I have long wondered what went through the minds of believing men and women who found themselves under a wicked king or wicked government.
What went through the minds of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah as they saw the destruction of the Temple of God in 586 B.C.E.? How did they react when they were taken away captive to Babylon at the command of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon?
What did those believing Israelites do when they found themselves under the reign of a wicked king that set up high places and golden images to be worshipped instead of worshipping the True God?
I think you would agree that we are faced with a crisis in our nation that we have never seen before. Not every president we have had has been a God-fearing man, yet we have not seen one as openly against the things of God as we have in the White House today.
So what are we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to do finding ourselves under a government that we do not agree with? I dare say that not any wants a socialistic government or a dictatorship, yet it appears as though that is the direction our government is heading against the wishes of the American people.
I have struggled with this for a long time. I have often thought about what went through the minds of men and women in the American Colonies prior to the American Revolution, or those of the Southern States in the years leading up to and during the Civil War in the 1860s. On Facebook, or in conversation, I regularly hear people say the only way to “get our nation back” is another Revolution or Civil War. This is the sentiment of many, some of who profess Christ as well as many who have no profession of faith whatsoever.
What does the Bible have to say in regards to the governments of men? What is their purpose? How are we to relate to the government as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ? These are questions that I have been wrestling with. When we have questions concerning this life, where are we to turn to find our answers? Are we to turn to the wisdom of man or are we to turn to the Holy, Inspired, Infallible, Inerrant Word of God?
If we turn to anything or anyone other than the Lord God, we will do ourselves a great injustice and find ourselves in a world of hurt.
What I have found in the Word of God concerning man’s governments and how a Christians should relate to them has brought conviction for my wrong and sinful attitude as well as comfort knowing God is Sovereign. What did I find in the Word of God?
Romans 13:1-7
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.
In verse one we see that every soul is to be subject to the higher powers. The term “ higher” is translated from the Greek word (hü-per-e'-khō) which means to be above, be superior in rank, authority, power: the prominent men, rulers. The word “powers” is translated from the Greek word (eks-ü-sē'-ä) which means the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed).
Why are we to be subject to the higher powers? There is no power, no government or ruler except God has put it into power. The governments that be are ordained of God. That is something I had to meditate on for a long time. Governments and government leaders are ordained of God, both good and evil ones. That’s a hard thought. Understanding this will challenge your view of God’s sovereignty.
God revealed to Daniel this truth in Daniel 2:20-21.
Daniel 2:20-21
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
God removes kings…God sets kings up. It is God who raised up Pharaoh to oppress Israel. It was God who raised up each wicked kings who reigned over Judah and Israel…as well as the godly ones. It was God who raised up Hitler in Germany. It was God who raised up Mussolini in Italy. It was God who raised up Hirohito in Japan. It was God who raised up Stalin in Russia. It was God who raised up Saddam Hussein in Iraq. It was God who raised up Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran. It was God who raised up Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. It was God who raised up Kim Jong-il in North Korea and took him out, replacing him with his wicked son, Kim Jong-un. What about Momar Kaddafi in Libya? Make no mistake it was God who raised Barak Obama to the Presidency of the United States of America.
Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar… “Thou, o king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.” (Daniel 2:37)
Daniel, again speaking to Nebuchadnezzar, said… “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” (Daniel 4:17)
We see the same words used again in Daniel 4:25 and 32… “till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”
In verse 2 of our text in Romans 13, the Word of God is clear that whoever resists the government resists the ordinance of God. Those who resist will receive to themselves damnation. The word “damnation” here is not speaking of eternal damnation. Rather it is speaking of the consequences of breaking the government’s laws. The word “damnation” is translated from the Greek word (krē'-mä) which means the punishment with which one is sentenced.
Who sets the speed limit on U.S. Highways? The government does. What happens when you resist the law and speed? When you get caught you receive damnation…you suffer the consequences, you pay the ticket.
Whether the laws passed by the government seem wrong, grievous, or so foolish they couldn’t possibly be enforced, we still are to obey them.
Titus 3:1-2
1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
Do these passages of Scripture apply only to a democratic government? Do these passages of Scripture apply only when the government is making laws for the good of the people? As much as would like to think so, these verses apply to whatever government you find yourself under, whether it be a socialist government or worse yet, a dictatorship.
People think that can never happen in the United States of America. If God, who is Sovereign, has declared that end for the United States…it will happen. People live under the false security of our Constitution. Our government is already calling into question the power of the Constitution. It would take nothing for them to vote to do away with the Constitution and draft a new document. If that happened, the President would not be bound to a 4 year term. This nation could wake up one morning and find itself under the control of a dictator. What will we do then?
1 Peter 2:13-15
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;
Consider for a minute who Peter was writing to in 1 Peter as well as who Paul was writing to in Romans 13. These men of God were writing to believers who were suffering the most dreadful persecution imaginable. The Roman government under the Emperor Nero was severely persecuting Christians. They were being imprisoned. They were being placed in Roman coliseums, having hungry lions released on them for the sport of those watching. They were being burned alive at the stake and used to light Nero’s garden parties at night as well as the streets so Nero could go for rides in his horse drawn carriage at night.
The Roman government was wicked and evil at best and yet, God used Peter and Paul to tell the believers to submit themselves to that government. They were to obey the ordinances of man. They were to do this for the Lord’s sake. It is any different for us today? I dare say it’s no different.
As we consider kings, government leaders, presidents, and dictators look again at Romans 13:3-4.
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.
These men and even in some cases women whom the Lord has raised up and put into power are ministers of God. Does that mean they are all godly people? No. It means that God is using them to accomplish His purpose. Did He not do so with Nebuchadnezzar? We see Isaiah prophesied (Isaiah 46:11) God would use him to carry out His purpose and He did. Did God not use the persecution brought on by Nero, Emperor of Rome, to spread the Gospel throughout the world?
Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it withersoever he will.
God raises up men in positions of power to carry out His divine will which He determined to take place before the foundation of the world. When we understand that, I think it will take the stress of an uncertain future away. Our future is anything but uncertain. Our God rules and reigns in the affairs of men. His will is accomplished.
Though a wicked man be raised to a position above us, such as that of the President, we are still to show him honor.
1 Peter 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
According to Romans 13:4, our President is a minister of God to us for good. He may have a wicked agenda, but we know according to Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to His purpose. Our President may very well take us into socialism. Are we to fight against him? Think about Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Think about Nehemiah and Ezra. All of these men were taken away captive to Babylon. Did they fight against it, or did they willingly, quietly go. Did they have an understanding of God’s requirement of submission to the government similar to what Paul and Peter did?
What if we don’t like the laws our President gets passed through Congress? What if we rebel and fight against the government? Verse 4 tells us to be afraid. The President (ruler) beareth not the sword in vain. He is a minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon those who do not obey the laws.
We are to be in subjection to the government even when we don’t like the direction it is going. We are to honor our President even when we don’t personally like the job he is doing. If he were to walk in the room today we should stand and show him honor. For me this was a very bitter pill to swallow, yet this is what the Scripture teaches.
Not only are we to be subject to our government, we are to pay our taxes…even when our government continually raises them… when they use our tax money to fund abortions, gay and lesbian agendas, or keep Americans on welfare… when we are taxed without proper representation. Our American Revolutionary forefathers thought differently as witnessed by the Declaration of Independence. In the Declaration of Independence, one of the grievances that led to our breaking away from England and declaring ourselves independent was taxation without representation. Were our American forefathers actions in line with Romans 13:1-7? What did our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ say concerning the paying of taxes?
Mark 12:14-17
14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it.
16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.
17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marveled at him.
Jesus Christ, our Savior and perfect example even paid taxes to the Roman government…
Matthew17:24-7
24 And then they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes, And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 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.
Of whom does our President and Congress take taxes? Of their own children or of strangers? …strangers of course!
This world is not our home. We are just strangers passing through. The first letter Peter wrote to the persecuted Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire was addressed “to the strangers scattered throughout…” We are to pay taxes no matter how much they are, whether we like them, and whether or not we have been rightly represented. Were the American people rightly represented with the passage of "Obama Care"? Beginning next year we will be taxed if we fail to provide our own health insurance. According to the Scripture how are we to respond?
We are to submit ourselves to the government under which God has placed us. While sharing this with a fellow believer, I was in no uncertain terms (in a negative tone) called a passivist. Many having read this far get the idea that we are to cow down and passively allow the government to control our lives. Is that what I am saying? No! Only God is to control our lives. Does the Scripture teach there is a time for civil disobedience? The Scripture is clear. There is a time when we must make a stand and respectfully disobey government laws.
When the laws passed by our government violate or try to force us to violate the Scripture, then we must respectfully stand firm and refuse to obey them. Let me give you a few examples from the Word of God.
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(Example 1)
Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
The Word of God is clear. We are to have no other gods before us. In Daniel 3:14-18, Nebuchadnezzar commanded everyone to bow down and worship the golden image he set up. If anyone failed to obey his law, they would be thrown into the fiery furnace.
The reply of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Daniel 3:14-18
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us our of thine hand, O king.
18 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.
Knowing the consequences of disobeying the law of the king, these three men respectfully chose not to because obeying it would have caused them to violate the Scripture. _____________________________________________________________________________
(Example 2)
What about the Jewish midwives and the parents of Moses who were commanded by Pharaoh to kill every Jewish male child that was born? Though the Ten Commandments had not yet been given, they knew that murder was wrong.
Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
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(Example 3)
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Christ commanded the Apostles to go and preach the Gospel, yet the religious establishment of the day commanded Peter and the others to stop speaking in the name of Christ.
Acts 4:19 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all or teach in the name of Jesus.
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
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Many other examples could be taken from the word of God. The Word of God is clear.
We are to respectfully submit to the authority of the government that is over us, and yet we are not to follow them blindly. Should our government pass laws outlawing spanking children, we should respectfully continue to obey the Word of God which tells us not to spare the rod (Proverbs 13:24).
Should our government pass laws outlawing preaching against sodomy, drunkenness, adultery, or any other sin, we should respectfully, yet boldly continue to proclaim the truth. These types of laws have already been passed in many European countries as well as Canada. Don’t think it can’t happen in the United States of America.
God forbid, but should our government pass laws forbidding churches to meet we should respectfully continue to meet. It happened in Germany under the rule of Adolf Hitler. We should never forsake the assembling of ourselves together. If our government passes laws forbidding the preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, we, like Peter and the other Apostles in Acts 5:29, should obey God rather than man.
Should these things ever take place, we must settle in our hearts not to resist the consequences of breaking our government’s laws. Many a Christian has been martyred for not renouncing Christ and His Word.
The decree was passed in Daniel 6:7-8 that no one was to petition or pray to anyone other than king Darius for 30 days. Daniel, knowing the law was passed, continued to pray to God knowing the consequences of doing so. When he was taken to the lion’s den, he didn’t fight it or struggle against them.
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, knowing full well that not bowing to the golden image set up by Nebuchadnezzar would result in the fiery furnace, still obeyed God. As they were taken to the fiery furnace they did not resist or struggle against those who bound them.
Our own Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who received unjust treatment at the hands of the Roman soldiers opened not His mouth, but was silent as a lamb before the shearers.
It may well come to that type of persecution of Christians here in America. I encourage you to purpose in your heart now that you will follow the Lord no matter the cost. God's will which was ordained before the foundation of the world will be accomplished. The United States of America will go exactly as He has determined. He is Sovereign. He is the Almighty. Let us resolve to follow Him and obey His Word.
