Government and the Bible Part 2

The United States is said to be a democracy, but it's really a republic.  On the local level up to the State level, we vote by popular vote, but when it comes to voting for the president and vice president, it becomes more like a republic voting system called the electoral college.  Even some say, our nation is becoming more like a social democracy.  And between the two political parties, the Democrats and Republicans, there is much talk about politics, and how we should run the nation.  I think I care enough to vote for the candidate that best represents my thoughts and beliefs in government but at the end of the day, sometimes I don't really care.  :) 

Let's look at Jesus.  Jesus was born of the time of the Roman Empire and he was born a Jew.  The Roman government was very harsh towards the Jews at the time, and the Jews wanted a new ruler, someone that can take down the current Roman government.  (And this has been the story of the Jews for a while even to this day.  They left Egypt, then they have a nation in Canaan, they have some kings, they get captured by the Assyrians, then exiled by the Babylonians, then returned to Israel, and then a few hundred years later, Romans were over this part of land until the time of Jesus, and beyond.)  Jesus was born into a hostile environment, so much that he and his family had to escape to Egypt to hide for a while before they came back. (On a side note, this will lead to the topic on immigration.)  In his later life, he went around Israel, teaching folks about God and His salvation.  In his short time, he encouraged the minds and hearts of those who followed him until his death and resurrection.  Most importantly, he is salvation for those who believe in him (John 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:8).  For most of his life and ministry, we don't really know much about what Jesus thought about the Roman government.  But what we do know is how he interacted with the people around him and the hope that he has given them.  

In the Bible, the first part of Romans 13 does have this passage regarding government:

¹ Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

The Apostle Paul wrote this during this time of the Romans, after Jesus's resurrection.  Paul knew of the persecution that the early Christian had to go through with the Romans and endured this persecution himself.  So, it's kind of a hard passage to take in, and I would image, even for Paul, since he was the one who got jailed by the Romans.  And what we're experiencing here in the U.S. pales in comparison of what Paul had to go through.

What does that really mean, even if we do not agree with the government we are under, or for those who are Christians in other nations who may be under a different form of government? 

First, we definitely need to pray for our authorities, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Even in this passage in  1 Timothy 2:1-6, prayer for our authorities is "good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." Going back to Romans 13, I believe this is really saying to stay out of trouble and obey the laws that make sense and are in line with God's law of grace and love. 

Second, respect for the government and all those around us.  God has allowed and gave us government for a lot of reason (order, rules, military protection, etc).  We may not understand everything God is doing through government, and we may not agree with everything the government is doing, but God does want us to respect it.  (1 Peter 2:11-17). 

Thirdly, prayer for our nation.  I know we do not always agree with everyone around us.  But I believe if those who proclaim to be Christians, we must unite to pray for our nation. (2 Chronicles 7:14)  

Jesus never wanted a physical earthly kingdom of his own but he knows God is building a heavenly kingdom for those who follow him.  In due time, the United States may not be here anymore, no matter what you believe in prophecy.  Sometimes I feel people hold too much hope on government, when government is merely a thing of human invention.  Same with the Constitution.  Although, I have all respect for the founding fathers of the United States and the Constitution they have written, it is not the ultimate law.  Rather we should hold God's grace much higher than these laws (Galatians).

Government and the Bible Part 1

Ever wonder where government came from?  How government was developed?  Many of us learned in social studies that people were once hunters and gatherers.  After discovering agriculture, (namely farming of grains like wheat in Europe or rice in Asia) the people pretty much settled and began bartering or trading their goods.  "I don't have enough barley, I'll give you 6 chickens for a measure of barley."  The people also raised livestocks to eat or use its byproducts to make food (like milk to yogurt, or cheese).  Then seashells or rocks were used as currency and somewhere along the way, people started to make coins and paper money.  In all of this, civilizations started to form, cities started to form, and there was a need for order in the towns and cities, thus government happened.

Imagine this: what if God didn't want us to have governments?  That's a novel thought.

A key passage in the Bible is found in 1 Samuel 8, verses 4-9:

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” But they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

The next chapter then sees Saul anointed as king of Israel.

Don't get me wrong.  God wanted Israel to have a nation of its own after He lead them out of Egypt.  In between the Exodus to the time of Samuel, the Israelites were ruled by priests, judges and elders.  God probably wanted the Israelites to be an exception, unlike the other surrounding nations which had kings.  However, back in Deuteronomy 17, we do see how God instructed the Israelites about kings, as if God knew that someday Israel will have one.  Not because God wanted them to have a king, but because of what 1 Samuel 8 says of the Israelites that they were continuing to sin and reject God as their King.  Israel eventually had a king, the split nations of Israel and Judah/Benjamin, and many many kings to come.  Some were good, most were bad.

Today, we have a lot of different types of governments and leaders.  There are democracies, republics, socialists, communism, dictatorships, and various ones in between.  We still have kings (although, they are more like figureheads and have little involvement with government), presidents, premiers, prime ministers, etc.  Then there are political parties and groups in countries that have these parties.  So, throughout history, the forms and leadership of government have become complex and varies from country to country.  And like Israel and Judah, there were some good leaders and some bad ones.

The next blog, I will talk about my personal opinions about government, and what I truly believe what God wants us to do in any government and county we live under.