniel praying when prayer was outlawed, Peter declaring, we must obey God rather than men, there comes a line, a point where obedience to man becomes disobedience to God. That tension gave rise to one of the most courageous documents in church history, the Magdeburg Confession of 1550. If you were discerning the times like the Sons of Issachar, this is incredibly important for the times at hand. In 1550, the small German city of Magdeburg stood alone against the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. The emperor commanded that all Christians submit to the imperial order to abandon the Reformation and return to the Roman Catholic Church. But Magdeburg's pastors, ordinary men of faith, issued a declaration to the world. They said, We will obey our lawful magistrates in all things that do not contradict the word of God. But when they command what God forbids or forbid what God commands, it is our duty to resist. This became known as the doctrine of the lesser magistrates, the belief that lower civil authorities or lesser magistrates have not only the right but the responsibility to resist higher authorities when those higher powers act against God's law or oppress the innocent. The Magdeburg confession drew its logic straight from Scripture. Romans 13 describes governing powers as God's servants for good. So when rulers stop serving good and begin to promote evil, they forfeit their divine authority. In Acts chapter 5, verse 29, it sets a boundary. We must obey God rather than men. The apostles respected authority until that authority demanded silence about Jesus. Magdeburg's pastors saw that obedience to tyranny is not submission, it's complicity. True submission is always first and foremost to God. This doctrine echoes through history. The lesser magistrates who hid Jews during the Holocaust, the founding fathers who resisted King George under the motto resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. The pastors during COVID who kept their churches open when worship was forbidden, not in rebellion, but in obedience to a higher king. Righteous resistance isn't lawlessness, it's loyalty to God's higher law. So when is it right to resist? The Magdeburg pastors define three levels of tyranny. And the final level, when rulers become open enemies of God, requires active resistance to protect the innocent. For the modern Christian man, it's this simple. When the state commands what God forbids, resist. When the state forbids what God commands, resist. When the state punishes righteousness and rewards wickedness, resist. But we resist as men under authority, never anarchists, never rebels without a cause. We stand as magistrates under the magistrate, soldiers of the King of Kings. To refuse tyranny is not rebellion, it's allegiance to heaven. So our resistance must always flow from humility, prayer, and the fear of God, not pride or anger. It's not about overthrowing authority, it's about restoring its rightful purpose. Men, this is the hour to remember Magdeburg. When kings cross the line, God raises up men who know where the line is drawn. We are not called to be violent, but we are called to be vigilant, not reckless, but righteous. You are the modern day lesser magistrates in your spheres, fathers, husbands, leaders, and protectors. So stand firm under God's law, even if the world mocks your conviction. Because when tyranny rises, heaven is watching for men who will say, We must obey God rather than men. And when you stand for righteousness, even if you stand alone, you stand in the company of Daniel, of Peter, of the men of Magdeburg, and of the one who stood before Pilate and said, My kingdom is not of this world. Tyranny begins when men fear the state more than they fear God. Freedom begins when men bow only to the King of Heaven in Jesus' name. Amen. Thanks for tuning in to the SMC Podcast. If today's conversation encouraged you, share it with another man who needs to hear it. And don't forget, you can connect deeper inside the Forge, our free online community, or take your training to the next level with the loyal nine inside the SMC Tribe. Visit SMCTribe.com to join the Brotherhood. Until next time, trust God, keep your powder dry, and remember, as sons of God, liberty is our birthright.