What's a Christian to do in such a volatile political
climate? Should we just turn away shaking our heads in consternation and
retreat into isolation? Should we adopt an attitude of futility thinking it
doesn't matter who is elected because nothing is going to change? Should we
look at the political world from a prophetic perspective hoping for the world
to blow up so as to facilitate the sooner return of Jesus? All of these stances
are possibilities for the Christian to take. But if the Christian is going to
be scripturally sound I think it best to take a deep breath, pray, and then do what we can do in the governmental
system God has sovereignly birthed us in or brought us to. What do the
scriptures say about the Christian's role in politics?
The apostle Peter wrote his first epistle to Christians who
were persecuted pilgrims displaced from their homes and lands by a government
that persecuted them. Peter's words in this letter to the persecuted is very
pertinent for us today. Christians are more and more marginalized in the media
and social discourse of our day. If you are paying attention and observing how
Christians are verbally attacked and ridiculed, you probably are beginning to wonder how long before verbal
attacks get physical. The political climate of our day is like a weather front
of dark storm clouds persecution forming on the horizon. Political dialogue is the arena we are called
to take a stand in. Politics plays a big role in challenging people to take a
stand and express their viewpoints.
I don't believe Christians have the option to simple stay
out of this fray. I think part of the reason we are seeing such immoral and
sinful degeneracy in our land is because we as Christians have adopted a
political pacifist stance of noninvolvement. We are reaping what we have sowed.
I'm not blaming all our nation's problems on Christian political inactivity. But
I do think we need to prayerfully reflect on our personal responsibility that
what we see in our world today has happened on our watch. We need to seek the
Lord for direction in the political arena. I don't think we should become
obsessed with politics. But I also don't think we should ignore politics. We
have to find a scriptural balance. That's where Peter's inspired words come in.
As I mentioned Peter wrote to Christians who were severely
persecuted by the government under which they lived. They weren't blessed with
a democracy. There Caesar was deified. They were under considerably worse
political conditions than we are today. With this in mind, what was Peter
inspired by God to tell them about how to relate to their government? Let's
see.
1 Peter 2:13a – “Therefore submit yourselves. . . .
In this verse the "Therefore" links what Peter has
said previously about how living hope. Living hope is faith for the future that
endures and lives on. It begins when we are born again and it is cultivated as
we grow in God's word and our relationship with Jesus (1 Peter 1 - 2:12). What
follows is a consideration by Peter of practical life settings in which we live
out living hope. Being a good citizen is the first life environment considered
by Peter for instruction. This tells us Peter gave politics or citizenship a
priority of importance for the believer. He speaks about citizenship, work
relations, and marriage, but he speaks first about how these Christians were to
live in their political environment. Maybe this was because this area of life
was the most dangerous and life threatening for them.
What did Peter tell these pilgrims? Did he tell them to
rebel? Did he tell them to demonstrate? Did he tell them to take up arms and
fight? What did Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tell these
persecuted pilgrims to do?
The general attitude
for those living out living hope in the world is cooperation/submission. The
first thing Peter advises us to do in living out living hope in all these areas
of life is to "submit yourselves." The phrase "submit yourselves"
(Greek hypotasso ) means to subordinate yourself, to obey, be under
obedience, put under, be subject to, submit yourself to. The grammar used by Peter here (huptagete - Aorist/Passive/Imperative)
conveys the idea of a necessary or
mandatory action. Peter is speaking of an imperative; a necessity; a
required mindset and action to do. It's important that as Christians living out
living hope we make it a priority to cooperate with authority by submitting to
it.
Satan rebels. Saints
submit. Satan rebelled against God and His rule. Saints are followers of
Jesus and yield their lives to Him. They yield and submit to God because they
have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. Jesus in effect bought us with His
blood (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Job said it well, "Naked I came from my
mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has
taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). Like Job, who
suffered greatly, we are to rest in the
LORD and trust His plans even if His plans involve suffering and loss. God
knows best. He oversees the universe and He alone knows what is best. We need to
submit to Him and His will by faith.
When we look at history we see there is indeed a time to
resist and even rebel against injustice. But whenever we consider such
resistance and rebellion we must do so with great care because Satan is always
seeking to lure people into rebellion. Our sinful nature is at heart
rebellious. In circumstances where rebellion and resistance seem warranted we
need to proceed prayerfully and make every effort to walk in the Spirit and
make sure we are submitting to God's will. Otherwise we will become pawns of
the devil and do much harm.
This cooperative and submissive attitude is explained by
Peter to apply to politics, the work place, the family unit, and in the church.
As we move on in the letter we see this applies even in circumstances involving
persecution. Cooperation and submission is an important part of living out
living hope. It doesn't mean we live as Millard or Mildred Milquetoasts. But sometimes
it takes more faith and courage to cooperate and submit. In the end our
objective is to glorify God. And a spirit of cooperation and submission is a
powerful tool to see this happen.
1 Peter 2:13-17 – “Therefore submit yourselves to every
ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,14 or to
governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for
the praise of those who do good.15 For this is the will of God, that by
doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—16 as free, yet
not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.17 Honor all people.
Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
Cooperation and submission
is the attitude and rule of thumb for the Christian to
follow. Our inclination and objective is to cooperate with and submit ourselves
"to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as
supreme, or to governors, . . . " "Every ordinance" (Greek ktisis ) means creation of, building of, ordinance of "of man" (Greek anthropinos ) or common to man, human origins, after the manner of men. This would
include man made laws of government and government systems. The bottom line
is Christians
are to make every effort to live as law-abiding citizens.
Those sent by the king or government authorities as
extensions of authority are to be submitted too. The purpose of government
according to Peter here is that they are ordained, "as to those who are
sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do
good." Governments are meant to keep
the order and peace of society.
They punish evildoers and praise those who do good. One commentary states:
Although
believers are citizens of heaven, they should obey civil laws while on earth. They should "submit" themselves
(hupotagete, subordinate, be in subjection, as in 3:22) to every "ordinance" (ktisei,
institution) of man for the Lord's sake, and should honor the king as being "supreme" (huperechonti,
prime authority, having superiority) in his earthly realm. Christians should obey their earthly king, Peter said,
as long as it did not require disobeying
their heavenly King. Sometimes Christians have to choose between the two loyalties (see Acts 4:19,20), but Peter
made it clear that Christians should be on the side of law and order.[1]
Why should we submit
to secular or worldly authorities? What is the motive and purpose for such
submission to government? Why is it important to cooperate and submit to
authority? Peter states, " For
this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the
ignorance of foolish men—16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice,
but as bondservants of God.17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood.
Fear God. Honor the king.” Let's
consider the reasons for Christians to cooperate and submit to governmental
authorities.
First it is God's
will for us to live submissively and cooperatively with human authorities. "For
this is the will of God." If you want to live in the will of God then
cooperate and submit to the authority in which God has sovereignly placed you.
The sinful nature is by nature rebellious.
The sinful nature wants to rebel just
like Satan rebelled against God. By cooperating and submitting instead of
rebelling against government authorities we learn humility and grow in
Christ-likeness. God uses cooperation with and submission to authority as a means or instrument to humble us and purify us of pride. There are times
when resistance, opposition and even rebellion are called for, but if at all possible we are to work for
righteous change within the human government
system and its ordinances as much as possible. For instance, it is
hypocritical and I think sinful for Christians to complain and criticize our
government if they haven't at least cooperated with our democracy and voted.
Historians look back on the Christian vote or lack thereof and see evidence
that had Christians voted in greater proportions, our nation might have looked
significantly better than it does today.
Second, cooperation
and submission to human authority is God's means to silence ignorant and
foolish people. Peter says, " that
by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. . . "
"Doing good" (Greek agathopoieo)
means to be a well-doer, do good, to do
something that profits or benefits others, to help someone, to do someone a
favor, to do well, do right, to act correctly, to act within the law. Working
within the government system we are to actively
do good and work to benefit others. This is the political action we are to
involve ourselves with when we live out living hope. We can do good verbally by
being informed and voicing righteous views in political debate. We can do good
physically by contributing to those in need and actually getting out there and
doing some good.
When we do good as
law abiding citizens looking to help others it will "put to silence" (Greek
phimoo ) or muzzle, put to silence, make speechless, cause to be still, still,
close the mouth of, reduce to silence, keep in check, tie shut "the
ignorance" (Greek agnosia ) or ignorance, lack of knowledge, lack of
spiritual knowledge "of foolish men" (Greek aphron ) or men who are mindless,
stupid, ignorant, egotistic, morally unbelieving, unwise, without reason,
without reflection or intelligence, who act rashly. There's a lot of
ignorance and a lot of foolishness in the social debate of our day. The best
defense against political foes is a life lived righteously in living hope. A fool is someone who fails to factor God in to their life equation or world view (e.g.
Psalm 14 and 53). We need to reasonably and effectively introduce God and His
word into the political conversation. It only seems awkward now because
Christians have been delinquent in their prayers, study, and readiness to give a
reason for the hope that is in us.
There will always
be those who accuse Christians of being bigoted, haters, intolerant, unloving,
partial and prejudiced. Christians should not expect a fair playing field. The
media for instance has preconceived assumptions about Christians and does not
treat them fairly. The best defense and response to unjust accusations is a life that lives righteously in living
hope. When we live in love and stand for justice, and live righteously
before our God then those who are basically fair minded will be swayed and the
false accusations will abate. That is not always the case as we well know. We
as Christians can't expect to be treated fairly in a fallen media or
governmental world. But when we stand we must be willing to stand within the
system and serve faithfully even when unjustly accused. We need to believe and
obey God's word in this regard and trust
that God will work things out for His purposes and glory. God has our back.
His eternal agenda may require we experience injustices and persecutions at
times. His eternal plans and the saving of souls takes priority over our
individual "rights," even the inalienable
rights ordained by God for each person.
Third, cooperate and
submit to human authority freely and not only by compulsion. Peter states,
" as free, yet not using liberty
as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God." Even though we cooperate
and submit to human authority we are in reality free people in the Lord. We should not use our "freedom"
in Christ to hide or "cloak" (Greek epkalumma - veil, cover )
"vice" (Greek kakias - evil, spite, wickedness (cf. 1 Peter
2:1). We aren't free to disregard or rebel against human authority but we are
free to cooperate and submit to it. Corrupt Christians are blasphemous to God's
reputation. We need to act righteously holding to God's standards in private as
well as public domains. And our motive for this is not merely to be patriotic
to human governments but because we are "bondservants of God" (Greek douloi theou - willing servants of God, servants of God by choice in love ). The
apostles often referred to themselves as bondservants or servants of God (e.g.
Romans 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1). Everyone is a servant of someone; either
to God or to sin (cf. 2 Peter 2:19). We belong to God in Christ (1 Corinthians
6:19-20). When we take in and obey the words of God it gives us the proper
perspective on this freedom (e.g. John 8:31-32).
Fourth, use your
spirit of cooperation and submission to " Honor all people. Love
the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” "Honor" (Greek timao) means to value someone, to respect people, to fix a value on people, to
honor. We are to honor "all people." In our day and age the
attitude is that honor and respect has to
be earned. But here Peter is inspired to tell us to begin with or from the start accept it as a given from God that all
people are to be honored and respected. We honor people because they are
created by God in His image and as such are valuable (e.g. Genesis 1:26).
"Love" (Greek agapao)
means to welcome, entertain, be fond of,
to love dearly. This is the term used to refer to God's love for us. He
loved us when we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). He sent His only Son Jesus to
redeem us from sin (John 3:16). This is a love that takes the initiative. It is a
love that is freely offered not
earned by others. We are to love God supremely and love others sacrificially
(cf. Matthew 22:34-40). It is a love that continues
to give even when not appreciated. This "love" is how we are to
treat those of the "brotherhood" (Greek adelphotes) or brotherhood,
Christian fraternity, brethren, family of brothers, family of God. It is a
tremendous testimony to the world of the power of the gospel when those who
would normally be in opposition to one another or prejudiced against each other
in the world are changed and
transformed in Christ and united in the
church. Love is God's instrument for such an impressive reconciling work.
"Fear" (Greek phobeo
- Present/Middle/Imperative) can mean always
fear, be afraid, or terrified, but when used in relation to "God"
it means always revere, always respect, always worship. When we live our
living hope and it comes to being cooperative and submissive to human authority
we do that not merely to please people or submit in fear of legal consequences
but we do that as an act of reverence,
respect and worship toward God. When we as citizens of the United States
are given the opportunity to vote we should do so for a candidate that best
fits God's scripture parameters of righteousness. And as in this present
election cycle, that means we may have to vote for the lesser of two evils. But we need to vote. When we do that, even
when candidates are less or even far less than righteous (they are human and
therefore imperfect) we honor God.
We are to "honor the king" or our political
leaders. It's easy to point out the flaws and sins of political figures. But in
doing so we should always maintain a healthy respect for them. They are meant
to be God's instruments to maintain order and peace. Granted, politicians and
government leaders frequently if not always in some way fall short of God's
standards. When they do we should voice our concerns in the legal system of
government. If there are injustices we need to work within the parameters of
that government as much as possible. And if as
a last resort we do indeed need to oppose unjust governments and unjust
political leaders we do so maintaining respect and not with malice or
viciousness.
These verses in 1 Peter tell us to cooperate with government
officials. This is not the only place where support is encouraged for
government. Peter here tells us to submit and obey our government officials.
Paul also encourages us to cooperate with government officials (Romans 13:1-7).
Paul states that God has allowed governments to come into power and that
therefore we are to work with such governments. Governments are put in place to
serve the Lord and assert God’s will on earth. This support we offer includes
paying taxes.
In Paul’s letter to Timothy he states that we should make
praying for our government a priority (1 Timothy 2:1-4). The peaceful and orderly environment brought
about by government provides opportunity to share the gospel. The Christian's
responsibility to government is to recognize God’s ordained leadership, pay
taxes and pray for those government leaders.
Governments need
God. The United States is a country founded by Christians and based on
Christian principles from the Bible. The secular world has tried to cut this
truth out of our history but we ought not allow them to do so. If our Christian
foundation is cut out and discarded our country will inevitably fall.
Government without God is hopeless.
The United States
was founded by men whose hope was in God. They knew how essential God was
to the survival and success of the nation. Read some of the following quotes
about our Christian foundation and its essential place in our government:
- “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to the future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.
I therefore
beg leave to move – that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven,
and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning
before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city
be requested to officiate in that service” – Benjamin Franklin, The Constitutional Convention, June 28th,
1787. [2]
- “And
can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their
only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these
liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but
with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is
just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.” – Thomas Jefferson [3]
·
“No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore
the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the
United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an
independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of
providential agency . . . . We ought to be no less persuaded that the
propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards
the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” – George Washington, Inaugural speech to
Congress, April 30th, 1789[4]
·
“Had the people, during the Revolution, had a
suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that Revolution would
have been strangled in its cradle. At the time of the adoption of the
Constitution and the amendments, the universal sentiment was that Christianity
should be encouraged, not any one sect [denomination]. Any attempt to level and
discard all religion would have been viewed with universal indignation.” – House Judiciary Committee report,
March 27th, 1854[5]
·
“It is the duty of nations as well as men to own
their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and
transgression in humble sorrow yet with assured hope that genuine repentance
will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in
the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history: that those nations only are blessed whose God is the LORD.” – Abraham Lincoln [6]
·
The Church must take right ground in regard to
politics . . . .The time has come that Christians must vote for honest men, and
take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them . . . God cannot
sustain this free and blessed country, which we love and pray for, unless the
Church will take right ground. Politics are a part of religion in such a
country as this, and Christians must do their duty to the country as a part of
their duty to God.” – Charles Finney [7]
·
“The Bible, the Word of God, has made a unique
contribution in shaping the United States as a distinctive and blessed nation .
. . . Deeply held convictions springing from the Holy Scriptures led to the
early settlement of our Nation . . . . Biblical teaching inspired concepts of
civil government that are contained in our Declaration of Independence and the
Constitution of the United States.” – United
States Congress Public Law 97-280 96 STAT. 1211, October 4th,
1982 [8]
When governments and
God’s word come into conflict the believer must follow God’s word. God’s word takes precedence over human law.
This is exemplified in the book of Acts where the apostles stood up to religious
leaders and stated, “Whether it is
right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we
cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20). And, We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29). This latter
portion of scripture refers to religious traditionalists but the principle is
nonetheless applicable.
“We ought to obey God rather than men.” Christians are
pilgrims of God just passing through this world and on our way through we ought
to remind our government leaders that their only hope is the living hope God
provides in Christ. We are directed by God to cooperate and submit to
governments, human laws, and political leaders as much as possible, but when
human law and government supports injustice and unrighteousness and sin the
Christian living out living hope must stand up and oppose it. We begin by
working within the system and law as much as possible. But there may come a
time when Christians must become agents of change and opposition. At what point
do we resist the government? The answer to that question is a matter of walking
in the Spirit and following our conscience. If we do oppose or feel rebellion
is the righteous way then physical opposition must begin with peaceful
demonstration. The physical, violent, military opposition toward an unjust
government and its unjust leaders exemplified by our founding fathers is one I
hope we never have to encounter again. It is the product of much prayer and
soul searching in the presence of God. And we need to be on our knees praying,
"God help us. God lead us. May all we ever do be according to Your will
and glorifying to Your name." But until that time, pray, study up and get
out and vote!
[1] Complete
Biblical Library Commentary - The Complete Biblical Library – Hebrews-Jude.
[2] Taken
from Parker Hudson’s book , The President, (Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah
Books, 1995) p. 15.
[3] Parker
Hudson, Ibid., p. 43
[4] Parker
Hudson, Ibid., p. 137
[5] Parker
Hudson, Ibid., p. 351
[6] Parker
Hudson, Ibid., p. 162
[7] Parker Hudson,
Ibid., p. 435
[8] Parker
Hudson, Ibid., 331
