{"id":348171,"date":"2023-06-13T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reasons.org\/?p=348171"},"modified":"2023-06-13T05:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T12:00:00","slug":"god-government-and-the-christian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reasons.org\/christianity\/beliefs-values\/god-government-and-the-christian","title":{"rendered":"God, Government, and the Christian"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Christians often have questions about God and his connection to government and how that relationship affects believers in Christ. Questions especially arise when we get a government that appears to be at odds with Christian convictions. Let\u2019s briefly explore this important topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven Biblical Truths about God and Government<\/strong>
In God\u2019s providential control over all things and his care for human beings, he has revealed seven principles in Scripture to help guide Christians on matters pertaining to ruling authorities.1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. God established government.<\/strong>
The Lord\u2019s sovereign reign over the world includes the establishment of human authorities. From a biblical perspective, the authority of human government is not absolute but rather divinely derived. The apostle Paul writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God\u201d (Romans 13:1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prophet Daniel proclaimed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPraise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning\u201d (Daniel 2:20\u201321).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. God instituted government for the good of all people.<\/strong>
Government was instituted by God to commend the good, punish evil, maintain peace, and protect the innocent. The apostle Paul explains:\u201cFor the one in authority is God\u2019s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God\u2019s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience\u201d (Romans 13:4\u20135).

The prophet Zechariah received the Lord\u2019s benevolent directive:

\u201cAnd the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: \u2018This is what the Lord Almighty said: \u201cAdminister true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other\u201d\u2019\u201d (Zechariah 7:8\u201310).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.<\/strong> God uses noble and ignoble governments to accomplish his sovereign purposes.<\/strong>
God accomplishes his sovereign will through just and unjust authorities. God even used the Jewish and Roman authorities that opposed Christ to realize his ultimate purposes. Luke writes:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIndeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen\u201d (Acts 4:27\u201328).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the Psalmist proclaims:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy do the nations conspire\u00a0<\/sup>and the peoples plot\u00a0in vain?\u00a0The kings\u00a0of the earth rise up\u00a0and the rulers band together against the\u00a0Lord\u00a0and against his anointed,\u00a0saying,\u00a0\u2018Let us break their chains\u00a0and throw off their shackles.\u2019\u00a0The One enthroned\u00a0in heaven laughs;\u00a0the Lord scoffs at them.\u00a0He rebukes them in his anger\u00a0and terrifies them in his wrath,\u00a0saying, \u2018I have installed my king\u00a0on Zion,\u00a0my holy mountain\u2019\u201d (Psalm 2:1\u20136).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.<\/strong> God calls his people to pray for government officials.<\/strong>
Believers in Christ have the obligation to pray for those who govern them. Whether we voted for them or not, or whether we agree with them or not, Scripture exhorts us to pray for our government leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul appeals to Timothy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people\u2014for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior\u201d (1 Timothy 2:1\u20133).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.<\/strong> God calls his people to honor and submit to the governmental authorities.<\/strong>
Christians are to extend honor and submission to those who govern them. Whether we voted for them or not or whether we agree with them or not we are required to honor and submit to them. The apostle Peter writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSubmit yourselves for the Lord\u2019s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right\u201d (1 Peter 2:13\u201314).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul explains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God\u2019s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor\u201d (Romans 13:6\u20137).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To respect and honor government authorities involves esteeming and appreciating their seat or role in government. Even if one disagrees with the person and their policies one can still offer deference to the important position that the leader holds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Believers in Christ should follow the laws of the state. If a law is unjust, then the believer is to seek legal and peaceful ways to repeal such a law and replace it with legislation that is fair and honorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.<\/strong> God calls his people to obey him over all government authorities.<\/strong>
Submission to government has its limits. Christians are to obey government except<\/em> when government commands something God forbids or government forbids something God commands. When commanded not to preach the gospel by governing authorities, the apostles responded defiantly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe must obey God rather than human beings!\u201d (Acts 5:29)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This story in the Book of Daniel illustrates a loyalty to a higher authority:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, \u2018King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us <\/sup>from Your Majesty\u2019s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up\u2019\u201d (Daniel 3:16\u201318).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Christians find it necessary to disobey government, then they should approach their civil disobedience with moral and spiritual responsibility by seeking to align their actions with such virtues as courage, wisdom, humility, justice, and charity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.<\/strong> God will bring all present human governments to an end in the eternal state where Jesus Christ will reign forever.<\/strong>
Jesus Christ is the true king and his kingdom will indeed come. Consider his exchange with Roman governor Pontius Pilate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, \u2018Are you the King of the Jews?\u2019 Jesus answered, \u2018Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?\u2019 Pilate answered, \u2018Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?\u2019 Jesus answered, \u2018My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world\u2019\u201d (John 18:33\u201336).

From the Book of Revelation:

\u201c\u2018He will rule them with an iron scepter.\u2019 . . . On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.\u201d (Revelation 19:15\u201316).[<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Takeaway<\/strong>
Believers in Christ should discharge their responsibilities as citizens of this temporal world with diligence, wisdom, justice, and benevolence as informed by the Christian worldview. Even though circumstances may not look favorable, God\u2019s people must also remember that the Lord\u2019s sovereign purposes will ultimately be accomplished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n