We must never divide brethren over politics. Yet, Christians are to be both Salt and Light in politics and in every other corner of life. How can we be godly people and exercise Jesus’ desire that we be salt and light in politics? Is it possible to be godly and political at the same time?
The Nature of Salt and Light
Jesus uses salt and light to describe his followers (Matthew 5:13-16). The physical properties of salt are often, namely, that salt is a preservative and a flavor enhancer. When applied to our culture it both preserves it against decay (think salt pork) and improves the culture itself (think salt on fries).
God has Moses write of the “salt of the covenant,” which must not be absent from grain offerings (Leviticus 2:13). And, in Isaiah 42:6, God says, “I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations.” Both give us a strong link far beyond the mere physical qualities of salt and light.
While salt does preserve food , it was also an important part of the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. Jesus was speaking to Jews who would understand that linkage. They were God’s people.
In that role, they had a task. They were, in this new covenant to be a light “to the nations” (Isaiah 42:6). While does prevent us from falling over the dog at 3 AM, it is used here to underscore their role as examples and teachers of God’s covenantal work in Christ.
Salt speaks to the covenant; light speaks to the task done by those in the covenant.[1]
The Nature of Politics
Political processes vary from nation to nation and from time to time. In Jesus’ day citizens had little or no influence on government. The average Jew was ruled over by King Herod and his sons, the Sanhedrin, and the Roman Senate and Emperor. For the common man, there was no voting, no public campaigning, and no election.[2]
Because Jesus and His first followers were Jews and, therefore, citizens of a conquered nation, they had no power in the political process. There were still quasi-political movements like the Zealots but there was no truly organized political process that Jesus and His disciples could use. This could be the reason there is so little said about politics generally in the New Testament.
Despite the inability to participate, there was still the command “to be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1). When the election does not end as we prefer, we still are responsible to respect those in authority.
Salt and Light in Politics Today
But just because Jesus did not vote in a primary or general election does not mean there are no guidelines for his followers today. A future article will point to those guidelines that are terribly needed in our nation today.
[1] Smothers, C. J. (2024). Salt And Light: A Canonical Reading Of Matthew 5:13–16 And Isaiah 42:6 . Journal Of The Evangelical Theological Society, 239-250.
[2] There was voting as early as 139 BC in Athens, Greece but it was limited to free, male citizens only.
A brief history of blended church and state shows that such mixing is always bad for both. Before we go further let me be clear that good government must be based upon sound biblical principles. But the church should never exist in service to the state. Likewise, It is fruitless and harmful for the government to compel Christian conduct. Nevertheless, our interest here is to survey the harm done to the church when it blends with secular government.
Blended Church and State in the Bible and in History
Our first example occurred over 3000 years ago. Judges ruled the Israelites of the Old Testament when needed. After many years, the people demanded a king like the other nations around them. Through the prophet Samuel, God warned the people that a king would prove bad for the nation. God warned them that a king would militarize and enslave segments of the Kingdom. God told Samuel, “they have rejected me from being king over them” (1 Samuel 8:7). The people sought national glory and honor over their relationship with the Creator. A careful review of biblical history will show that the kings of Israel consistently led the people astray.
1000 years later, during the time of Christ, the Roman Empire ruled the world. To increase their glory and to enhance their authority, these emperors allowed and sometimes commanded people to worship them as gods. The cult of worship would find its fullness in Constantine who blended church and state into the so-called Holy Roman Empire.
About 300 years after the establishment of the Lord’s church, the nascent Roman Catholic church began. Historian Diane Bowder (The Age of Constantine and Julian, 1987) observes that Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which protected all faiths from persecution and returned confiscated church property. No other Roman ruler had gone so far. He soon moved to enforce Christian doctrine in the name of unity and social stability. He served as the judge over religious disputes.
Blended Church and State Today
Today, papal authority reigns over millions of Roman Catholic adherents. The Pope is a Head of State and is headquartered in Vatican City, a sovereign state. Among the embarrassments of this blended church-state creation was the papal silence in the face of Nazi atrocities in WWII.
A first cousin to the Roman Catholics, the Russian Orthodox Church is a highly influential force, albeit a silent one, on Russian President Vladimir Putin. The nicknamed, “Russian Orthodox Army” was one of the first units deployed in the invasion of Ukraine.
The non-Christian world has problems too. Islam has a lengthy history of mixing faith and government. In the present day, Iran is a spectacular example of such a combination. Trying to force submission to Islam is a hallmark of Iran and its many puppet regimes. Strong influence from Hindu worshippers in India directly affects governmental operations, including turning a blind eye to the oppression of religious minorities, although some improvements have been noted in recent years.
The point of all this is to see the intolerable compromises required when church and state mix. Let the church challenge and influence the Empire from the outside where we “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12), not from the inside. Why? Because our kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). As a good soldier of Christ, remember,” No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him” (2 Timothy 2:4). Be the salt, not the fries!
The Church and Government are both important, yet different, God created three separate institutions. First, he gave us the home (Genesis 2: 18-25). Next, he instituted government, for he knew that man could not govern himself (Jeremiah 10:23). Finally, God created the church (Acts 2:41, 47). Just as the government cannot take the place of the home, the church cannot take the place of the government. Each of these organizations is unique. While there may be some overlap and similarities among the three, they are each different and vital in their own ways.
The founding fathers of the United States ensured that the government would not infringe upon matters of faith. People could worship God in a way of their choosing. But there would be no state or national church, as had been the case in England. They understood that the fledgling nation could not thrive, probably not survive, without strong homes and strong churches. Just as they would not tell someone who to marry, they would not tell someone how to worship. The Church and Government would complement one another.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison notes that 9 of the 13 original colonies had some form of religious test for elected officials. (Center for the Study of the American Constitution; Department of History, ND) It is undeniable that the founders of our great nation intended faith to buttress, complement, and inform the functioning of the newly formed government. Sadly, that influence waned and is all but invisible in public life.
Richard John Neuhaus penned The Naked Public Square in 1988. In it, he laments the decreasing role of faith in public policy. He sees the death of democracy as the certain end of a faithless system. (Neuhaus, 1988). The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, published in 2023 documents the growing unrest in some religious, Christ-believing communities. Some seek to retake American democracy by force. This “Christian Nationalism” is the subject of a future article and ought to be rejected.
As noted previously in THE Kingdom and I Pledge Allegiance, there is only one Kingdom of import. Only the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. It is this divine kingdom that we are to seek before all others (Matthew 6:33). Paul says, “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Today, we are strangers waiting to go home (Hebrews 11:13). We must not be overly concerned with the petty political polemics of the day because this world is not our home.
To be sure, we “salt” this world with the glory of Christ and hold up a light in the darkness (Matthew 5:13-16). We are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Christians can and should participate in the political process. They should vote and should exercise every venue to influence our elected officials.
But Jesus draws a line. He says, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:15-22; c.f. Romans 13:7). We clearly have obligations to the Church and Government and to live our daily lives for Christ. I think we know which is most important. To which, the Church or Government, God or politics, will we devote our time and effort this week?
I remember saying the Pledge of Allegiance from my earliest days. We said it at sporting events, in Aunt Ogla’s Kindergarten class, and in just about every public assembly. In Boy Scouts, we placed great emphasis on the care, honor, and presentation of the American flag because it was the best-known symbol of our country.
But we never said the pledge or presented the colors in our worship assembly.
There is a Difference
As a child, I didn’t understand. If you could stop all activity at a football game (and that’s some undertaking in Alabama), stand, place your hand over your heart, sing the national anthem, and say the pledge, why not in worship? Adults understood the division between the nation and the church, between the secular and the holy, and between the common and the divine.
Some have forgotten that distinction.
The church of my Lord does not belong to the United States, nor is it subservient to it in any way. When Jesus was asked about paying taxes his response was simple: “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). We have obligations both to the government and to God. Paul, by inspiration, commanded obedience to the government (Romans 13:1 – 7). In his life, Paul acknowledged the government’s authority while benefiting from its laws (Acts 25:11).
The Roman Empire was the ultimate secular authority in Jesus’ and Paul’s day. They were pagans and hostile to both Christians and Jews. But, Jesus commanded obedience to Rome. Jesus doesn’t restrict obedience to democracies. He commands that Christians obey all governments, including communist, fascist, monarchal, socialist, theocratic (think Islamic in Iran, Hindu in India), and even authoritarian governments like North Korea.
Except…
First Things First
A Christian’s first allegiance is to the Kingdom of Christ (c.f. Colossians 1:13, 14). Peter and John rejected the authority of the Sanhedrin. When ordered to stop preaching about Jesus’ death, and especially His resurrection, the apostles’ response was sharp: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). In their previous meeting, they told the rulers Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19, 20). In other words, No! We won’t stop preaching Jesus! Consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God.”
Christians have no divided allegiance. Our allegiance is to an “otherworldly” kingdom, one not of this earth. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). We now live in a world governed by evil (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4). We are to be the light of this world and the salt of the earth so that we might improve and remove the darkness while showing good works (Matthew 5:13 – 16).
Christian, you belong to Christ. You are his servant. You live in a dark world which you brighten by the love of Christ. Pledge allegiance to the Lord!
(I am not suggesting we stop saying the pledge to the flag. Just keep first things first.)
The monstrous attacks by Hamas have thrust Today’s Israel into the news. Unspeakable brutalities against Israeli women and children fill the news reports. There is neither excuse nor justification for these terrible crimes targeting civilians, especially women and children.
Some popular news commentators, trying to rally support for Israel, are suggesting that today’s Israel is the same Israel of biblical times. Is it? Christians may support Israel because it is our staunchest ally in the region. They see Israel as one of the most stable democracies in the world. In short, the Israelis are our friends. Supporting Israel because they are supposedly “God’s chosen people” is an error.
Today’s Israel is not the Israel of the Bible.
Origins – Biblical Israel
The Lord promised Abraham that his offspring would be a great nation. He also promised them possession of the land where nomadic Abraham traveled (Genesis 12:1-3, 7). Two generations later, God changed Abraham’s grandson Jacob’s name to Israel. He would have 12 sons who would become the basis for the Biblical nation of Israel.
Almost 500 years later, Jacobs’s 12 sons would grow to over two million people. By then, they had become slaves in Egypt. They prayed to God for deliverance; he heard their prayer and remembered his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 2:23-25). When Pharaoh refused to release the slaves, the Lord brought a series of plagues upon the land. Eventually, Pharaoh could withstand God no longer and released the Hebrews (future Israelites).
The Hebrews traveled eastward to Mount Sinai where God formed them into a nation. Because of their lack of faith, they then wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. Finally, God brought them into the land of Canaan and settled them there. Although the Israelites were in and out of captivity in their new homeland, they maintained a presence in the land until the year 70 A.D., when the Romans utterly destroyed them.
Origins – Today’s Israel
for almost 1900 years, the Jews had no homeland. In the late 1800s, Jews began to move back to Israel from their dispersion into Europe. In 1896, the development of Zionism began, which is the call for a formal nation of Israel in the original land. After World War I, the League of Nations granted Great Britain a mandate to govern Palestine. Under that mandate, Jews began to return to the British-controlled region. In 1948, as the British mandate was ending, a representative of the Jewish population in Palestine declared the establishment of the State of Israel. The United Nations had given the Jews about 55% of the land of Palestine, despite the fact that previously, the Jews only owned about 6% of the land.
Armed conflict began immediately. Since that time, multiple attempts at peace have largely failed. Today’s conflict in Israel is but the latest in a long line of wars and conflict.
Governance
God governed biblical Israel as its king (One Samuel 8:7). Later, earthly kings ruled over Israel. The ancient nation reached its zenith under King Solomon. The spiritual life of the nation was under the direction of Levitical priests. All Israelite priests were from the tribe of Levi without exception.
10 of the 12 tribes entered Assyrian captivity. Babylon took the remaining two tribes into slavery. Even after their release from captivity, Israel was little more than a vassal state to the superior kingdoms of the region. In 63 BC the Romans conquered the region. The Jews had a puppet king until A.D. 70 when conflict with Rome exploded into war. Jerusalem and the Temple were completely destroyed.
From A.D. 70 until 1949 the Jews had no land to call their own.
Today’s Israel vs. Biblical Israel: Key Differences
Ancient Israel was a theocracy. Today’s Israel is a democracy. Put differently, one was ostensibly ruled by God, while the modern-day nation is ruled by its people.
Ancient Israel was served by a large cohort of Levitical priests. Today’s Israel has no Levitical priests. Divinely specified sacrifices were daily offered in the Temple. There is no Temple today.
Ancient Israel was God’s chosen people (Leviticus 26:11, 12). Today’s Israel is not. Today, God’s chosen people are Christians regardless of their ancestry (1 Peter 2:9, 10).
Has God Broken His Promises to Today’s Israel?
By no means! Let God be true though everyone were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” (Romans 3:4)
We forget that God’s promises were conditional. For example, in the passage above from Leviticus 26, notice verse three: “if you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them then…” This is a classic if/then statement. The covenant required both God and the people to comply with the terms of the covenant. Once one party broke the terms, the other party was freed from the covenant.
God was no longer obligated to continue to bless them because Israel had broken the covenant. Remember, this was the nation that crucified his Son. They rejected their final prophet. They rejected the one who came to save them. Consider these verses:
For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the LORD your God has given you. (Joshua 23:12, 13
But just as all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the LORD your God has given you, if you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.” (Joshua 23:15, 16)
There are two important points in this last passage. Notice that Joshua says God fulfilled all of his promises to Israel. He made them a nation. He gave them the land. God provided the heritage through which one would come to bless all nations. God did what he said he was going to do.
Just like the previous passages (Leviticus 26, Joshua 23:12, 13), there is an if/then clause. If they transgressed against God, they would “perish quickly from off the good land.” Ancient Israel violated every command God gave them. As a result, Israel lost their place as God’s chosen people. Today, God’s chosen people are his church (Isaiah 53:1 – 12; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 9:12 – 14; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; Revelation 5:9).
We may choose to support today’s Israel for diplomatic, military, or political reasons. But we must not support Israel because they are God’s chosen people. To do so ignores clear biblical teaching.
Trouble is brewing across the nation as we head into the final weekend of campaigning for the presidency of the United States. All of the congressional seats are up for grabs as are a third of the Senate seats. No matter what happens, somebody will be mad.
Philadelphia faces riots after the shooting of an African-American man. The protests are similar to what we saw earlier this year in the Northwest. ((Hurdle, J., Robertson, C., & Oppel, R. (2020, October 28). Days From Election, Police Killing of Black Man Roils Philadelphia. Retrieved October 29, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/28/us/philadelphia-police-shooting.html)) In Washington D.C. protests turned violent after the death of a black man police were trying to stop. ((DeMarche, E. (2020, October 29). Protesters clash with DC police for second night over fatal moped crash. Retrieved October 29, 2020, from https://www.foxnews.com/us/protesters-clash-with-dc-police-for-second-night-over-fatal-moped-crash)) Armed adical right-wing and radical left-wing groups square-off to “protect” people from the opposing side. ((Fountaine, H. (2020, September 5). Armed group ‘patriots,’ local protesters face off near Jefferson Square Park. Retrieved October 29, 2020, from https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/armed-patriot-group-local-protesters-face-off-near-jefferson-square-park/ar-BB18Km4h)) Thompson-Reuters news service reports that dozens of groups are preparing for protests, hopefully peaceful, depending upon the outcome of the election. ((Timmons, H., & Alper, A. (2020, October 29). Americans plan widespread protests if Trump interferes with election. Retrieved October 29, 2020, from https://news.trust.org/item/20201029090612-t69f4))
We could be facing civil unrest greater than many have ever witnessed. Christians must not contribute to the troubles. We are people of peace and witnesses of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether in-person or via social media we must not lend our voice to the voices of hate.
Be a Christian with your mouth
James says the tongue is incredibly dangerous.
So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:5-8
Inspired Solomon says it this way:
A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
Proverbs 16:27
Christians must not use their tongue (or keyboards) to foment hatred and chaos in the aftermath of the election. The winner is unimportant. How we behave is vital.
Be a Christian; Be salt
Participating in the democratic process is a perfect way to be the needed salt and influence the direction of our country. It was Jesus who reminded us that we are the salt of the earth.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
Matthew 5:13
Salt that does not function properly is useless! Don’t use your presence on social media to sow discord. Salt the conversation with words of goodness, hope, and courage. Let the world see your light so that they will give glory to God for what you have said (Matthew 5:14-16). Think about it! God can be glorified because of you! For those weaned on vinegar how wonderful to garnish them with a proper pinch of salt. Maybe I’m weird, but I’d rather people glorify God instead of Biden or Trump.
Be a Christian; Talk Jesus
Conversation is political. If you meet a friend in-person or talk with them online, it is probable that politics is the topic. Often, that chat is pleasant because we agree. Still, the topic is Trump or Biden, not Jesus.
When the original Christians were savagely attacked, they became refugees and went everywhere preaching Jesus (Acts 8:4). Even when unfairly arrested by the religious leaders, Peter and John responded with a lesson about Jesus (Acts 4:5-12).
It doesn’t matter how the election ends; if we don’t know Jesus we are absolutely, unquestionably lost!
Be a Christian; Wander
I read Hebrews this morning. I was struck by this verse:
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Hebrews 11:13
In verse 38 they are described as wandering about but always awaiting the promised glory. We must not become so comfortable with this world that we are not homesick for heaven. Albert Brumley penned the immortal words of the song that begins, “This world is not my home I’m just a passing through…” Let that be our daily anthem. The Biden’s Trumps, Obamas, Clintons, and Bushs are all just temporary. Wander to thoughts of glory!
Be a Christian; Be peace
It’s ironic that an internet search for “peacemaker” returns stories and images of the classic Colt M1873 revolver which was called “The Peacemaker.((Colt Single Action Army. (2020, October 07). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Single_Action_Army)). Not far behind were pictures of the B36 bomber used during the Cold War Years.((Convair B-36 Peacemaker. (2020, September 23). Retrieved October 30, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_B-36_Peacemaker))
Christian peacemaking is different.
Jesus called us to peace and expected his people to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Wouldn’t it be great if we were known as people of reconciliation. What if we called for peace after the election? What if our bonding with Jesus were better known than our like for a particular candidate? What glory would flow to the Lord!
Some will claim that Jesus was no peacemaker and they will cite Matthew 10:34. Jesus claim had nothing to do with the everyday cares of the world and surely had no reference to politics! Jesus spoke of the conflict that between ultimate good and ultimate evil. The context is clear.
As I write this on Thursday and Friday before the election next week, I have no way of knowing the outcome. I will vote. Although I do not endorse candidates I suspect most know where I stand. I will promise my readers that I will be a beacon of light, a dash of salt and a voice of peace as I wander through our common future. Will you join me? Your comments are welcomed as always.
Christians live in two worlds, secular and spiritual. Christians live in the kingdom of God, governed by Jesus. We also live in an earthly, secular kingdom governed by whoever is in power at the moment. Tension always exists between the two kingdoms. The desires and expectations that the two kingdoms hold clash. We must carefully navigate between our two worlds.
Jesus showed us how to live perfectly in both worlds at the same time. By following his leadership, we can be faithful to the God of Heaven and to the laws of men.
His Words
Jesus was born into God’s kingdom: Israel. They were chosen by God to be his people. Still, Jesus spoke of another kingdom that was still to come (Matthew 4:17; 5:19, 20; 6:10, 33; Luke 11:2; 13:29; 19:11; John 3:3,5; 18:36).
Jesus also acknowledged the earthly kingdom of Rome. Jesus said, “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21), thus acknowledging both the legitimacy of the Roman government and the requirement for Christians to obey it. His apostle Paul would voice the same command in Romans” “let every person be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1ff). To Titus, Paul said, “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work (Titus 3:1).
His Actions
Jesus applied his words to his actions. The kingdom of Judea, the remnant of Israel, was corrupt, vile and ungodly. Her king lived in open sin. Still, Jesus obeyed the Israelite rulers. When the Israelite religious leader, Annas, questioned Jesus, he submitted and answered him (John 18:19-24).
In his arrest, Jesus declared that he could call “twelve legions of angels” to deliver him. But he did not. (Matthew 26:53). Even as he hung on the cross, Jesus railed not against the Jews or the Romans.
His apostle Paul voiced his submission to Rome as he faced a death penalty. He responded to the governor that he would not refuse to die if he had done some wrong (Acts 25:11). We believe Paul would later die by execution.
His Non-Actions
There was plenty wrong with governments of the first century. Rome, like the Greeks before, was thoroughly pagan. Recall the picture of Athens, where Paul called the city “full of idols” (Acts 17:16). Rome worshipped anything. They even had an altar to the unknown God (Acts 17:23). Their worship was so twisted as to encourage intercourse between worshipper and priest. Some idol temples had male and female prostitutes who served their false gods. Soon, Rome would even demand worship of the Emperors. Meanwhile, a puppet family ruled the Jews. The Herodian Dynasty included every imaginable sin. Herod the Great was a known mass murderer (Matthew 2:1-18).
But that Jesus never embroiled himself in the politics of the day. The politics of Herod, Annas, and Caeser were not the focus of his wrath. He rebuked people for their sins, not their politics. His emphasis was to follow Him as the Savior.
Jesus led no boycotts. Jesus did not complain of high taxes. Jesus led no revolt against the troops of the Empire. He did not demand a letter campaign against Herod’s crazed behavior. Even when Rome was systematically executing Christians, there was no revolt. The business of the kingdom of God consumed Jesus. The zeal of God’s house consumed Jesus (Psalm 69:9; Luke 2:17).
We have opportunities to do good by being salt in the world. We can affect the direction of government through elections. But we must never speak more of the kingdom of men than of the kingdom of God. Like Jesus, be consumed with the Lord’s work.
.”..be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Daniel 3:18
“But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
Acts 5:29
The Kingdom of God reigns above any government of mankind. Earthly rule protects the believer from the avarice, greed, and violence of the worldly person who has no respect for God’s laws. The Christian is to be subject to those laws. However, when man’s laws contradict or oppose God’s laws, we must refuse to obey the government. Today, some engage in violent opposition to the government at the drop of a hat. They wrap themselves in the banner of the divine while breaking civil laws. We must not do likewise. The decision to engage in civil disobedience must come only after a careful study of the Bible.
Civil disobedience did not begin in the 1950s and 1960s with the civil rights movement or the anti-war protest movement. The two verses above show that resisting the authority of the state has been established for a very long time. For us, we must take care to avoid a flippant appeal to disobedience. I offer three ideas to consider.
Civil Disobedience Requires the most Extreme Circumstances
God’s people have often found themselves in dire straits. They were attacked by other nations (Judges 4:2; 6:1; 10:7 et al.), enslaved (2 Kings 25), opposed by religious leaders (Acts 4:1-3), arrested and executed by kings (Acts 12:1-3) and generally persecuted by authorities (Hebrews 11:32-40). Despite all the opposition, civil disobedience was uncommon.
In Daniel 3, the king demanded that the Hebrews worship his pagan god. In Acts 5, the religious leaders demanded the apostles to stop preaching the gospel. In the USA, the Constitution constrains the government from issuing such orders. The time may come when such restraint is removed, but for now, we are blessed. Only an extraordinary assault on our faith would justify lawless opposition.
Civil Disobedience Is a Last Resort
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not initiate a confrontation. It arose as a response to their obedience to God. Obedience drove their actions, not publicity. Had the rulers left them alone, there would have been no clash. History records that when Rome tried to prevent Christians from worshipping, they assembled in hiding.
Another blessing of our nation is the right to petition the government for redress (relief) from burdensome rules. Last week, a federal judge slammed the door on attempts by New York to single out houses of worship for restrictions during the health crisis. Often, our complaints are better addressed in venues other than the media or the street.
Only after using venues of appeal and discussion may the Christian resort to civil disobedience. It is a tactic of last resort.
Civil Disobedience Demands Careful Consultation with the Lord
Before a person willingly breaks the law under God’s banner, he had best be sure his actions have divine approval. Daniel and the apostles were inspired. They received truth directly from on high. We do not. However, we have the inspired word of God that guides us into all truth (John 16:13; 2 Peter 1:19-21). How foolish to charge into lawbreaking without a knowledge of the word of God. So, the one planning disobedience does so only after an intense study and researching of God’s word.
Equally important is a prayerful spirit. Just as Bible study must be intense, our prayers must be fervent. Only then, after prayer and study, may we solemnly engage the exceptional act of disobedience. That prayer and study must be motivated by a desire to know truth. Approaching the Scriptures or bowing in prayer with our minds already made up is dangerous. We must seek to know the will of the Lord, not to find confirmation of our ideas.
Let us earnestly seek to be subject to the laws of government while being faithful to the real king, Jesus!
“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”
Hebrews 11:13-16
We’ve previously explored the nature of human governments. Human authority exists, by God’s decree, alongside God’s kingdom. The common and the divine work side by side to provide for our needs. Divine ordinances do not regulate speed limits; instead, they point to the earthly and command obedience. Most governments of men do not reciprocate. They do not point heavenward and command obedience to God. And that causes friction.
The Christian lives in two worlds. That works well as long as rulers respect the superiority of the kingdom of God. The second-century Christian Justin Martyr wrote to Emperor Antonius Pius, demanding that the government fairly treat Christians. He penned: “Reason directs those who are truly pious and philosophical to honour and love only what is true, declining to follow traditional opinions, if these be worthless.” (Justin Martyr, 1st apology, Chapter 1). He is calling for the civil authorities to respect truth and reject falsehoods as the government investigates Christianity. Justin wrote a second Apology addressed to the Roman Senate, begging for a truthful investigation of the church. His pleas fell upon hardened hearts. He and several followers were scourged and beheaded because they refused to bow to Roman pagan gods. Government had overstepped her bounds.
There is no inherent conflict between the divine and the common. Earthly governments can co-exist with the church, provided the all acknowledge the superiority of the church. Jesus said as much in Matthew 22:21, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” His apostles affirmed the primacy of the kingdom of God in Acts 5:29. The apostles were under arrest for preaching the Gospel. “We must obey God rather than men,” was the reply of Peter and the apostles. Service to the Lord comes before obedience to human government.
The incredibly difficult question today is when a Christian may disobey the laws of men. The Bible offers plenty of examples. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship a false god (Daniel 3). Daniel was commanded not to pray but did anyway (Daniel 6). We observe that all of the apostles, except wicked Judas, were persecuted and mostly died because they would not stop teaching of Jesus. John was on the prison isle of Patmos “on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9).
There are accounts where God’s people did not revolt but only paused. Kings commanded Ezra cease working on the rebuilding of the Temple, a task commanded by God. The people did not disobey the king! Instead, they paused and pursued successful challenges to the order to cease work (Ezra 4,5,6).
The question of when a Christian may reject the laws of man is thorny. Next week, we will offer principles for making such a decision.
The Kingdom of God – Part 5
“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”
Hebrews 11:13-16
We’ve previously explored the nature of human governments. Human authority exists, by God’s decree, alongside God’s kingdom. The common and the divine work side by side to provide for our needs. Divine ordinances do not regulate speed limits; instead, they point to the earthly and command obedience. Most governments of men do not reciprocate. They do not point heavenward and command obedience to God. And that causes friction.
The Christian lives in two worlds. That works well as long as rulers respect the superiority of the kingdom of God. The second-century Christian Justin Martyr wrote to Emperor Antonius Pius, demanding that the government fairly treat Christians. He penned: “Reason directs those who are truly pious and philosophical to honour and love only what is true, declining to follow traditional opinions, if these be worthless.” (Justin Martyr, 1st apology, Chapter 1). He is calling for the civil authorities to respect truth and reject falsehoods as the government investigates Christianity. Justin wrote a second Apology addressed to the Roman Senate, begging for a truthful investigation of the church. His pleas fell upon hardened hearts. He and several followers were scourged and beheaded because they refused to bow to Roman pagan gods. Government had overstepped her bounds.
There is no inherent conflict between the divine and the common. Earthly governments can co-exist with the church, provided the all acknowledge the superiority of the church. Jesus said as much in Matthew 22:21, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” His apostles affirmed the primacy of the kingdom of God in Acts 5:29. The apostles were under arrest for preaching the Gospel. “We must obey God rather than men,” was the reply of Peter and the apostles. Service to the Lord comes before obedience to human government.
The incredibly difficult question today is when a Christian may disobey the laws of men. The Bible offers plenty of examples. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship a false god (Daniel 3). Daniel was commanded not to pray but did anyway (Daniel 6). We observe that all of the apostles, except wicked Judas, were persecuted and mostly died because they would not stop teaching of Jesus. John was on the prison isle of Patmos “on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9).
There are accounts where God’s people did not revolt but only paused. Kings commanded Ezra cease working on the rebuilding of the Temple, a task commanded by God. The people did not disobey the king! Instead, they paused and pursued successful challenges to the order to cease work (Ezra 4,5,6).
The question of when a Christian may reject the laws of man is thorny. Next week, we will offer principles for making such a decision.
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13,14
Two kingdoms ruled over God’s people many times in history. Although they were Jews and subject to the kingdom of Judah, the people were also subjugated by Babylon. Rome ruled during Jesus’ lifetime while Herod remained the Jewish authority. This dual citizenship foreshadows our current condition. For Christians in the United States, there is one physical government, but a second spiritual government rules over us also. There is frequently tension between the earthly and the spiritual, but the Christian knows who he must honor first.
Our Government is not Rome
Before we examine the relationship between modern Christians and the American government, we note that there are major differences between the ancient rulers and today’s leaders.
Citizens of Rome, though very privileged compared to non-citizens, had little impact upon government. There were no campaigns for the vote of the common man. No one ran for emperor. Criticism of the powerful in Rome had dire consequences. There were no newspapers or media outlets to rage against the throne. Few competing voices discussed the policies of Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, or any other ruler. Roman senators served because of wealth, power, and influence, not through the popular vote.
Authoritarian rule is present in many nations today. In the United States, a person may practice his faith, speak his mind, and seek redress from the government, all of which are protected by our bedrock, founding documents.
Because we are blessed with the ability to impact our government, we are also laden with new responsibilities. Remember Jesus’ words, which call us to be salt and light in our world (Matthew 5:13-16). Where we can influence for good, we must. The original Christians had no such ability to influence Rome.
Our Government is not God’s
It is anathema to suggest that our government is not God’s. To say that capitalism is not divine is heresy to some. So let me explain.
The need for government is without question. Men have organized themselves into governable bodies almost from the beginning. The Lord acknowledges the need for government by giving government to his people. He also commands that we obey. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment” (Romans 13:1,2). Those words are inspired and strong. We must obey. However, God never defines the form of government to which we must be subject. The closest is probably in the next verse, Romans 13:3: “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.” Inspiration assumes a government that upholds and encourages “good conduct.”
When a government supports ungodly and evil behaviors, it surely cannot be said to be of God. Still, we are to obey. Bloodthirsty, pagan, Nero begins his reign of terror just about the time Paul wrote the Romans 13 passage. We may conclude that subjection to government may be very uncomfortable. Still, we are commanded to respect our leaders.
