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God Does Not Promise a Favorable Government to Christians
We probably understand what is said in Romans 13.3-4: “For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.”
There have been opportunities where God’s people have been blessed because of the above passage, like Esther, Joseph (once the truth was discovered), and Daniel (although thrown to the lions). Doing good should NOT cause us to fear the rulers. Driving down the road and seeing a policeman does not cause me to hide or take my foot off the gas, then once we pass the patrol car, speed up above the limit. We should not be afraid of being stopped. A “law abiding citizen” does not have to live in fear of being punished.
Although it is God’s will for the government to use authority, God never promised the government will rule in our favor. God’s people have been in slavery, bondage, and captivity. There have always been godly people living during a period where the government was terrible and circumstances were unpleasant. Christians need to be content to live faithful to God under the current governing body. For whether the world and government become worse, Christians are still children of the King, Jesus Christ. They are citizens of His heavenly kingdom (Philippians 3.20), which impacts what Christians do under any governing body under which we live.
Consider this while living under the present government: Do not be the government’s best critic!
A Christian can simply relax and be a hypocrite and conform to the attitude, speech, and conduct of the government. A Christian can be the government’s best critic. We could be like Joshua in Joshua 24.4,15: “Now therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve Jehovah. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.”
These words show Joshua had a plan of action. It was not to criticize the land of the Amorites and other heathen nations, but to live righteously in his present age. There is something to learn from what Joshua did.
It does not help the government and those around you when you are constantly complaining about what the government does. If you believe the government is bad, think about how bad the world is. Consider how bad traffic is. How about how bad doctors are (which patients speak out against often)? Are there any bad parents? How about bad families? Romans 8.22-25 says the world groans. Today, people are wishing someone would do something about crime, drugs, disrespect, domestic violence, indecent TV programs, guns, illiteracy, and homosexual marriage. “What are we going to do? When is the government going to step up to solve the problems?”
The decisions made by the Supreme Court or laws enacted by the U.S. Congress do not change what God wants me to do. I still must abide by the authority of the land. I cannot be bitter about the decision, neither a bigot nor right-wing. I can be disappointed, but what I must do is love God, not the world. Love those in sin and teach the way of righteousness. How I respond to authority is what makes the difference in the world. This is what Peter addressed in 1 Peter 2.11-12: “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” It is after this exhortation that Peter follows up with these words: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.” The value of obeying the authority of man allows us to be an example for others.
Let us remember this: We ought to obey God rather than man. The right and wrong to every matter is not a decision established or upheld by man, but by God. The most important question becomes Who is your authority?
The above question is one the Hebrew midwives had to answer in Exodus 1.17. Daniel and his three friends had to answer it in Daniel 3.13-14,16-18, and Daniel himself in Daniel 6.10. Will we do what God asks, however far it takes us - to prison or death? Acts 5.29 is the most quoted passage of what Peter and the apostles confirmed they would do in every matter - obey God. If or when the government calls us to do something not found in scripture, we are compelled to follow God, not man for the praise of God, not ourselves.
