"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. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." - Romans 13:1-2
The old cliché seems appropriate: two things we are never supposed to talk about at family gatherings – religion and politics. Yet nowadays those things feel like the only thing anyone is talking about. Perhaps that is to be expected in a presidential election year, but this isn’t limited to only this year. Politics has become a standard conversation piece that has served to disrupt a great many family – and other – gatherings. Even among believers, politics can be a very sore subject and lead to breakdowns of relationships. Politics have gone so far as to sever a great many families, as well as far too many of what had been friendships.
Today, in our world, you are either a liberal or a conservative – and over recent years, the divide between them has seemingly grown wider and wider and wider. If you are one, you hate the other and can’t for the life of you understand how the other believes what they do. “Are they blind?!? Can’t they see how wrong they are??”
Society has even resorted to labels and name-calling. Right-wing. Left wing. Both are intended to be derogatory labels aimed at dismissing the opinions and viewpoints of the person so labeled. Christian nationalist, woke, racist, socialist, fascist, communist. All terms with the same double-sided intent to insult and dismiss.
But where exactly does – should – the church fit into all of this? Unfortunately, there seems to be a growing trend – no, fully grown and getting perhaps worse, if that’s possible – to tie religion into the context of politics and to assume one’s politics based on one's faith. Yet, is that as it should be? Have we been called to political activism? Religion and politics aren’t supposed to mix – but does that old formula still hold true? Should one have political views that are outside of their Christian or Biblical beliefs? No, absolutely not.
On the other hand, can one’s liberal political theology keep them from turning their hearts towards Jesus Christ? Yes, there certainly are those whose political activism and political viewpoints will keep them from even considering the truth of the Bible – precisely because their political views might then have to change.
But is all of this as it should be? Is this what Jesus taught?
A Biblical Perspective
One of the first truths we learn as Christian believers is that nothing is outside of the purview of God. Nothing. In his letter to the Romans, Paul tells us:
"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. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." - Romans 13:1-2
“There is no authority except that which God has established.” When Paul wrote those words, Nero was the emperor and as evil as they come. In fact, Nero ultimately would put Paul to death. Yet, Paul still held that God himself had established Nero’s authority.
Throughout Biblical history, God used people such as Nero – Nebuchadnezzar, Pontius Pilate, Herod, and the Pharaoh during the time of Moses. Daniel too taught that God controlled the leaders of the world’s nations:
"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. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." - 2:21
“‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people." - 4:17
This truth ought to paint a reality for all believers that politics is nothing more than a method God uses to accomplish his will. Yes, evil men will abuse their political power and conduct evil, but even this God uses for his own purposes. (Romans 8:28) God’s message throughout Scripture is that he is sovereign over all things. All things. As followers of Christ, we must hold on to the deep belief that God places people – even non-believers – and puts them in positions of power to fulfill his will. Not ours – his.
Is there any reason that we should believe that this truth does not apply to all countries – including the United States? We may choose to believe that we are “one nation under God” – but that is from a human perspective, not God’s. The Old Testament directives for governance were intended for the nation of Israel - and the only nation under God was Israel. Every nation in history has sought to be “under God” and have God’s approval – each with the desire to be able to say “God is with us.”
We must recognize that our government – any government - cannot save us. Only God can do that. Do we really believe we can legislate against any sin and make everything okay? Change people’s hearts? If people will rebel against the laws of God, why would the laws of man be any different? Not one person would be saved through a change of behavior as a result of legislation. Not one.
God’s plans for this country are going to happen—regardless of what we believe, say, or do. Last I checked, the United States was not mentioned in the Book of Revelation. God’s plan may not be for the US to exist beyond our generation.
But what should be our role?
Dual Citizenship
There is no doubt that we must recognize that, as believers, we possess dual citizenship. We are first – and foremost – citizens of God’s kingdom. We also are citizens of a sovereign nation – the United States. But never the twain shall meet. Our roles as the former must always surpass and supersede the latter.
Yes, we have a responsibility to our governing authorities to obey the laws and to be good citizens. (Romans 13:1-8) We certainly have a responsibility to vote for our values – voting for candidates who appear the most moral, honest, and ethical of the candidates and who support our Christian values. If called to serve in a political position, we ought to do so with integrity.
"Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor." - 1Peter 2:13-15
But we must never forget that our first and foremost responsibility is to our Lord as citizens of the kingdom of God. The apostles never called for civil disobedience – quite the opposite. Instead, we were called to proclaim the Gospel message and to live our lives as clear evidence of the transformative power of knowing Jesus Christ.
Let’s be honest, too – the teachings of Jesus do not fit very well with keeping with governance of a nation. What we are called to as believers – love your enemies, turn the other cheek, the first shall be last, and so many more – do not work for the governance of a nation that wishes to remain sovereign.
On the other hand, there are some who call themselves believers who will either dismiss the Bible’s teachings on things such as abortion and gay marriage or will listen to those who choose to re-interpret the teachings to fit into what they want to believe. They will choose to listen to what their itching ears want to hear.
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3)
Of course, a liberal, progressive ideology will too often keep people from even considering the truth of the Gospel message, dismissing faith in Jesus. They would rather hold onto their deeply held political and social beliefs rather than even consider the truth of the Gospel. Their ideological stances against deeply held Christian values keep them willfully blind. Their politics are more important to them than believing the truth.
When believers think the mission of the Church can somehow be allied with the government or governmental policy, they are gravely mistaken. Too often, as a result, people turn away from God rather than toward him.
On the other hand, a liberal, progressive ideology will too often keep people from even considering the truth of the Gospel message, dismissing faith in Jesus. They would rather hold onto their deeply held political and social beliefs rather than even consider the truth of the Gospel.
The Challenge of Politics
Politics will always be a challenging issue for Christians. We are in this world, but not of this world.
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them." - 1 John 2:15
God came to establish a literal kingdom with literal values and a literal king. He asks us to decide – are you going to be a part of my kingdom, or part of an earthly kingdom?
We live here as citizens, and we should live as good citizens. We should submit to the ruling authorities because that’s what God has asked us to do. But this is not our home. The president is not my king. My king is Jesus Christ and I follow what he teaches me to do and how he teaches me to live and behave.
We need to think through this choice using one simple filter. What would Jesus’ response be if he stepped into our culture today? In his day, Jesus was immersed in the conflict between the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the Romans and the Zealots. He was constantly being pressured by all these different groups – the liberals and conservatives of his time. But he stubbornly refused to be associated with any of them. Instead, he talked about the kingdom of God – and only the kingdom of God.
Do you really think he would do anything different in our culture? If he walked into our world and a Democrat and Republican tried to trap him – do you really think he would take sides?
We will not always agree with all elected officials – but whether we voted for them or not, we still must show them respect and are called to pray for our leaders in office. When was the last time you prayed for a sitting president you had not voted for?
Ultimately, we are to be far more concerned with things of God rather than things of the world. As followers of Christ, we are all members of the same eternal party—one that will far outlast both the Republicans and the Democrats.
In the meantime, what do you think might happen if, rather than through politics and legislation, we chose to impact our nation by changing hearts? Laws have never saved anyone – heart given to Jesus…well, saves all.
If we changed—if we lived lives as Jesus calls us to do—then we could help others change. Then they could help someone change, and so on. We could have an enormous impact and effect true change—one heart at a time.
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