Spirit and Truth Discernment: How Should Christians View Ruling Authorities?

How Should Christians View Ruling Authorities?

In this year of presidential elections we should take time to see what God's Word says about how Christians should relate to those in governmental positions. Oftentimes we hear many people curse and speak ill of those in authority positions such as the government and Christians must be very careful how much they listen to or participate in such conversations lest we be in sin.

We see in the Old Testament that God was the king of Israel. He was their leader and had appointed people to do His bidding which today would be similar to our government. In the book of 1 Samuel 8 we see that the people decided they wanted their own king.

1And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. 3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

This is not good as scripture shows us what God thought about it:

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.

7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

We then see what sort of king will be their ruler....

10 And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king. 11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day. 19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

As we look at this description, we see a ruler that is not just and righteous like God but ungodly and corrupt; just as we continue to see today.

So what does this mean today and how should a true believer treat the government officials? Does God's Word tell His people to discuss the attributes of elected officials in the government office? Should believers listen to and participate in such discussions about such officials?

Romans 13
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

The word 'subject in vs 1 means to submit, the same sort of submitting a woman does to a husband in Ephesians 5. All people are to submit to the government. And these 'powers' are all ordained of God to do His will. Whoever resists those powers shall receive to themselves damnation. However Acts 5:9 tells us to obey God not man so if the 'powers' call for God's people to sin, then they are to resist and instead obey God.

Jesus words show us that God gives the power to the rulers.
11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Peter said this in Acts 5:29
“We ought to obey God rather than men.

2 Peter 2 also tells us why God instructs His people to submit to the authorities:

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

In order that in well doing we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Honour means:

tim-ah'-o

From G5093; to prize, that is, fix a valuation upon; by implication to revere: - honour, value.

We are to revere, honour and value those in authority.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

vs 18 say s we are to be subject (submit) not only to those who are good but those who are froward/warped/perverse/crooked.

Let us keep in mind that Paul wrote this while under a tyrannical government, not a peaceful, God fearing rule.

The Old Testament also shows us how we are to be toward rulers...

Exodus 22:28 28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Ecclesiastes 10:20

20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

We see these instructions reiterated in the New Testament from Paul...

Acts 23:5 5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

Peter says to honor all men and honor the king...

1 Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

In summary, we as born again believers who are setting an example to the world in our every day lives, actions and words must heed the warnings of God's Word to not speak against the rulers, nor should we give heed to those who do so whether it be news articles, talk shows or people we meet in person so as to put to shame the foolishness of the world. We as believers are to set a godly example and show the world we are not of 'this' world but of one in heaven. Philippians 3:20. By conversing with the world and expounding on the evil of the rulers we are going against God's Word which is sin and not honoring our Father in heaven.

Let the world worry about where the leaders are taking the country and instead let us be busy about our Father's work.