The topic of governance is such a contentious one that the typical Christian has chosen a side assumed by the majority to be true, without knowing it’s likely opposite to the one held by the Lord Jesus and the apostles, with the early church, and taught by scriptures. This has been empowered by the modern concept of democracy which was previously unknown.
In this time when citizens feel that their expectations should be met by their governments, have you ever found out: what is the purpose of government? If God has a view about governments, does it match that of the majority of the Church today? After all, if God is the one who puts governments in place, He should know why He did.
READ ALSO: LUXURY (PART 1)
Who Chooses Leaders?
The books of Romans and Daniel assert that God appoints governing authorities and those who resist them will face judgment.
Romans 13:1-2 – Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Daniel 5:21 – He was driven from human society, his mind was changed to that of an animal, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky until he came to understand that the Most High God rules over human kingdoms, and He appoints over them whomever He wishes.
Even before His people had a king, God had already laid down commands of what the chosen king should do when he began his rule, according to Deuteronomy 17:18-20. The kings of Israel who observed this command enjoyed God’s favor and prosperity. David and his son Solomon are prime examples of this, until Solomon’s heart turned away from God. From these passages, it’s clear that God has ultimate control and is in charge of everything. He is the one who puts governments in place, and He expects them to promote fairness and justice.
READ ALSO: WHO’S THE JUDGE?
God’s Expectations of Governments
2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
Exo 18:21 Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens
Deut 16:18-20 Judges and officers shall you make in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, throughout your tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. You shall not pervert judgment; you shall not show partiality, neither take a bribe: for a bribe does blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
Psalm 82:3-4 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Caring for the poor and punishing the wicked is obviously at the top of the list. Doing magic is not. While we will keep thinking more on this, can you go check if your government leaders, federal or state, have helped the poor and punished the evil? As you know, this can only be measurable in degrees.
Thus, a president or governor will be judged by God to the degree they sought to help the weak and punish those who do harm to others. Not based on how much they met some particular group’s desires.
Some leaders do much and some do little.
By next week I will give you more to think about with examples from David’s ‘glorious reign’ but for now, is it possible you judge government by a standard different from God’s?
READ ALSO: WHAT ARE GOVERNMENTS FOR (PART 2)