M-G: 5.2.17 // Ungovernable

Ever see on the news protest placards being carried around by demonstrators claiming to be “Ungovernable” or encouraging others to “Become Ungovernable?” From sea to shining sea, there is a growing number of people who are disenchanted with the status quo. If they are ungovernable, what system of government can govern them since they admit to being ungovernable? Such claimants are nothing more than anarchist, unlawful, unruly, and prone to do whatever it takes to advance their agendas.

These kinds of people infiltrate peaceful protests and turn a first amendment right march into an unlawful riot. No one has a right to damage property and inflicts physical harm on another. If peaceful protesters fail to condemn the violent-prone insurgents, they become guilty by association. Freedom of speech is a two-way street.

Wasn’t this the position of the French philosopher, Voltaire (1694-1778), “I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it?” I am not a fan of this controversial philosopher, but his melodramatic words show, at least to him, the importance of freedom of speech being tolerated as a two-way street and worth fighting for if it isn't. His words have merit, for there is a great intolerance of those who do not share the values of those taking to the streets.

When I saw a protester on the news toting a sign that said the inflammatory adjective, “Ungovernable,” a question popped into my head. As a believer, do people see my life as ungovernable before God, perhaps seeing me as more self-governed than God-directed by my words and actions. Was I, metaphorically, carrying a sign in the street declaring myself to be “ungovernable?”

I am not referring to being overly sensitive on every point of the maturation process of Christlikeness for this is a life-long event. Rather, our submission to live according to God’s Word as a rule of life is the indicator of whether we are recognizing God’s authority or not. Disregarding imperative verses like Rom 12:1-2, Gal 5:16, and Eph 5:18 will reveal whether we are doing everything to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:17, 23), and that will bring to light who is truly in control of our life, God or you.

As you rightly know, God is interested in nothing less than our offering the whole of us in service to Him, nothing half-hearted or without heart will do. Every thought, every word, and every act are to be calibrated to His Word. Our rewards for service to God will be evaluated by this standard at the Bema seat which has nothing to do with our salvation. What a contrast to the infamous mindset during the most ungovernable period of humankind to date,

“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen 6:5)! 

You know where this leads, to a destructive end (Gen 6:3).

Are we ungovernable before God? Is there an area in our life where God is not governing? Let me give you one of the ways we can know. If we cherry-pick the Scriptures on what to obey and disregard, we are not aligned with Scripture, and therefore, we have become ungovernable. God cannot rule over those who continually disobey His Word. Willful ignorance also exacerbates being governable as well.

Nothing good ever comes out of being spiritually (or physically for that matter) ungovernable. It is hypocritical to call Yeshua (Jesus), King of kings and Lord of lords in an ungovernable state. We may be very good at fooling others, but we can never dupe the all-knowing God. <><

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (1 Jn 1:4).