只是問一下 (4)：順服香港當權者？

我希望牧者和講道者能夠讀到這個網誌。

一直以來，我都想找到這個問題的答案。

對於那些在 2019 至 2022 年居於香港的，和那些仍然留在香港的，尤其是牧者和講道者，都會樂於聽到任何的回應。

我向來認為，羅馬凱撒對其治下人民及其親屬的殘暴，保羅是非常清楚的。因此，就羅馬書十三章 1 節的詮釋，除了那種流行於香港的基督教會內鋪天蓋地的說法之外，我總感到該有另類和更合乎情理的解釋。
說白一點，那個我們在香港的教會內慣常聽到的勸喻，必定是錯的。

在上有權柄的，人人要順服，因為沒有權柄不是來自上帝的。掌權的都是上帝所立的（羅十三 1《和修》）。

對此，彼得的看法又如何？
他不是也曾多次經歷猶太和羅馬政權的不義對待嗎？

你們為主的緣故要順服人的一切制度，或是在上的君王，或是君王所派懲惡賞善的官員（彼前二 13～14《和修》）。

莫非，在保羅和彼得的時代，生活在羅馬帝制之下的人根本就無從反對當權者；而活在民主制度之下的我們，當權者由選舉產生，民事和刑事責任由法庭判斷，我們就有抗命的餘地？

這樣，香港的基督徒面對當權者，在教會所宣講的一套之外，是否該有另類的反應？

我只是問一下。

Just asking (4): Submit to HKG authorities?

I hope pastors or preachers can read this blog.

I have been wanting to find the answer to this question.

For those who were in HK over 2019-2022, and who still are staying in HK, pastors and preachers in particular, responses will be welcomed.

I always believe Paul must be aware of the cruelties Roman Caesars did to people, especially to their households. So I often feel that there must be an alternative and reasonable interpretation to the hegemonic one prevailing over HK Christian churches.
That’s, Roman 13:1’s call as commonly preached in HK churches, must be wrong.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God (Rom 13:1, ESV).

But what about Peter?
Didn’t he too experience multiple times the injustice at Jewish and Roman authorities?

Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good (1 Pet 2:13-14, NET).

Is it the case that whilst in Paul’s and Peter’s Roman system of emperors, there was no room for disobedience to authority, in a democratic system where election determines authority, and where civil and criminal judgements are given at courts, there is room for disobedience?

Shouldn’t HK Christians react to authority differently to what’s been preached in churches?

I’m just asking.