Our Governing Authorities

Today the United States will enter into what would be a very dangerous time if it were in another country. Today is the Inauguration of the new President, which in many countries, this event is either lead or closely followed by murder, war, political and economic unrest. However, in this Great country this power change happens every four to eight years without incident. This is something to rejoice over.

Many, however, have very strong opinions about the President of the United States, who he should be and from what party he should be. This attitude can be healthy for a republic like we have in the United States. Having said that, one may began to wonder how far a Christian can go with politics and party preferences. We live in a land of freedoms, namely freedom of speech; but just because a Christian lives in a land of freedoms does not mean we should exercise those freedoms.

Paul wrote on the subject of Government on several occasions, and Jesus preached on the matter (Matthew 22:17-21). Let us open our bibles and study the Scriptures to see how a Christian should view and treat governments. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, gave detailed instructions to the readers on the function, authority and proper respect of government. Paul writes:

Rom 13:1-7 ESV 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. (2) Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (3) For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, (4) for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. (5) Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. (6) For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. (7) Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

These words written by Paul so many years ago are still true in the current political climate of the United States. Paul does not mention any political parties or if you agree with policies or laws. What he does say is that we are to respect the government because it is “instituted by God”.

Paul also writes in Titus 3:1 ESV “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,”. Notice that this letter to Titus was written while Nero was Emperor of the Roman Empire and Paul had just been released from prison. Keep in mind the attitude Nero and his government had toward Christianity. Persecution during this period of time in the church was horrific and yet Paul instructs the first century Christians to be submissive and obedient to the government. Try and place yourself in the first century Christians’ shoes, and realize the fear our brothers and sisters must have felt every time they knelt to pray a prayer to our Lord or sing a song in praise. Think of the fear they must have felt every time they reached out to a lost soul knowing it may lead to death in the coliseum.

I challenge each reader to consider his or her own life and ask yourself how you measure up in a free society knowing what others have sacrificed to spread the Word of God under a persecuting Government. Also consider the political climate under which Paul wrote these words. He instructed first century Christians as he instructs Christians today to respect the governing authorities. Paul could have been thinking of Nero as he wrote these words; knowing full well what that wicked king was capable of.

Christian, it is not respectful to bash, joke, or demean Government; this includes the President that gave the oath on January 20, 2009. The Word of God written by Paul is not prefaced with any stipulation on who or what the government is. Consider 1Th 4:11-12 ESV “and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, (12) so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” If every Christians aim is to work hard, live like Christ and “love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 19:19) we can look forward to a peaceful life. Remember, this land of freedom means we are able to live, worship, and preach as Christ has commanded. Many countries in which our fellow Christian brothers and sisters live do not allow these kinds of freedoms.

Rather than complaining, joking, bashing, and poking fun; count your blessings that America still allows Christians to preach and worship as Christ would have us. As long as we live in a country where God’s law is not hindered by government, we can count that as a blessing that those in the first century did not enjoy. Remember Christian, God is our Father, King, and Lord; His Son is our mediator and nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). Take courage knowing that Jesus Christ is our mediator to the creator of the universe, and it is He that gives and takes authority Rom. 13:1-7 and II Tim. 2:5)


---by: Andy McDonald