I would suggest that the American citizens should remember that the President is the servant of the People, and he is an elected “citizen”. The problem is that many American politicians think that they are the “authorities that are appointed by God” and the American citizen is their servant. When the second _____ becomes reality, American will cease to exist.
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. NIV (1 Pe 2:13–14)
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. NIV (Ro 13:1–2)
Both of these verses are often quoted by well-meaning Christians as a Biblical mandate to blindly submit to church leaders or US government officials. I would suggest that the historical context of these passages is to be looked and which is form of government was present, the “Emperor”. Nobody voted for the emperor during this time, he was born divine or he killed the last emperor and claimed the power for himself. All of the emperor’s governors were to establish and exercise the will of the supreme authority, that of the Emperor. None of these forms of government that the Apostolic authors are writing about is the form of “government by will of the people”. No form was the American Constitutional form of government. If American Government is the will of the people, then the officials are the servants of the people, there to administer the people’s will. I would venture to say that if someone is still trying to say that we as Christians are to blindly submit to American elected officials because they were elected (even in times when the government is not governing accord to the will of the people), then they may want to consider renouncing their American citizenship and swear allegiance to the English crown. If that is Biblical thinking and of application of scripture they are promoting as current for our Republic form of Government then America should have never of rebelled against the Crown and the “authority that which God has established”. That would mean that America rebelled and was born as a country under judgment of God.
“Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”
I would suggest that American civics needs to be taught again in schools and also to the current government officials, because we the people are the ones responsible for what our government does and we the people are accountable to God for how are government servants behave. Just like a business owner who has an employee that is doing illegal business, if the owner does nothing to fire or discipline the employee, then the owner is also guilty under the law.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. NIV 1 Co 3:11–15
We will have to give an account for all of our words and deeds, and deeds include how we voted. The blood of Jesus covers our sins but that is not the same and “wood hay and stubble that have to go thru the fire of Judgment. I’m not saying we are not to respect and give honor where honor is due, but as American citizens we are the government and when our business employees or our government employees are acting like fools, we have to speak up and correct them or fire them. I would also disagree with the idea that Jesus was never political in his ministry. He blasted the government of that day, that is why they wanted to kill him. Israel’s main form of government at the time was a theocracy and the government of King Herod was only a puppet oversight government for the Roman Empire that was overseen by Pontius Pilot. Jesus publicly blasted the theocracy and their leaders on many occasions, and just one of many examples is Matt 23:13-36. He even calls them a “bunch of snakes” (that didn’t go over to well with the Jewish leaders). Even John the Baptist publicly blasted King Herod for marrying his brother’s wife, and that got John beheaded.
For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Mk 6:18.
The meaning of Romans 13:1-2 and Peter 2:13-14 is not to remain silent and do what ever the government tells you, but not to be a criminal and break God’s law. It always has been a Christian duty to speak out against injustice and breaking of God’s law. As an example, if and when the US government makes and enforces the law that makes it illegal to say that homosexuality is a sin and that the church is required to perform same-sex marriage, then the church will have to break the “ungodly law” and continue to preach the truth. My main point is that well-meaning Christians that are American citizens misuse these and a few more verses to say that all Christians should not criticize or speak out against any officials of the US government, including the President. My argument to their misapplication of Scripture is that they are using Scripture as justification to neglect the responsibility of their American citizenship, which is to keep our government honest, God-fearing, and submitted to Gods will. It is Jesus that charged his disciples to “therefore go and make disciples of all nations,” (and that includes the USA) “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Mt 28:19-20 (NIV) Pray for the American citizens in government, and teach them to obey Jesus. That is our Christian and American duty. Grace and peace to you.
Tony Nobles Ministry 