The Christian and Government/Politics, Pt. I

In this time of great political acrimony, it might be good to review what the Scripture says about the Christian and Government.

Most will remember the incident concerning the poll-tax to Caesar where the Pharisees tried to trick Our Lord by inducing Him to say something treasonous against Rome. He told them to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21).

Our Lord set the manner by which the people of God were to live. And He did so in spite of the fact that the Jews and the early Church lived under an oppressive Roman government. The apostle Paul continued to broaden this with specific directives to believers:

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (Romans 13:1)

Note the word Paul uses: established. The original Greek word used means “to set in a certain order, constitute, appoint.”1 Paul claims that government is appointed or set in place ultimately by God – and this he said while they lived during the rule of the Caesar’s.

Paul continues with a cautionary note:

Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” (Romans 13:2–7)

A.T. Robertson’s expands upon this with a comment worth noting:

Paul is not arguing for the divine right of kings or for any special form of government, but for government and order. Nor does he oppose here revolution for a change of government, but he does oppose all lawlessness and disorder.2

So any change in government must be done in a lawful and orderly manner, i.e. the vote of the people, negotiations for self-rule or a declaration of independence.

But Paul was not alone in providing the believer with this instruction. The apostle Peter stated in his first epistle:

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.” (1 Peter 2:13–15)

This word ‘submit’ in the original Greek contains the root of the word mentioned above: ‘establish.’ The idea is for one to establish themselves under the authority of the existing government. And as Delling notes that “Originally it is a hierarchical term which stresses the relation to superiors. But one should note that the subordination expressed may be either compulsory or voluntary.”3

Aside from these two passages of how the believer interacts with those in authority over them, there is one exception given in Scripture to this command: when obedience to civil authority would compel disobedience to God’s Word. This is demonstrated in Acts chapter 3 when Peter and John healed the lame man and were jailed for preaching about Jesus and the resurrection from the dead. When the Jewish council commanded them to no longer speak or teach in the name of Jesus. This was their response:

“But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20)

This same resolve, to obey God rather than man, was exhibited also by Daniel and his friends while in Babylonian captivity. In each case they were vindicated by God.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego had refused to worship the idolatrous golden image which Nebuchadnezzar constructed even when threatened to be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16–18)

Not only did God save them from the physical effects of the fiery furnace but He did so personally. For this what Nebuchadnezzar observed while the 3 men were in the fire:

He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” (Daniel 3:25)

Daniel also disobeyed a government ruling which stated:

“All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den.” (Daniel 6:7)

But Daniel continued to pray 3 times a day, just as he had done before the edict. When this was made known, Nebuchadnezzar was forced to cast Daniel in the lions’ den. However, Daniel was spared by an angel sent by God to shut the lions’ mouths4 – and again God vindicated his disobedience to a government which sought to negate God’s directives to His people.

Summary

Since the God of the Bible is the supreme ruler of His universe, He has unlimited control in every aspect of His creation, which includes His creatures, mankind. Therefore, He allows governments to operate, for good or for evil – the choice is left in the hands of those who are either elected or who have seized power.

But when a government attempts to subvert God’s rule over believers, the believer has the right to disobey. This is not to say that in every situation that God will vindicate the believer as He has done in the past – there are many who have been martyred for their faith. But we can be assured that the believer who obeys God and refuses to placate an impious governmental edict glorifies Christ and advances the witness of the Gospel.

Therefore, it is better to obey God than man.  

---

[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers. G5021 [τάσσω/tássō]

[2] Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, Ro 13:1

[3] Delling, G. (1964–). τάσσω, ὑποτάσσω, In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley, & G. Friedrich, Eds.). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 8.41.

[4] Daniel 6:20