In the days of Jesus, one did not talk back to a Roman soldier, you didn’t argue with them, you didn’t march around with protest signs, you did what you were told, or there would be serious repercussions, swift and to the point.
Freedom is an illusion, one is only allowed as much freedom as those in control say they can have, this can be proven no matter which nation you live in. Some things are tolerated, some are not, and there is always a representative of the one in charge willing to make sure that the rules are adhered to.
The Lord God is Sovereign over all, the only limits that He places upon men are those that He has set in place in the physical world, you may look out over the cliff, but to jump off of it would not be wise, there are limits to our freedoms. “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” (Eccl. 3:11) There are also limits within our mind, a stop gap, if you will, somethings just do not seem right to do, they are wrong within our thought processes.
Those who have been set in authority over us are placed there by God, and in Romans 13 we are commanded to be subject to the higher powers, (vs. 1) for they are placed there for our good. But sometimes that good is difficult to see, and sometimes evil men who do not fear God are set in those seats of power. When this occurs, serious prayer and contemplation must be given to the current circumstances, for we would not disobey God, yet we are also commanded to hate evil, (prov. 8:13) and to stand in the evil day. (Eph. 6:13) Being forced to do something against our will is not grounds for refusal to submit to those in authority, or is it?
Here is where that contemplation and prayer must come into focus, and here is where we find what freedom truly is. In some nations, and that number is growing every day, it is illegal to speak to others about Jesus Christ, there is no fine imposed, imprisonment, torture, and death are the punishment, those who are set in authority over us in those nations have decreed it to be so. But we are commanded to go into all the world, (Mark 16:15) and so here is where we find out who we truly serve, the Lord God, or evil men who have determined to stand against His will, and simply for the sake of not having to experience any possible, adverse effects for following Christ.
Just a few short months ago the authorities in most, if not all nations on this planet, told all churches to lock their doors, and according to the accounts, over 98% of them did as they were told. The media around the globe played their part well, and those who say they serve God without fear of what man can do to them (Psalm 118:6) began to fear, they closed their doors. Many are now saying that they will not be able to attend the services unless they wear a mask, and some have even gone as far as to require those in attendance to be vaccinated.
It’s not so easy to simply remove the lines of obedience and instantaneously expect all to obey, but it is quite simple to expect that same unquestioning obedience when the lines are slowly blurred, when small steps are taken instead of one giant step.
Subtlety has always been our adversaries most employed weapon against the people of God, what was unthinkable just a short time ago can be made to seem as right and proper with the passage of time, and with these small steps. You have the freedom to obey God if you are one of His, all other freedoms are an illusion. The Roman empire is being revived, and any and all protests against it will be met with severe and swift consequences. More than likely, you are going to be required to make some very serious, life altering choices in the near future.