WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT GOVERNMENT
ROMANS 13 – Should the body of Christ be a steward for government?
Do you and your congregation know the principles to have a free society?
The first form of government is self-government. The three (3) institutions of government in scripture are family, government, and church. When all are working together as designed, the result will be Biblical citizens.
The ultimate goal of this Guideline is to equip the Shepherd and the Saints with a Biblical Worldview to be able to secure the blessing in America to freely propagate the Gospel. The guideline will assist you in taking critical steps for developing a strong Christian Civic Citizenship Ministry, which will impact the family, church, workplace, city, state and nation.
Quote from Mathew Staver – “Each generation has the duty to pass on liberty to the next generation. It is not transferred in our DNA.”
Noah Webster in 1832 stated that, “…If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made not for the public good so much as for the selfish or local purposes.”
Our Governing Authority at the city, county, state and/or federal levels regulate everyday life. Our government regulates: homes, vehicles, works places, fuels we use, roads, food and schools, etc. Name something, they don’t regulate.
In the United States the civil authority lies with the citizen’s (We the People) and then it is delegated to government. Christian citizens shall take on this burden of responsibility for its use. It should be a vital and valid ministry of the individual, the pastor, and the church to steward the purpose of government. We must assure that life, liberty, and property are not taken from a citizen without due process of just laws.
Begin reading Scripture with government in mind – public schools (49 million students) and Universities (19 million students); city, state and federal government. Are any of these being overcome by evil?
Romans 12 – 1 Therefore, I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men, 18 if possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
13:1 – “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.”
Q – How are we to be in subjection to governing authorities? Plural
Subjection – The act of subduing; the act of vanquishing and bringing under the dominion of another. The safety of life, liberty, and property depends on our subjection to the laws.
Q – Do you believe God established governing authorities? Would God ordain a human government then tell His people to stay out of it?
We place ourselves in subjection to God’s authority, why would we not want to facilitate a path for governing authorities who have the same mindset to run for office.
13:2 – “Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.”
Ordinance – A rule established by authority; a permanent rule of action. An ordinance may be a law or statute of sovereign power.
Q – How can we oppose the ordinance of God?
13:3 – “For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;”
Q – What does God mean about “good behavior?” and “Do what is good?”
Q – What if we begin to fear our rulers, even when we are in good behavior?
Q – What praise will we have from our rulers?
13:4 – “For it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
God calls this government official a “minister of God.” Twice! (judgement and protection)
Also, God said: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And yet He allows this minister to bear the sword. God said: “leave room for the wrath of God” and He allows this minister to be an avenger who brings wrath. Q – Why does God allow this minister to use His sword and exert His wrath? In the New Testament, did God give anyone else His sword and His wrath?
Minister – An agent appointed to transact or manage business under the authority of another. To attend and serve; to perform service in any office, sacred or secular.
Christians should have a desire to help these, ministers. Psalm 97:2 “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.”
When this minister, this avenger brings wrath on someone, don’t we as Christians want them to implement this wrath according to God’s purpose and not their own purpose? If the Body of Christ has a relationship with these ministers, we can have influence with them to follow God’s will, not their own.
God is sovereign over both church and state, but each have a unique and assigned role as do the ministers within each institution. God says our government officials are ministers, if so, why is the church ready to help every other area of ministry but not this one? They are governing for God’s purpose and by His Word. Governing is the use of God’s authority which protects a person and property, law abiding citizens and to punish those who violate the person or property (citizens) under the civil jurisdiction (Romans 13).
Q – What happens if this minister begins to bear this sword for evil, instead of against evil?
Q – Is it not a legitimate role of the Christian church to assure that governing authority is held to the Biblical standards and limitations of its purpose?
13:5 – “Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’s sake.”
God repeats subjection. Now He states it is necessary. And He adds for “for conscience’s sake.”
Conscience – To know, to be privy to. Consciousness; knowledge of our own actions or thought. Knowledge of the actions of others.
Q – Is this my conscience and/or the ministers conscience? James warns us “To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” James 4:17.
Q – God says these servants are devoted to His will. What if the servant becomes an enemy of God? Do we have a duty to correct this? My conscience tells me YES!
13:6 – “For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.”
Once educated in a BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW and MORALITY, the result is LIBERTY.