The Christian and Government

Introduction

How many of you vote Republican? How many of you vote Democrat?

Why does this feel like such an awkward question? Why does this create such division?

Two weeks ago we saw Peter and John standing before the Jewish authorities because they had been preaching about Jesus. The Jewish leaders arrested Peter and John, and after questioning them the next day released them, warning them to not speak about Jesus anymore.

Peter and John answered, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard”

Last week Don shared how following their persecution by the Jewish authorities, Peter and John gathered with fellow believers and prayed not that God would stop the persecution but that he might give them boldness to continue speaking God’s Word.

It’s here that we will push pause and ask the question, “How should we as Christians relate to our government?”

I have found that evangelical Christians today (use that term loosely) tend to either idolize or demonize our government and it’s leaders.

I wonder where you might fall on that continuum?

However, as we’ll see today, the government is neither Satan nor our Savior.

The government in general is God’s prescribed agent of good for society.

1 Peter 2:11–17 (ESV)

13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,

Serve God as sovereign by submitting to the government. (13-15)

“Be subject” = submit

not simply “show deference” or “respect”

Peter says to submit to whom?

“Every human institution”

Literally institution = creature

cannot mean submit to everyone

context indicates human authority especially governmental authority.

whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him

Pater may have used “creature” as a slight directed toward the Roman (and other) emperors and kings of Peter’s day - to remind his readers that they are merely a human authority.

So, Peter is plainly telling us that Christians are to submit to the government authorities.

This idea is found elsewhere:

Titus 3:1 (ESV)

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

Romans 13:1–7 (ESV)

1 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.

The imperative in all these verses is to submit to our governing authorities. However, the underlying truth in each of these passages is that

GOD IS SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY.

So that, even as we submit to the government, we first and foremost serve God as sovereign.

13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him

Romans 13:1–7 (ESV)

1 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.

We must always recognize the theological reality that surrounds us in order to better engage the practical realities we find ourselves in.

Even as we submit to the government we must remember that we serve the sovereign God.

How anxious do you get when you see the world in turmoil around us?

“In one study conducted in 2019, almost 40 per cent of Americans said that politics was a source of significant anxiety, insomnia and even suicidal thoughts. The negative impact was more prominent in those who were young, politically engaged, or opposed to the government.”

The constant exposure to political stress has been associated with increased risk of anxiety, depression and poor lifestyle choices, as well as deterioration in general medical health.”

— https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/political-polarization-affecting-mental-health

This can and should relieve our anxieties when we think about political things.

I often hear, frustrations or anxieties about political issues, and people pointing out who they believe is really in control of the government. Yes, but they are all still smaller than God.

GOD ESTABLISHES OUR GOVERNING AUTHORITIES

Romans 13:1 (ESV)

1 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.

Daniel 2:21 (ESV)

21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

— God knows the outcome of our next election.

— — though we use our free will to vote, God is not surprised by the results.

Two reasons why we should submit to government authority:

God instituted government to curb the evil and administer justice in the world.

1 Peter 2:13–14 (ESV)

whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.

Romans 13:3-4

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. . . . 4 for he is God’s servant for your good.

(again this is the default position, not the special scenario)

Peter is not saying that every government will curb evil and administer justice

2. Obeying the government enhances your witness

13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,

Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV)

7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

His point was that the good behavior of Christians will minimize slanderous attacks on believers, revealing that charges of moral debilitation have no basis

— Tom Schreiner

Matthew 22:15–22 (ESV)

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

We are to submit “For the Lord’s sake” (because of the Lord)

In doing so we ultimately obey God and display Jesus

We submit to the government with the attitude of serving God.

God raises kings and presidents - they are instruments for good appointed by Him.

Pray for our government leaders compare the number of times you have prayed for Trump or Biden with the number of times you’ve mocked them

We support the government inasmuch as it does the good work of God.

We pay taxes

We may understand that our taxes do not always go to things and areas we would like or God would approve. Jesus said to give to Caesar what is his.

DO you think Caesar used the taxes for all godly purposes? We are neither separate nor entangled with the government.

Politics is neither separate from your faith nor is it married to it.

no president is our savior - only Jesus is.

no political party is Christian

Stand with your voice and vote even as you submit with your heart.

Excursus: Submission is not a bad word.

We tend to struggle with the idea of submission for a few reasons:

Rebellion is the default position of the human heart

We are all sons of Adam and have inherited his sin nature which is

America is a country of rebels

Our culture is a culture of “rights”

Modern Western culture idolizes self autonomy

de Cartes

postmodernism

critical theory

Every child’s name for their first toy — MINE! and second word after mama? NO

For some, the issue of submitting to earthly authorities is because of an issue with submitting to ANY authority.

While rebellion is the default position of the human heart, submission is the default posture of the Christian life.

The only way to come to Jesus is to submit your rebellious heart to his authority

- God will demand more of you than any government

When a cat’s fur is being rubbed the wrong way. Either you can stop it, or you can turn the cat around. When the word of God rubs you the wrong way, you should not avoid it, but turn the cat around!

Greear, J. D. 2017. “The Mysterious Witness of Submission and Suffering: 1 Peter 2; 3.” In J. D. Greear Sermon Archive, 1 Pe 2–3. Durham, NC: The Summit Church.

Show God is sovereign by freely living for Him. (16-17)

1 6 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

The word “live” is supplied.

The idea is that we are to submit as people who are free.

We are free from a rebellion-bent heart

We have freedom in Christ.

We are to submit to governing authority while remembering we are servants of God.

Because of this,

17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Center is chiastic?

Honor everyone

Same honor as the emperor

“honor” = to set a price

The Roman government would honor heroes. They honor those who give them something.

As believers, we honor people because:

everyone deserves honor because they are made in God’s image

Not if they can give us something

We don’t honor people with more power, money, etc.

Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect whether you agree with them or not - Whether they are a sinner or not.

Love the brotherhood

Love fellow believers as fellow citizens of the Kingdom.

Deeper than honoring everyone is loving fellow Christians.

Loving our fellow brothers and sisters is deeper than politics

Fear God

while we are called to honor the emperor, it is God who is our final authority.

We don’t fear man, we fear God.

Fear God more than you fear any man.

Acts 5:27–29 (ESV)

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Honor the emperor

Respect the office even if you don’t respect the person

Respect the emperor, but. . .

Honor government leaders as appointed by God.

See God as Sovereign

Submit to His authority

Serve for God’s glory

We will ALL serve Jesus as the final King

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:11–16 ESV)

Is your heart willfully submitting to those whom God has placed in authority over you?

Or does your rebellious heart toward earthly authority indicate a rebellious heart toward God?