文／MingSir
今天听了王怡牧师的一个讲道片段，有些感触和弟兄姐妹们分享一下。在教会运行过程中，基督徒面临政府的“指导意见”和行政命令该如何应对？何时应顺服？何时必须抵抗？这关乎属灵权柄的本质、信仰见证的勇气，也关乎基督徒在不义体制中“活出自由”的方式。
一、顺服的界限：政权有刀剑，但天国有灵魂的钥匙
《罗马书》13章说：“在上有权柄的，人人当顺服，因为没有权柄不是出于神。”（罗13:1）这段经文常被解读为“基督徒要顺服一切掌权者”，但保罗的语境是：当政权行公义、维护正义、惩恶扬善时，这权柄是神设立的工具。
然而，当政权变成“呼恶为善、以谎言为道”的强权机器时，基督徒必须清楚一点：教会才是天国权柄的代表。
主耶稣说：“我要把天国的钥匙给你。”（太16:19）这并不是政治权力，而是在真理中的属灵主权。我们顺服地上的刀剑，不是因为它是神，而是因为它行在神设立的善中。但一旦刀剑成为压制良善的工具、要求信徒出卖真理、配合谎言，基督徒就必须拒绝顺服。
比如，在中国的现实中，许多被官方批准的教会牧师，必须定期参加“宗教事务局”的政治学习，甚至要将讲道内容备案（暂且不说这些内容还是圣经真理的“阉割版”，我有另外的文章说明这一点），每一次人事变动都需要审批。更严重的是，许多地方要求教会“悬挂国旗”、“唱国歌”、“读习近平讲话”，甚至“修改圣经”，删改福音信息。请问，这样的政令，基督徒能顺服吗？
二、抵抗的起点：彼得说“顺从神，不顺从人，是应当的”
在《使徒行传》第5章，彼得和众使徒被命令不可奉耶稣的名讲道，他们没有妥协，也没有回避，而是明确回应：“顺从神，不顺从人，是应当的。”（徒5:29）
这不是为反抗而反抗，也不是政治立场的争斗，而是在真理面前的坚守。
- 当政府要求你否认信仰——不可顺服；
- 当体制要求你参与谎言、违背良知——不可顺服；
- 当权力要求你在讲台上高举党的领导，而非基督——不可顺服；
- 当你被逼在表格中“无宗教信仰”才能升学、就业、出国——不可顺服。
基督徒的抵抗不是暴力，而是宁愿受苦也不出卖信仰的见证。
三、黑塞的话点中要害：肉体可以毁灭，灵魂必须自由
德国作家赫尔曼·黑塞（Hermann Hesse）在他描述纳粹阴影下良知挣扎的散文中写道：
“就算肉体被毁灭十次，也不可让灵魂沉沦到地狱。”——《流亡者手记》（Exil-Schriften）
这不是理想主义，而是一种属灵的觉悟。真正的自由，不是环境赋予的“行为空间”，而是灵魂在真理中得释放。
在奥斯维辛集中营，在中共的劳教所，在网络防火墙之后，在无声的微信审查里，在“统一思想”的表格与会议上——如果一个基督徒仍坚持说真话、行公义、拒绝参与恶的建构，他就是在践行灵魂的自由。
保罗说得真切：
“我们虽然四面受敌，却不被困住；心里作难，却不至失望；遭逼迫，却不被丢弃。”（林后4:8-9）
四、受苦是属灵抵抗的一部分：不是退让，而是得胜
基督徒不是以暴制暴，但我们愿意以受苦来见证属灵的得胜：
- 当你因不愿配合撒谎而失去晋升，这是荣耀的亏损；
- 当你因为信仰拒绝投名状而被孤立，这是在十字架上同行；
- 当你在讲真话后失业、被封杀、被误解，你不是失败者，而是主的见证人。
正如腓立比书所说：“因为你们蒙恩，不但得以信服基督，并要为他受苦。”（腓1:29）
五、直面中国教会现状：顺服还是出卖？
在中国的现实中，许多被官方批准的教会牧师，必须定期参加“宗教事务局”的政治学习，讲章内容需提前备案，每一次人事变动都需接受审批。更有甚者，部分地方要求教会挂国旗、唱国歌、学习习近平讲话，甚至“修改圣经”、删减、“阉割”基督教核心真理，只为顺应“社会主义意识形态”。
我们必须直面这个问题：这些政令，是神所悦纳的吗？基督徒可以顺服吗？
答案必须坚定地说：不可以。
- 因为这不是管理问题，而是信仰主权的侵蚀；
- 这不是行政协调，而是灵魂属谁的争夺战；
- 这是让主的教会成为“顺民教育”的延伸工具，让讲台成为宣传机器。
基督徒可以为和平而忍让，但不能为苟安而出卖真理。
我们不是为了“推翻政权”而反抗，而是为了“持守基督为主”而不被收编。
当圣坛被亵渎，教义被消解，灵魂被悄悄交换为政治忠诚，那就是不顺服的时刻。
彼得已经为我们立下榜样：
“顺从神，不顺从人，是应当的。”（徒5:29）
六、结语：真正的自由，是“为义受苦也不羞耻”
亲爱的弟兄姐妹，顺服的底线不是“尽量别出事”，而是“绝不出卖主”。
抵抗的目的不是破坏国家，而是守住信仰的圣洁。我们不效法法利赛人的躲避，也不效法犹大的出卖。我们只效法那位为真理受死、却从死里复活的耶稣。
愿你我都成为那即便身处囚笼、仍仰望天国钥匙的信徒。愿我们因信仰而自由，因真理而受苦，因属灵抵抗而显出光与盐的身份。
“你们若因行善受苦而忍耐，这是在神看是可喜爱的。”（彼前2:20b）
Spirit and Flesh: When to Submit, When to Resist
By MingSir
Today I listened to a sermon clip by Pastor Wang Yi, and I felt compelled to share some reflections with fellow brothers and sisters. In the operation of the church, how should Christians respond when faced with “guiding opinions” and administrative orders from the government? When should we submit? And when must we resist? These questions touch on the essence of spiritual authority, the courage to bear witness to the faith, and how a Christian can “live freely” within an unrighteous system.
1. The Boundaries of Submission: The State Holds the Sword, but the Kingdom Holds the Keys
Romans 13 says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God.”(Romans 13:1)
This verse is often interpreted to mean that Christians must obey all rulers. But Paul’s context is clear: when a government acts justly, upholding righteousness and punishing evil, that authority is a tool set by God.
However, when a regime becomes a machine that “calls evil good and lies truth,” Christians must remember this: the church represents the authority of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)
These are not political powers but spiritual authority rooted in truth. We submit to earthly power not because it is God, but because it is meant to operate under God’s order. But once the sword no longer punishes evil and begins to suppress the good, requiring believers to betray truth and cooperate with lies, Christians must refuse to submit.
For example, in today’s China, many state-approved pastors are required to attend regular “political study sessions” held by the Religious Affairs Bureau. Sermons must be pre-filed (not to mention that these are often “castrated versions” of biblical truth—I’ve written on this elsewhere). Every personnel change must be approved. Even more severely, some regions demand churches to “raise the national flag,” “sing the national anthem,” “read Xi Jinping’s speeches,” and even “revise the Bible” and cut out Gospel messages.
Can Christians truly submit to such directives?
2. The Starting Point of Resistance: Peter Said, “We Ought to Obey God Rather Than Men”
In Acts chapter 5, Peter and the apostles were ordered not to speak in Jesus’ name. They neither compromised nor tried to “balance,” but clearly responded:
“We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
This is not resistance for the sake of rebellion, nor a political agenda—it is the defense of truth.
- When the government demands that you deny your faith—you must not submit.
- When the system compels you to lie and violate conscience—you must not submit.
- When earthly authority forces you to exalt the Party above Christ from the pulpit—you must not submit.
- When you’re required to mark “no religious belief” in order to study, work, or go abroad—you must not submit.
Christian resistance is not about violence—it is about refusing to betray your faith, even at the cost of suffering.
3. Hesse’s Words Strike the Core: The Body May Be Destroyed, but the Soul Must Remain Free
German writer Hermann Hesse wrote in his wartime reflections under Nazi oppression:
“Even if the body is destroyed ten times over, the soul must never be cast into hell.” — Exil-Schriften (Exile Writings)
This is not naïve idealism but spiritual clarity. True freedom is not an external space of movement—it is the liberation of the soul in truth.
In Auschwitz, in Chinese labor camps, behind the Great Firewall, within the silent censorship of WeChat, under the “thought unification” of forms and meetings—if a Christian still speaks the truth, acts justly, and refuses to partake in evil, they are walking in spiritual freedom.
Paul wrote:
“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken.”(2 Corinthians 4:8–9, NKJV)
4. Suffering Is Part of Spiritual Resistance: Not Retreat, but Victory
Christians do not retaliate with violence, but we are willing to suffer to witness spiritual victory:
- When you lose a promotion because you refuse to lie—that is a glorious loss.
- When you are isolated because your faith prevents you from offering loyalty pledges—that is walking the way of the cross.
- When you are fired, censored, or misunderstood for speaking the truth—you are not a failure, but a witness of the Lord.
As Philippians reminds us:
“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”(Philippians 1:29, NKJV)
5. Facing the Reality of the Chinese Church: Submission or Betrayal?
In today’s China, many state-sanctioned pastors must attend government political sessions, pre-submit sermons for review, and seek approval for any staff changes. In some places, churches are required to fly the national flag, sing the anthem, study Xi Jinping’s speeches, and even “revise the Bible,” cutting and neutering the Gospel to align with “socialist ideology.”
We must ask: Are these commands pleasing to God? Can Christians obey them?
The answer must be a resolute no.
- Because this is not mere management, but an erosion of spiritual sovereignty.
- It is not coordination, but a battle for who owns the soul.
- It turns the church into an extension of “obedience training,” and the pulpit into a propaganda platform.
Christians may yield for peace, but never for truthless survival.
We do not resist to overthrow the state, but to keep Christ as Lord.
When altars are desecrated, doctrine diluted, and souls quietly traded for political loyalty—that is the moment we must refuse to comply.
Peter has already given us the example:
“We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29, NKJV)
6. Conclusion: True Freedom Is to Suffer for Righteousness Without Shame
Dear brothers and sisters, the boundary of submission is not “try not to cause trouble,” but “never betray the Lord.”
The purpose of resistance is not to destroy nations, but to guard the holiness of our faith.
We do not imitate the Pharisees who evaded, nor Judas who betrayed. We imitate only the one who suffered for truth and rose again—the Lord Jesus Christ.
May you and I become believers who, even in chains, still look to the keys of heaven. May we be free through faith, suffer for truth, and shine as salt and light through spiritual resistance.
“But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.” (1 Peter 2:20b, NKJV)
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