Tuesday: The Christian and the State
Read Romans 13:1-7. What basic principles can we take from this passage about the ways in which we are to relate to the civil power of government?
What makes Paul’s words so interesting is that he wrote during a time when a pagan empire ruled the world – one that could be incredibly brutal, one that was at its core corrupt, and one that knew nothing about the true God and would, within a few years, start a massive persecution of those who wanted to worship that God.
Christ and the Capitol
In fact, Paul was put to death by that government! Yet despite all this, Paul was advocating that Christians be good citizens, even under a government like that?
Yes. And that’s because the idea of government itself is found throughout the Bible. The concept, the principle of government, is God-ordained. Human beings need to live in a community with rules and regulations and standards. Anarchy is not a biblical concept.
That being said, it doesn’t mean that God approves of all forms of government or how all governments are run. On the contrary. One doesn’t have to look too far, either in history or in the world today, to see some brutal regimes. Yet even in situations like these, Christians should, as much as possible, obey the laws of the land. Christians are to give loyal support to government so long as its claims do not conflict with the claims of God. One should consider very prayerfully and carefully – and with the counsel of others – before embarking on a path that puts him or her in conflict with the powers that be. We know from prophecy that one day all of God’s faithful followers will be pitted against the political powers in control of the world (Revelation chapter 13). Until then, we should do all that we can, before God, to be good citizens in whichever country we live.
“We are to recognize human government as an ordinance of divine appointment, and teach obedience to it as a sacred duty, within its legitimate sphere. But when its claims conflict with the claims of God, we must obey God rather than men. God’s word must be recognized as above all human legislation. . . .
“We are not required to defy authorities. Our words, whether spoken or written, should be carefully considered, lest we place ourselves on record as uttering that which would make us appear antagonistic to law and order. We are not to say or do anything that would unnecessarily close up our way.” – Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 69.
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How can we relate today's lesson to Isaiah 58:6 , Luke 4:18 and Romans 10:9?
Romans 10:9 specifically pointed to gentile's calling of Caesar lord. This teaching has the potential of turning the Roman authorities against him.
The world is going to a crash! Governments seem to bounce in the crazy reality we are in! Violence generating violence! The devil knows his time is close to an end! Thus, he works hard to separate family! People are confuse about feelings, about love, about life! Jesus seems to be fading, but He is not! He is the miracle we all should be hoping for! We need a change of heart! We need to focus on Him, because that's where we should place our hope!
We need the counsel that is in Isaiah 1:8 to reason with God so that he can show us how red like crimson and scarlet our sins are and lead us to Jesus who will make those "Crimson and scarlet sins," as white as snow and as wool.
Romans 8:31-39 is worth reading. In there you will find a question being asked, Romans 8:35-36 which states "who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Let us give God the praise, honor and Glory.
Today's lesson is very significant as it touches on a very topical issue; where the line is drawn between loyalty to God and earthly government/rulers. May God empower us to be loyal to Him first so that He will give us the wisdom to live in this present age.
Just out of curiosity. I am a PhD student who will be graduating very soon. at my graduation, I will have to kneel down in from of my University Chancellor as he/ she confers unto me the degree. I have heard some christians call this practice of kneeling down before a human being wrong. In light of today's lesson, is this practice okay?
I am a PhD graduate and when I graduated I had to "doff my cap" to the chancellor. Most graduation ceremonies have little actions of acceptance that are ceremonial only. You are not worshiping the chancellor but simply accepting the honour of the degree.
My thought too.
St. Augustine states that "An unjust law is no law at all." A quote from Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'Letter From Birmingham Jail'
“An unjust law is no law at all”
Sounds oh so righteous....so philosophically high minded, etc., etc.
Tell that to the judge. Tell that to the person who pays 50% taxes on income vs the person that pays 30%, by law of course.
And tell that to a nation that just approved at a vote of 50% plus 1 a law that takes rights, opportunities, money, whatever, from the other 50% minus 1.
A conversation based on the MLK quote can get very interesting.
To be involved in politics, taking sides in political campaigns, etc. seems to be diametrically opposed to “love your neighbor as your self”. Every government is 100% not ruled by the love rule, but rather by the tribal self preservation rules. Every government, when pressed, turns on its own people. Forget government things, follow Jesus, understand “let” and “be ye” , and life becomes peace and joy.
This lesson has come in a right time,when ruling goverments in many parts of the world are greedy, corrupt,discriminative and not fair at all to the citizens.Me personally I happen to be from such government. This lesson has brought me back to line,despite how bad your gorvement may seem to be,let's go by its rules provided they don't go against God.Let's not Judge out leaders,but let's just pray for them,it's God who will decide.
Obeying civil authorities does not mean that we should refrain from criticizing them. I obey the civil authorities in my country (Australia) because it provides a structure that provides a mostly supportive society. On the other hand governments do some incredibly stupid things and as a responsible person I should speak out in an effort to improve government.
A specific issue in Australia at the moment is the treatment of illegal immigrants. I am not suggesting that every illegal immigrant who arrives on Australia's shores should be granted immediate residency but I believe that they should be treated humanely and with respect. Some of the treatment they have received has been degrading. As a Christian I feel I have a responsibility to speak out against their treatment.
While some of these issues are murky and involve political interests, we need to steer around these to get to human needs issues. We should not stand idle when our governments are mistreating people.