“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there isn’t any authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those that achieve this will bring judgment on themselves.” – Romans 13:1-2
The old cliché seems appropriate: two things we’re never imagined to speak about at family gatherings – religion and politics. Yet nowadays those things feel just like the only thing anyone is talking about. Perhaps that’s to be expected in a presidential election 12 months, but this isn’t limited to only this 12 months. Politics has change into a typical conversation piece that has served to disrupt an important many family – and other – gatherings. Even amongst believers, politics generally is a very sore subject and result in breakdowns of relationships. Politics have gone thus far as to sever an important many families, in addition to far too a lot of what had been friendships.
Today, in our world, you’re either a liberal or a conservative – and over recent years, the divide between them has seemingly grown wider and wider and wider. If you’re one, you hate the opposite and may’t for the lifetime of you understand how the opposite believes what they do. “Are they blind?!? Can’t they see how fallacious they’re??”
Society has even resorted to labels and name-calling. Right-wing. Left wing. Both are intended to be derogatory labels geared toward dismissing the opinions and viewpoints of the person so labeled. Christian nationalist, woke, racist, socialist, fascist, communist. All terms with the identical double-sided intent to insult and dismiss.
But where exactly does – should – the church fit into all of this? Unfortunately, there appears to be a growing trend – no, fully grown and getting perhaps worse, if that’s possible – to tie religion into the context of politics and to assume one’s politics based on one’s faith. Yet, is that correctly? Have we been called to political activism? Religion and politics aren’t imagined to mix – but does that old formula still hold true? Should one have political beliefs which are outside of their Christian or Biblical beliefs? No, absolutely not.
On the opposite hand, can one’s liberal political theology keep them from turning their hearts towards Jesus Christ? Yes, there actually are those whose political activism and political viewpoints will keep them from even considering the reality of the Bible – precisely because their political beliefs might then need to change.
But is all of this correctly? Is this what Jesus taught?
A Biblical Perspective
One of the primary truths we learn as Christian believers is that nothing is outside of the purview of God. Nothing. In his letter to the Romans, Paul tells us:
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there isn’t any authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those that achieve this will bring judgment on themselves.” – Romans 13:1-2
“There isn’t any authority except that which God has established.” When Paul wrote those words, Nero was the emperor and as evil as they arrive. In fact, Nero ultimately would put Paul to death. Yet, Paul still held that God himself had established Nero’s authority.
Throughout Biblical history, God used people resembling Nero – Nebuchadnezzar, Pontius Pilate, Herod, and the Pharaoh through the time of Moses. Daniel too taught that God controlled the leaders of the world’s nations:
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there isn’t any authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those that achieve this will bring judgment on themselves.” – 2:21
“‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the decision, in order that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and offers them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of individuals.” – 4:17
This truth should paint a reality for all believers that politics is nothing greater than a way God uses to perform his will. Yes, evil men will abuse their political power and conduct evil, but even this God uses for his own purposes. (Romans 8:28) God’s message throughout Scripture is that he’s sovereign over all things. All things. As followers of Christ, we must hold on to the deep belief that God places people – even non-believers – and puts them in positions of power to meet his will. Not ours – his.
Is there any reason that we should always imagine that this truth doesn’t apply to all countries – including the United States? We may decide to imagine that we’re “one nation under God” – but that’s from a human perspective, not God’s. The Old Testament directives for governance were intended for the nation of Israel – and the one nation under God was Israel. Every nation in history has sought to be “under God” and have God’s approval – each with the need to have the ability to say “God is with us.”
We must recognize that our government – any government – cannot save us. Only God can try this. Do we actually imagine we will legislate against any sin and make every little thing okay? Change people’s hearts? If people will rebel against the laws of God, why would the laws of man be any different? Not one person can be saved through a change of behavior because of this of laws. Not one.
God’s plans for this country are going to occur—no matter what we imagine, say, or do. Last I checked, the United States was not mentioned within the Book of Revelation. God’s plan is probably not for the US to exist beyond our generation.
But what must be our role?
Dual Citizenship
There is little doubt that we must recognize that, as believers, we possess dual citizenship. We are first – and foremost – residents of God’s kingdom. We are also residents of a sovereign nation – the United States. But never the twain shall meet. Our roles as the previous should surpass and supersede the latter.
Yes, we’ve got a responsibility to our governing authorities to obey the laws and to be good residents. (Romans 13:1-8) We actually have a responsibility to vote for our values – voting for candidates who appear probably the most moral, honest, and ethical of the candidates and who support our Christian values. If called to serve in a political position, we should achieve this with integrity.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to each human authority: whether to the emperor, because the supreme authority, or to governors, who’re sent by him to punish those that do fallacious and to commend those that do right. For it’s God’s will that by doing good you must silence the ignorant talk of silly people. Live as free people, but don’t use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” – 1Peter 2:13-15
But we mustn’t ever forget that our at the start responsibility is to our Lord as residents of the dominion of God. The apostles never called for civil disobedience – quite the alternative. Instead, we were called to proclaim the Gospel message and to live our lives as clear evidence of the transformative power of knowing Jesus Christ.
Let’s be honest, too – the teachings of Jesus don’t fit thoroughly with keeping with governance of a nation. What we’re called to as believers – love your enemies, turn the opposite cheek, the primary shall be last, and so many more – don’t work for the governance of a nation that wishes to stay sovereign.
When believers think the mission of the Church can one way or the other be allied with the federal government or governmental policy, they’re gravely mistaken. Too often, because of this, people turn away from God moderately than toward him.
On the opposite hand, a liberal, progressive ideology will too often keep people from even considering the reality of the Gospel message, dismissing faith in Jesus. They would moderately hold onto their deeply held political and social beliefs moderately than even consider the reality of the Gospel.
The Challenge of Politics
Politics will all the time be a difficult issue for Christians. We are on this world, but not of this world.
“Do not love the world or anything on this planet. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is just not in them.” – 1 John 2:15
God got here to ascertain a literal kingdom with literal values and a literal king. He asks us to determine – are you going to be an element of my kingdom, or a part of an earthly kingdom?
We live here as residents, and we should always live pretty much as good residents. We should undergo the ruling authorities because that’s what God has asked us to do. But this is just not our home. The president is just not my king. My king is Jesus Christ and I follow what he teaches me to do and the way he teaches me to live and behave.
We must think through this alternative using one easy filter. What would Jesus’ response be if he stepped into our culture today? In his day, Jesus was immersed within the conflict between the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the Romans and the Zealots. He was consistently being pressured by all these different groups – the liberals and conservatives of his time. But he stubbornly refused to be related to any of them. Instead, he talked concerning the kingdom of God – and only the dominion of God.
Do you actually think he would do anything different in our culture? If he walked into our world and a Democrat and Republican tried to trap him – do you actually think he would take sides?
We is not going to all the time agree with all elected officials – but whether we voted for them or not, we still must show them respect and are called to wish for our leaders in office. When was the last time you prayed for a sitting president you had not voted for?
Ultimately, we’re to be way more concerned with things of God moderately than things of the world. As followers of Christ, we’re all members of the identical everlasting party—one that may far outlast each the Republicans and the Democrats.
In the meantime, what do you think that might occur if, moderately than through politics and laws, we selected to affect our nation by changing hearts? Laws have never saved anyone – heart given to Jesus…well, saves all.
If we modified—if we lived lives as Jesus calls us to do—then we could help others change. Then they may help someone change, and so forth. We could have an infinite impact and effect true change—one heart at a time.
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