How should Christians respond when the state challenges the commands of God?

Kevin Swanson addresses the tension between obeying God's commandments and the demands of a totalitarian state. As Christians, we have a responsibility to gather together and not forsake the assembly, despite potential state-imposed restrictions. The judgment of God is a more significant concern than any earthly constraints, urging us to prioritize our spiritual commitments over governmental pressures. When faced with such challenges, believers must maintain their commitment to meeting as the body of Christ and pursue God's will above all else.

In navigating these challenges, Swanson encourages Christians to engage actively in the civil arena. He highlights the importance of advocating for parental rights and the freedom to assemble, drawing inspiration from biblical figures like Joseph and Daniel. Living in a politically challenging environment, Swanson has witnessed success in defending these liberties due to God's sovereignty. He underscores that when God's people commit to their responsibilities, God provides the means to retain their freedoms, regardless of being in the minority.

Acts 5:29 (NKJV): "But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men.'"

Well, obviously we're to obey God rather than men, so if the state curtails our opportunities to gather together, we stand face to face with the state on the command that we are to forsake not the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, lest we face the frightful judgment of God. And I do believe that the frightful judgment of God is far more severe than the constraints and the judgment and so forth that comes from the hand of the state. So we have responsibility to continue to meet together as the people of God, even if the state attempts to shut down the church services. So, But more importantly, what are we to do in relation to the state? I believe we do apply full-court press.

We solicit our Josephs and Daniels to engage in the civil magistrate. We fight for liberty. And I think the absolute first requirement for any civil magistrate who wants to submit to God is to stand for liberty for those who want to raise their children the nurture and the amnesty of the Lord Jesus Christ parental rights and for the right to assemble. So those two things we need to fight hard in the courts and legislatures to to gain the freedom to do that. It's interesting we live in a blue state, probably one of the bluest states in America, But as a leader in the homeschool population in my state, we have been successful at, I think, every single parental rights battle we've had over the last 25 years.

And I think the reason for that is God is sovereign over all the states. And there have been points where it's been a little bit touch and go, but we've won those battles year after year after year. It's because God is before us on this issue. God wants his people to continue to meet together, to disciple in the churches, to disciple in their family life. And if the state is going to impose any kind of regulation on that, I do believe that we can appeal to God above.

And even if we're in minority, we can fight through and retain many of those liberties. If we sign up for the responsibilities, we as God's people say we will meet together, we will disciple our churches, we will disciple in our family life, God will provide the liberties and the rights to make that happen. I've seen that Again and again and again in our state, and I think it can happen anywhere