If you are overly joyful or overly disappointed following Tuesday’s election, you have probably put too much stock in a human leader. God’s purposes are not thwarted by conservatives or liberals. The church functions under the banner of the cross and the gospel has the power to do what no president or human government ever could. Don’t stoop to rely on a lesser power.
The election is now in the rear-view mirror and there are a variety of responses to our president elect. Some are marching in protest or launching verbal grenades via social media. Some are threatening to move out of the country. In the midst of the hostility and emotion, the Bible has some explicit instruction that should shape our response to whoever holds the office of president.
- Submit – Romans 13:1-7 – Whatever grievances you have, get over it. Fall in line. Pay your taxes. Show respect. All human authority has been established by God. And when you rebel against human authority you are rebelling against God and that is a foolish and futile response.
- Demonstrate Grace – Titus 3:1-5 – This text goes further to say that we should be gracious, peaceful, civil and courteous in relationship to governing authorities. We are “to speak evil of no one.” It is never appropriate to make fun of or belittle a president by means of jokes or memes. Unbelievers are disobedient and marked by hate. But our treatment of others should be shaped by God’s treatment of us.
- Pray – 1 Timothy 2:1-4 – There are a variety of things we might pray for the president (e.g. wisdom, protection, salvation). But the emphasis here is that we should pray for them because of how it impacts us. We should pray “so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life…” Prayer helps us to cultivate a proper posture toward authority.
Pastor Jeff
Photo credit: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2011_Wisconsin_Budget_Protests_1_JO.jpg
I believe I understand and apply these spiritual principles, with balance. To me this means that looking at the world through the lens you suggest is only part of the story.
And since you raise the issue of “Submit” with “All human authority has been established by God.”, it leads me to ask about genocide, ethnic cleansing, revolutions and civil wars – where one “government” is being fought by a group of “insurgents / revolutionaries / oppressed / marginalized / downtrodden (etc.) groups” – ie those being attacked, killed, enslaved etc. I see too much of the bible being taken out of context – the context of love – and used as an excuse or justification for tolerance of unrighteous actions. In that sense, a positive principle can be used in a distorted way, as I’m sure you understand.
I look forward to your comment or reply.
Thanks Zander for your thoughtful and insightful comments. It is true that there is a limit to how much a Christian should submit to authority. When confronted with a choice between obeying God or obeying a human authority, I must always obey God (see Acts 4:19). But I should only “rebel” against authority when I am being asked to actively disobey God. For example, a Christian doctor should not perform an abortion – even if they are required to do so by the government. But a Christian taxpayer should still pay their taxes – even though some of that money goes to support federally funded abortions.
I think we have to remember that 1st century Rome was a brutal place. Christians were being burned. Babies were being abandoned on trash heaps by government policy. People were pressured to worship Caesar as Lord. So when Paul writes to these believers and asks them to submit to governing authorities, he was asking them to come under a brutal dictatorship. I would agree with you that governments often do unjust things. But again, I think it is helpful to consider the injustices in Rome. The Roman government beheaded John the Baptist, crucified Jesus, put James (the brother of John) to death, imprisoned Peter, and beheaded Paul (among countless other atrocities). These things were terribly unjust but I don’t find the church signing petitions or holding protest rallies. They entrusted themselves to God to sort out the injustices in his time. The point is that we need to submit to all authority – not just godly authority.
We are living in a culture with very little respect for authority. Kids don’t come under the authority of parents or teachers. Citizens don’t come under the authority of governmental leaders. But in resisting unjust human authority, I think Christians must be very careful that they don’t find themselves in rebellion against God himself (the source of all authority).