The Christian and Government

What to recognize about human governments

v  The government is appointed by God

Every government only gains its authority from God—even evil governments.  Although governments may misuse or even abuse their authority, the authority itself comes from God.  Thus, we need to respect the authority of the government, no matter who is using it. (John 20:11)

v  The government represents God

The government is meant to do some of God’s work on earth—specifically, to punish those who do evil and to reward those who do good.  This does not mean that the government is God’s servant, necessarily.  Satan also punishes the evil at God’s bidding, but he is not an obedient servant of God.  But ideally, the government does God’s will. (Romans 13:1)

v  The government will be judged by God

Men do not have the right to judge governments.  Even as a government’s authority and work has been given to it by God, so it is God who evaluates and determines the fate of governments.  Often, God is patient and willing to wait for change.  But some governments will be destroyed by God immediately: specifically those treat the needy badly and those who do much unnecessary violence. (Psalm 82)

v  There is only one truly godly government

The only government that has been appointed, approved and having passed testing by God is the kingdom of God, led by Jesus.  No other government can call themselves approved by God.  Nor can any other government call itself truly “Christian.”  (John 18:36)

What not to do about human governments

v  Resist them when they do injustice against you

We do not rebel against authorities, but we are supposed to submit to them.  We don’t need to hate them or speak evil against them.  Instead, if a government does us wrong, we pray about it and ask God for justice. (Matthew 5:39)

v  Judge them for not following the laws or principles of God’s kingdom.

Although the governments represent God, they do not understand the principles of God, except in the most general notions.  And so it is not our job to judge them or condemn them for what they do not know.  We can inform them of what God says, but it is God’s right to judge them and to punish them if they were inadequate.  (I Corinthians 5:9-10)

v  Rebel against the authorities

We don’t need to do evil to the government.  If the government is to be fought against, then we can pray for God to judge them, according to his will.   (Romans 13:2)

v  Obey them when they tell you to disobey the principles of Jesus.

We must take care to always place God and God’s will in our lives above the government’s will and desire.  We submit to governments in all things except when they tell us to disregard the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. (Acts 4:19)

What to do with human governments

v  Give honor to whom honor is due

Government officials require that we speak politely to them, with the proper titles.  Whatever honor is expected, we should give it. (Romans 13:7)

v  Pay taxes when you are required to

All governments require us to pay taxes to them.  Even if you feel that the government isn’t representing you or doing what you think is right, you still have to pay the taxes that they demand of you. (Romans 13:7)

v  Pray for the leadership

We need to pray for government officials so that we will show respect for the officials, and also so God will direct the authorities to have wisdom to create a society of peace, so the church can do what God is directing them to do. (I Timothy 2:1-2)

v  Submit to authorities, even when you come to harm

We are to submit to authorities, even if they do evil, even if they irritate us, even if they harm us.  This is how we show that we are fully submitted to God and will do good, even if others do us evil. (I Peter 2:13-24)

v  Obey all laws, unless they tell you to disobey God

Since the governments have the authority of God and act for God, we need to obey them.  Even if you think the law is wrong or unjust, obey it.  The only time we disobey, is if they tell us to disobey God. (Colossians 3:22)

v  Do good to those who do harm to you

When government officials do harm to us, we are to respond with blessings and prayers for their benefit.  We do not curse them or abuse them, but instead do what we can to benefit them. (Romans 12:17-21)

v  Warn them away from God’s judgement by encouraging them to repent

If governmental officials do evil in God’s sight—especially if they are enacting unnecessary violence or harming the needy—they need to be warned that God will judge them unless they repent. (Ezekiel 33:9)

What Christians don’t have to do

v  Participate in the government

Many feel that it is one’s civic duty to vote in governmental elections, sign appropriate petitions or to participate in neighborhood meetings.  However, since we, as Christians, belong to the kingdom of God, we should focus our attention on participating with God’s people, not a secular government. (James 4:4)

v  Agree with any particular politics or politician

Some Christians feel that a certain politics is the only real Christian choice, or that a certain politician is the “godly candidate.”  However, we do not need to support any policy, politics or candidate.  Rather, we need to focus on policies and decisions within the church and among those who represent Jesus. (Ephesians 4:17-19)

v  Call the nation we live in “our country”

The nation of all those who follow Jesus is not the one they were born in or the one they live in—it is the kingdom of God.  And the kingdom of God has no king but God and no lord but Jesus and no realm on the earth.  The non-godly government we live in the midst of is not “our” country.  It is the country we live in .  Our nation is only the kingdom of God. (II Corinthians 6:14-18)

v  Protest injustices

The ungodly governments of this world will do unjust and evil things sometimes.  We do not need to protest them, although we might warn them what God will do in response.  Some might choose to protest, and receive what persecution comes with gladness.  But it is not necessary.  However, when some in the church who represent God does open evil, then we need to respond. (I Corinthians 5:9-11)

Honor government leaders, 

but focus on God’s will among God’s people

Essential Christian Submission

Submission is considered to be a dirty word in modern America. It is associated with battered wives and children cowering under overbearing men in white t-shirts. It is connected with military units with a screaming leader and the rest following in goosesteps. Others might think of a religious order in the sticks, where no one can make a move without asking permission of the Great Leader. However, Christian submission is not something forced, nor anything negative—rather it is the secret of Jesus’ cross.

Jesus submitted to the Father in going to the cross. Yes, the cross was gruesome and shaming—a truly horrendous experience—but Jesus went there willingly. And his mode of transportation to the cross—the salvation of all peoples on earth—was willing submission to evil authorities who only had his worst interests in their minds. He opened himself up to their abuse and hatred, and so was provided with the greatest honor anyone could be bestowed—the rule of the kingdom of God. Because Jesus allowed himself to be submitted—both to a loving God and to a hating government—he was granted the opportunity to give mercy to everyone on earth. (I Peter 2:18-23)

What is Christian Submission?
Submission has to do with a response to authority. One does not submit to one’s own child or employee. Rather, it is what one in a lower social station does to one in authority. Submission has some of the connotations that are connected to it in a negative context. Submission is certainly obedience, and it can be receiving punishments for disobedience. It can also be paying money requested, and offering what honor society requires (such as calling someone by a proper title). Submission does not mean that we refuse to disagree with the one we submit to, nor that we cannot express our opinion. But it gives the respect due the office. In our society, most people would offer submission to the president, or a police officer or a judge in the courtroom—at least, if they were on our side.

But Christian submission goes much further than submission in the world. Christian submission would be offered to everyone who is in authority—from the President to the lowest pencil-pusher in a Social Security office. We would give it to the leaders in the communities we live in—whether that be a group home, a hospital, a rehab house, a shelter, or a Christian community. We give it to our church leaders—but more than that, we are to submit to each other in the church, honoring each other as greater than ourselves! The only authority that exists that we are not to submit to is Satan—that’s because the only authority he has over us is what we give him. (I Peter 2:13-15; Hebrews 13:17; Ephesians 6:11)

But Christian submission is given to God first and foremost. We submit to other authorities because of the respect we have for God. God established authority on all humans and to some humans in particular—and so we are to show our respect to everyone in any kind of authority, because fundamentally the authority they use is God’s. We don’t have to like the way they use authority, but we need to respect the authority itself. This means that no matter how evil, how wicked the authority, we respect and obey that person anyway. (James 4:7; Romans 13:1)

Why would we do that? If there is anything we are trained in, it is to reject authority we don’t care for. However, as Rodney King found out, if you prove careless with other’s authority, it will bite you back. Harshly. Now Jesus submitted to authority, but he received the same treatment, only worse. So why would we submit to evil authority? Because our submission under harsh treatment is a neon sign to God: “I’m being oppressed!” And God will respond with justice.

Thus, the opposite of submission is to take justice in our own hands and give the evil authority “what they deserve”. Perhaps it will be with violence, or with legal action or with harsh words, but the point is to give back to them justice. But justice by our own hands is no justice at all—we will only be slammed again, or we will hit the other too hard and be the oppressor in turn. But justice meted out by God is perfect and true, and merciful, for it gives opportunity for repentance. Thus, true submission shows faith in God, but enacting vengeance only displays our faith in ourselves. And we cannot deliver ourselves. (Romans 13:2; Matthew 26:52; Romans 12:19)

The secret of Christian Submission is this (the secret of the cross, actually): If you respond to an authority’s harsh treatment with submission, and even positive action to them, then God will see the whole event and defend you. He will support you and help you, but the evil authority he will strip of their power and punish. If we submit to authorities, we are trusting in God’s justice and mercy to the oppressed. (Romans 12:19; Psalm 37; I Peter 4:12-19)

What does Christian submission look like?

Christian submission is granting honor
We want to honor the authorities above us. Perhaps that will mean simply calling them by their titles (“officer” or “sir”). Certainly it will mean using respectful speech and not demeaning them in any way. We also grant honor by giving thanks. We certainly should do this with God, and with governmental authorities. But we should also speak this way to the lowest of those in the church, granting honor to them, as we are all supposed to submit to each other. Respectful speech is most important to those whom we are closest to—our spouses and our friends. (I Peter 2:17,18; Romans 13:7)

Christian submission is obeying authorities’ commands
If we are given a command by an authority, we are to obey it, and this will show respect to God. If an evil person commands us to do something, we are to obey that as well—unless it is in opposition to what God told us to do. Obedience is important also to those whom are over us where we live, and to church elders as well. Obedience seems like something to just make our lives tougher, but it will actually make our lives easier in the long run. (Hebrews 13:17; Psalm 18:44)

Christian submission is praying for authorities
One of the shows of respect we have for our authorities—whether they are righteous or evil—is to pray for them. To pray for someone is to request that God would bless them. We can pray that God would grant an authority mercy and grace. We can pray that they would provide opportunities for us to obey God and spread the gospel. But we should pray for authorities over us, that effect our lives. (I Timothy 2:1-2)

Christian submission is paying proper taxes
Many governmental authorities require taxes. Rather than complain about it or despise the task, both Jesus and Paul encourage us to do it willingly, as part of our submission. As a part of respecting the authority that comes from God, paying taxes honors God. (Mark 12:14-17; Romans 13:7)

Christian submission is willingly accepting unjust punishment
All authority metes out punishment. It is a part of being an authority. However, an authority can chose for themselves whether the punishment they give will be for right reasons or wrong ones. And they can determine if the punishment they give is gentle or harsh. The authority who punishes for God’s reasons and with gentleness will be rewarded by God. But the authority who is harsh and punishes even the righteous will be punished. (Luke 12:42-47)

The strangest thing about Christian virtue is that receiving harsh, unjust punishment from an evil authority—especially for the sake of following Jesus—is the basis for Christian joy. Jesus tells us to be glad when we suffer unjustly because we will be greatly rewarded by God on the final day for enduring it in love. For this reason, Jesus says, if we suffer under an unjust punishment, we should offer the evil authority even more of an opportunity to punish us. The more we are harmed, the more God will reward us (and the more evil the authority will seem—even in his own eyes!). (Matthew 5:38-42; Romans 12:17-21; I Peter 4:12-19)

Be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For you will gain God’s favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God you bear up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. What credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps. I Peter 2:18-21