The Christian and Civil Authorities #2

In last week’s bulletin, we discussed some facts regarding civil authorities. We considered the fact that civil authorities originate with God and are accountable to God. A second consideration was that God instituted civil authorities to suppress and punish evil. Their responsibility is not to incite, encourage and become a part of the evil that they are to suppress. This past year we saw evil firsthand and not only did some civil authorities not suppress it, they even encouraged it, while cities were burned, and businesses destroyed. We also contemplated the fact the civil authorities were ordained of God to be His minister for good and that they were to punish evil doers. One can read the old and new covenants (testaments) and see firsthand had God expected certain evils to be dealt with. In this article we will give consideration to the idea of Christians responsibility to the governing powers.

First, the Christian is admonished to be subject to the governing powers. There is no question that the Christian is to be subject to higher powers that God has set in place. “Let every soul be subject…” verse one. “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” Verse two. “Wherefore ye must needs be subject…” verse five. “They are God’s ministers…” verse six. Christians should always be subject to the ruling authorities described in 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. There is no question regarding this. A consideration needs to be injected here; Does this mean a Christian is to be subject to the ruling power regardless of their requirement? Does it mean we are to silently set back while they seek to impose any and every ungodly practice upon the Lord’s people? Does there not need to be some clarification here? We are to respect and obey the presidency of this country. While we are to hold in high regard the position, the Christian may not respect the man who has corrupted God’s principles of conduct of the ruler described in Romans 13. We should respect the office, and obey rulers when they are ruling by divine principles, but where is the Christian obligated to submit to ruling authorities when the laws they put in place and the regulations they interject are contrary to God’s law and harmful to humanity and the church. In Daniel 3, we read of three men known as Shadrach, Meshack and Abed-nego. Nebuchadnezzar had made a golden image and set it up in Dura in the providence of Babylon. He sent for all ruling authorities to come to the dedication of the image.

The command of the civil authorities was all people, nations and languages were to fall down and worship the image at the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and other kinds of music. What would happen if they refused? They were to be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace v.4. It was reported to the king that these three Jewish men refused to bow down and worship the image. Nebuchadnezzar in his anger called them into question and brought them before them. He laid the accusation before them, their response was clear and determined “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” Daniel 3:17-18. May I ask a question here? Did they resist the king of Babylon? Did they violate the principle of Romans 13? I would think not! When Daniel prayed to God three times a day contrary to king Darius’s command in Daniel 6 and was cast into the Lion’s den, did he resist the ruling powers? In Acts 4 when Peter and John were threatened and commanded not to teach in the name of Jesus, did they violate Romans 13 when they told them “whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” This passage needs to be listened to when ruling powers are ruling contrary to God principles set out in Romans 13. Are Christians to submit when civil authorities require that the church accept homosexuality, transgenderism, and the like, regardless of what the Bible says about it. Are we deprived of protecting ourselves and family from harm, does not 1 Timothy 5:8 apply here? Does it mean that the Christian is to be subject to the civil authorities trying to enslave us, divide us based on race, gender or social distinction? Is the principle of Ephesians 5:11 where Christians are required to have no fellowship and to reprove evil apply only to churches or does it have a much broader application! The Christian and the church must stand with God above and beyond all else. Civil authorities are ordained of God, but not the abuses. Those that rule as God directs and are consistent with God’s will must be respected and obeyed, the abuses that are contrary to God’s law must be opposed.

A second responsibility of the Christian is he must be committed to doing good. If a person is truly committed to Christ, he will do that which is right and good. He will submit to governing bodies as far as he possibly can just as he is admonished in Titus 3:1 and 1 Peter 2:13. He will do what is best for his neighbor, community, country and the church. His heartbeat will be to win Christ as was Paul’s Philippians. 3:7,8. They will have the attitude of Jesus as expressed John 8:28.

The third responsibility is he will respect and fear the ruling powers. Those powers that are described in Romans 13 can and will be respected by law abiding and God- fearing people. But, what about the authorities that are ungodly, ruthless, greedy, divisive, morally deprived and who has no place for the God that rules the universe? You obey where you can, but obedience to God takes priority. When a preacher, elder, or member chooses civil authority over God’s will and law, he stands in opposition to God! One must give careful consideration to where he takes his stand.

A fourth responsibility is to protect his conscience v. 5. The conscience is a very good thing in a Christians life, if it is trained properly. The Christian must avoid searing their conscience. A person can defile his conscience by a persistent practice until what he persists in sears his conscience past feeling read Romans 1:18-32; 1 Timothy 4:1-4. The Christian should have a good conscience though some speak evil of us, they by our good life will be put to shame 1 Peter 3:16. As Pau, we as Christians should always strive to have a conscience void of offense toward God and men Acts 24:16.

The final thing regarding the Christian and civil governments is to pay taxes vs. 6-7. Law enforcement, military, and government cannot function with our financial support. Jesus and Peter went to Capernaum and those that collect tribute money came to Peter and ask him if his master paid tribute. The New King James has “temple tax”. Peter went to Jesus with the intent of asking him about paying tax, Jesus knowing Peter’s thoughts responded to him and concluded by saying “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take and give unto them for me and thee. Matthew 17:24. What about the misuse of the taxes? We have every right to oppose the misuse, but we must remember we are responsible to pay taxes, but not responsible to how they are used. We are required to give of the contribution every first day of the week 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, but we are not held accountable for the misuse of them.

Let the Christian be submissive as far as possible, but remember the Christian has the right and obligation to stand for what is right and godly even in opposition to civil rulers. We must respect the position, but we are not duty bound to respect or obey the man that enacts laws that are contrary to God ‘s law or his intended purpose for civil authorities.

Bill Cantrell