“Children of the Light” by Lecrae (from the album “Rehab,” Reach Records.)
Works of the Flesh Part 9: Seditions
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21 (KJV)
According to Jamison Fausset-Brown Biblical Commentary, seditions means: “dissensions, as to secular matters.” The American Tract Society Bible Dictionary says sedition is: “A popular tumult, (Acts 24:5), or a religious faction, (Galatians 5:20). The same Greek word means ‘insurrection,’ when speaking of Barabbas, (Mark 15:7), and ‘dissension’ (Acts 15:2).
In a country like the U.S. where there is freedom to protest and bear arms, it’s difficult to think of how dissension is a work of the flesh, in the same company with witchcraft and adultery. The King James Dictionary defines sedition as “an uproar; insurrection; dissension.” The image is one of causing discord, moving against authority, and disagreement with those in authority.
The face of sedition: Barabbas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
There are times when we have to oppose evil authority, (such as that of Nazi Germany, and slave owners of the American South). This verse is not talking about righteous actions against evil. It is talking about wicked protests and uprisings.
There are citizens and church members who make it a practice to disagree with those in authority. They go about spreading gossip and openly undermine the works of those “who have rule over them,” just to satisfy their own egotistical and narcissistic desires. I believe what this verse is saying about seditions is that we should not engage in dissent and “stir up trouble” in order to undermine and destroy those in authority for reasons that are not righteous.
To be sure, there are times to protest. Yet even protests have laws that define what is a legal. Believers should not invoke chaos, because “God is not the author of confusion.” It is written:
1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:40
Let all things be done decently and in order.
1 Corinthians 16:14
Let all your things be done with charity.
Seditions, as Galatians 5: 19 concludes, is disagreement without love, without decency, without order, and without intent to bring peace. When believers disagree, we must first pray for wisdom and peace, subjecting the issue to the Lordship of Jesus. We must ask God what to do, if anything. We must wait for an answer, and act according to the will of God as expressed in scriptures.
Until next time, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!”
Your friend in Christ,
Verneda
Twitter handle: @vlights
© 2012 Verneda Lights. All Rights Reserved.
Last updated March 11, 2015
Related articles
- Works of the Flesh: Part II (e-graphx.com)
- Works of the Flesh Part 3 (e-graphx.com)
- Works of the Flesh Part 6: Emulations (e-graphx.com)
- Works of the Flesh Part 7: Wrath (e-graphx.com)
- Works of the Flesh Part 8: Strife (e-graphx.com)
- Works of the Flesh: Part 1 (e-graphx.com)
The video “Children of the Light” by Lecrae, featuring Sonny Sandoval and Dillavou was Uploaded on Youtube.com by justrun7 on Sep 3, 2010. Verneda Lights and E-graphx Omnimedia have no ownership in this video. It is used for instructional purposes only.
