WHEN EVERY MAN IS A LAW UNTO HIMSELF ~ WHAT IS WRONG WITH ANARCHY? ~ A Study in Jeremiah

 

What happens when a society ignores or tries to do away with the law? Anarchy. Anarchism is the theory that a society will be better when people are able to freely rule themselves apart from all laws. For the believer who knows Scripture and the God of Scripture, this theory is foolish, sinful thinking. When the authorities of a society have been overruled or removed, usually by force, what results is anarchy—every person becoming a law unto himself, or his own authority. We see this, with our very own eyes—the riots, the looting, the destruction of other people’s property, and even murders. The one factor that is absent in thinking this is a better way for society to operate is that man’s heart is desperately wicked. (See Genesis 6:5; Romans 3:10; and Jeremiah 17:9.)

 

Ronald Reagan said: “Law and freedom must be indivisible partners. For without law, there can be no freedom, only chaos and disorder; and without freedom, law is but a cynical veneer for injustice and oppression”. He also said: “Self-defense is not only our right; it is our duty.”

 

What we in America are experiencing today is lawlessness on a rampant scale. The Bible has much to say about lawlessness. 1 Timothy 1:8-10 says: But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching…” The law matters—it is essential—to a sinful world, but most importantly it matters to those who try to be law-abiding citizens. Those who say they want to do away with the law reveal that they are the reason it is needed!

 

Lawlessness in the Bible is translated iniquity or sin (1 John 3:4). The root of lawlessness is rebellion. It is the sinner who breaks God’s Law, so lawlessness is a rejection of God. One day in the future (possibly very near future) the antichrist will enter the world’s stage. He, empowered by Satan, is called “the lawless one,” in Scripture. His works will be in accordance with the works of Satan. (See 2 Thessalonians 2:9.) For even the newest of believers, it is not hard to see that the spirit of antichrist is already in the world. (1 John 4:3) The righteous, like Lot living in Sodom, are tormented in their souls by the lawless deeds they see and hear. (2 Peter 2:8). Christians are to be law-abiding unless they are called by the government to break God’s Law in some way.

 

What happens to a society that ignores the law? Lawlessness, chaos, upheaval, oppression, and general disorder ensues. Sound familiar? If not, open your eyes! Tumultuous times were recorded for us in the book of Judges. What brought about those days of lawlessness? Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit (what was right in their own eyes.) (See Judges 17 and 21.)

 

Something was interesting to me as I watched some of these videos on social media lately. We watch in anger, sadness, and horror as harassing hate groups are getting into law-abiding citizens’ faces as they peacefully try to enjoy their American freedoms pursuing life, liberty, and happiness. Sitting outside a local restaurant trying to enjoy a meal, they are surrounded by people in these groups trying to force them to raise a fist in the air to indicate their solidarity with them. If they refuse (their American right), they are screamed at, ridiculed, and spit upon (by another removing her mask) and repeatedly being asked, “Are you a Christian? Are you a Christian? Are you a Christian?” I have seen it on several different posts.

We see laws that allow for shopping centers to be populated, rioters to gather in mass, but churches are being shut down and harassed? They are being cited for singing a joyful noise unto the Lord! People on the ‘left’ speaking out against people on the ‘right’ mocking them for their conspiracy theories. There is nothing new under the sun. The problem is the church is asleep (for the most part). She has closed her Bible and is sleeping through sermons unless she is able to be excited in her flesh with interesting stories. She is often heard to be said, “I just don’t have the attention span to read a book or listen to a sermon on doctrine.” But she can read the daily newspaper from front to back and the latest grocery store gossip tabloid to the stars and repeat the 'facts' found therein to anyone who wants to hear!

 

A riot broke out in Ephesus. Acts 19:23—About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. Why did this riot break out? Because somebody’s toes were being trampled upon in a way that would greatly affect how he made his living.

 

There was a great temple in Ephesus dedicated to the goddess Diana (a.k.a. Artemis). This temple was so grand that it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Worship of Diana was widespread throughout the whole Roman Empire. As such, a great business grew out of this idol worship for the silversmiths’ guild there in Ephesus. An extremely lucrative business, silver shrines were made and sold there, especially during the festivals held in honor of Diana. It is thought that it was during the annual spring festival that this riot ensued. Paul had come to Ephesus. For most, I could say, ‘Enough said’! No deep, dark conspiracy needs to be uncovered here.

 

Quite possibly the head silversmith, Demetrius, called an urgent meeting and gathered together the workmen of similar trades. He said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.” What was the response from the people? “When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” The city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. (Acts 19:23-29) It is interesting that in the following verses it says that they assembled and were in confusion, and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.

 

How did Demetrius stir up a mob mentality (a tactic used by Satan repeatedly in Scripture)? John MacArthur in his study Bible notes says this: Demetrius cleverly played upon his hearers’ fears of financial ruin, religious zeal, and concern for their city’s prestige. The Christian preachers, he argued, threatened the continued prosperity of Ephesus. His audience’s violent reaction shows they took the threat seriously.

 

One day the people are hailing Jesus and wanting to crown Him “King of the Jews,” the next they are shouting “Crucify!” What changed? When the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask that Barabbas (the real criminal) be released instead of Jesus (who had committed no crime) in order that He would be put to death, the crowd screamed for Jesus’ death. Matthew 27 tells us that Pilate knew that the people had handed Jesus over because of envy. When the mob said they wanted Barabbas released, Pilate asked what he should do with Christ. They shout, “Crucify Him!” Pilate asks the crowd what evil He had done. With no reason or logic or justification to their plight, they kept shouting, “Crucify Him!” even more. Matthew 27:24—When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” In their foolish and wicked hearts, they reply: “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” This tactical move never gets old to Satan and his minions. Whip up a mob mentality; play upon their fears, appeal to their fleshly desires, their emotions, and feelings—get them zealous over a cause, and we can get them to do whatever we want them to do. The result will always be lawlessness.

 

Since Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, mankind has wanted self-rule. This is the motivation for most sin. In our human nature, we want to be our own god. We do not want people telling us what to do, even if it is God, the One who created us! Walking in our flesh, we cannot see things as they are. We are blind to the truth. We want to believe that throwing off all restraints equals freedom to live peaceful lives fully content and satisfied. It has been said that every society that has lent itself to anarchism has ended in anarchy and disorder. We should see that for what it really is: God giving us over to our depraved minds.

 

Where did law come from? God instituted the law. We see it first in His command to Adam in the Garden in Genesis 2:16-17. Laws are boundaries that keep us safe and ensure order in a society. I saw a satirical video of a police officer merely suggesting repeatedly to an offender who is getting into his car for a gun that he “Stop! In the name of the Law!” As the criminal continues to get in the glove compartment, pulls out the gun, pointing it at the officer, and clicks the trigger, the officer puts up his hands, lays his gun down and gets down on his knees. The criminal gets in his car and drives away. This is the way too many in our society have been raised. Boundaries may have been put in place (if nowhere else but in societal laws) but if boundaries do not have consequences for violating them, they are merely suggestions that can be abused.  Without consequences, and without absolute right and wrong, people’s opinions become the basis for rules. The thing about anarchy is that while people are so busy arguing over their opinions, they become easy prey for a more organized enemy to overthrow it. History proves as much. (Could that be the current need to wipe out history as we know it?) An anarchist society is an antichrist agenda.

 

I will be the first to admit that living in a world with corrupt government is difficult. Sometimes the wrong people get sent to prison. Sometimes the wrong people get away with horrific crimes. But God instituted a system of government with the purpose of protecting our freedoms and our lives. It is our responsibility to do our best to live peacefully under that system. I must wonder how many of the people who have an anarchist ideology pray for the leaders of our country. I would imagine the percent is extremely low. The only time civil disobedience is in line with God’s Word is when we are being required to directly disobey God. Again, the anarchists would not be part of this category because they totally disregard God’s Word from the foundation of His institution of the Law.

Yahweh had placed the yoke of the Law and the bonds of His precepts upon His people for their ultimate good. They were boundaries set in place to protect them. In the depravity of their sinful human nature, they struggled to break free from these restraints viewing them as something that would hold them back from accomplishing their own desires and dreams. They did not care what God wanted for them if it conflicted with those lusts in their own hearts. What they thought they found was freedom to finally live the lives they thought they wanted. Their flesh struggled to break free just like wild caged animals. We will see next time that if they wanted to live like animals, God would give them over in judgment to savage enemies who lived like wild animals.