Conscientious Christians are in a quandary about what to do with a government that is increasingly becoming
out of touch with the traditional values upon which America was founded. Many are wondering, what they can
do to change the trend away from “Judeo-Christian values” toward humanism. They are also wondering if they
should honor such a government by submitting and paying taxes to it. They, like Lot, “vex their souls” as
they observe the government sanctioned and, all too often, government promoted immorality. Many of them
work hard to bring about a change for the better through the election process, only to have their hopes
dashed by defeat. All too often, even if the ones they supported win the election, once they take office
turn out to be no better or even worse than those who were in office. It seems that ethical and moral
corruption is no respecter of political parties. So what is a Christian to do?
The first thing he needs to do is remember that his generation is not the first to have to wrestle with
this problem. In fact, every generation of Christians from the very beginning have faced this problem. The
first Christians lived under one of the more immoral and oppressive government imaginable – the Roman
empire. The immorality of the Caesars would shock the sensibilities of anyone with a sense of decency about
him. Their antagonism from time to time against Christians, is one of the more documented facts of history.
Yet, it was to those first century Christians, that the Lord’s words and apostles writings were addressed
concerning their responsibility to civil government. We have those words recorded in the New Testament and
they apply to us today as much as they did to them. The fact that our government officials leave a lot to
be desired in their personal and public lives does not relieve us of our responsibility to follow the
instructions concerning governments left to us in the pages of holy writ.
Firstly, we are taught to recognize that civil powers are ordained of God. Not just certain civil powers,
but all. “The powers that be are ordained of God.” (Romans 13: 1-2).
Secondly, we are taught that they are the servants of God. (Romans 13: 4). As servants of God, they are
serving under the “King of kings and Lord of lords.” This phrase was applied to the heads of some of the
great ancient empires in the Old Testament. It was applied to the King of Babylon and the King of Persia
(Ezra 7: 12; Daniel 2:37, 38). The idea was that these great rulers had dominion over other rulers in their
vast empires. Similar language was applied to God, depicting His dominion over all the kings and nations of
the earth. (Psalm 22: 28; Daniel 2: 21; 4:17, 25-32; 5: 21).
Civil rulers serve as God’s avengers upon the earth. The Christian must not avenge himself. He must leave
that to God. (Romans 12; 19- 21). God’s ultimate vengeance will be played out at the great Judgment Day.
But in the meantime, he has an avenger that will execute God’s temporal judgment upon evildoers. That
avenger is civil power (Romans 13: 4). So it is not the business of the Christian to “get even” nor to take
the law into his own hands. But instead, he should do good to those that despitefully uses him and turn it
over to God to take vengeance. That He will do either through the civil powers, or defer it until He comes
again to judge the world. Even ungodly governments are servants of God in that they serve His purposes as
punishers of all evildoers, even though they themselves may be evildoers. Assyria was a good example of
this principle. Assyria was a brutal power, but it became God’s servant to punish ungodly Israel (Isaiah
10: 5-7). Likewise Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was an evil and ruthless despot, but God called him “my
servant” as the one chosen to punish Judah for her apostasy (Jeremiah 25: 9; 27: 6).
Thirdly, we are to conscientiously obey their laws (Romans 13: 5; 1 Peter 2: 13-17). Paul makes it clear
that obeying their laws is tantamount to obeying God’s ordinance (Romans 13: 2). There is only one revealed
exception – that is when civil laws contradict God’s other laws (Acts 5: 29).
Fourthly, we are to pay all taxes, customs, etc., due to the governments under which we live. (Romans 13:
7; Matthew 22: 21).
Fifthly, we are pray for them (1 Timothy 2: 1, 2).
Sixthly, we may exercise rights given by the them. Paul did not hesitate to exercise, and at times to
demand his right to protection as a Roman citizen. (Acts 16: 27, 38; 25: 11).
As bad as government seems to be sometimes even bad government is better than no government. As frustrating
as all the evils we see in the governments of this world can be, we as Christians cannot allow ourselves to
refuse or to neglect a sacred command to “honor the king” (1 Peter 2: 21) – even if that “king” is not the
one we would have chosen.
edbragwell@gmail.com
