Presumptuous and Profane

The Bible claims God gives political power to whom He pleases, “even to the basest of men.” He “removes kings and installs kings” to accomplish His purposes, including rulers we may find objectionable. When we assume that certain politicians should hold governmental power we trespass on God’s prerogative. This is especially problematic in Western-style democracies.

This problem is acute because churches, ministries, and individual believers have immersed themselves in partisan politics, declaring which candidate or political party God has chosen to hold elected office.

[Caracalla - Photo by Ian Noble on Unsplash]

I am not opposed to believers voting. It is the name-calling and disrespect shown toward elected officials by “Christian” partisans who presume to know the will of God that I find objectionable. It is not always easy to show proper respect. Political power only rarely attracts honorable men.

Nor am I advocating blind obedience to government dictates. My concern is our presumption, hypocrisy, and impiety, especially when dehumanizing the “other guy.” Like their pagan counterparts, “Christian” partisans point to the alleged immorality, anti-biblical policies, and the occasional shedding of innocent blood by the other side, but turn a blind eye to the alleged immorality, anti-biblical policies, and the occasional shedding of innocent blood by “their guy.” Partisanship breeds hypocrisy.

Be that as it may, Paul taught believers to respect magistrates, obey the emperor and his officers, and pay their taxes. Existing authorities “have been arranged by God,” therefore, anyone who opposes them opposes the “arrangement of God” - (Romans 13:1-7).

We agree with Paul’s guidelines when we approve of the government that currently has power. However, when we disapprove, we invent loopholes in the Apostle’s words. For example, the New Testament Greek scholar, A.T. Robertson, commented in his Word Picture in the New Testament that:

• “Paul is not arguing for the divine right of kings or for any special form of government, but for government and order. Nor does he oppose here revolution for a change of government, but he does oppose all lawlessness and disorder.”

Nothing in Paul’s words allows for violent revolution, which, if anything, is the exact opposite of “law and order.” If we take it upon ourselves to advocate for a “change of government,” we are, in fact, “opposing the arrangement of God.”

How do we know He has approved OUR choice? If He does wish a certain man or woman to hold office, how do we know why and what His purpose is? For all we know, He intends to use that person as an instrument of judgment on the nation or the Church.

Not coincidentally, the passage in Romans follows Paul’s exhortation not to take vengeance into our own hands. We must not “render to any man evil for evil.” We are summoned to leave judgment and justice in the hands of God. We must “not be overcome by evil, but instead, overcome evil with good.” Yet we feel justified in taking vengeance on our political opponents by publicly disrespecting and defaming them – (Romans 12:17-21).

We must not read modern democratic ideas into the Apostle’s words. When he wrote his passage about the State, Christians had few, if any, civil “rights.” They had no “right” or ability to elect their political overlords or influence Roman policies.

The Roman government did not recognize Christianity as a legal religion, and the emperor was no champion of democracy or religious liberty. Nevertheless, Paul warned the churches of Rome that resistance to the government constituted opposition to God’s “arrangement.” Moreover, he wrote this when Nero ruled Rome.

BAD RULERS

Attempts to weaken or twist Paul’s are problematic. The Empire was ruled by Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (reigned A.D. 54-68), one of the most despotic emperors in Roman history, a man who murdered his mother, kicked his pregnant wife to death, and became the first emperor to persecute the church in Rome. Later Roman historians unanimously condemn his memory.

Yet Paul summoned believers to honor and obey THAT man’s government and to respect his appointed magistrates. To insist on replacing Nero with another emperor more to the church’s liking would be presumptuous. Disrespecting and maligning his representatives would be profane and impious, the rejection of and contempt for the “arrangement of God.”

Paul was arguing on Scriptural grounds. The Book of Daniel, for example, began by declaring that God GAVE Jerusalem and the “vessels of the house of God” into the “HAND of Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon,” the same pagan autocrat who would destroy the Kingdom of Judah and the Temple of Yahweh – (Daniel 1:1).

No patriotic Israelite would have elected Nebuchadnezzar as king. Nevertheless, with this very king in mind, Daniel praised God as the one who “removes kings and sets up kings.” As he announced to Nebuchadnezzar, - “You are the king of kings, for the God of Heavens has GIVEN YOU the kingship.”

Neither the form of government nor the nefarious schemes of world rulers can derail His plans. The downfall of dozens of great empires throughout history demonstrates that He can remove them when God pleases.

History demonstrates eloquently that no political ideology or government lasts. All monarchies, democracies, despots, and tyrants fall sooner or later, but according to His time and in His way.

When we declare that God is opposed to a politician we despise, how do we know that is, in fact, true? Just because a political candidate is “good” to our way of thinking does not mean God has chosen him to hold power. God uses good men as well as evil men.

Despite its abuses, the Roman Empire did several things that paved the way for the expansion of the Gospel, including building empire-spanning roads and shipping routes - infrastructure that benefited the missionary efforts of Paul and the early Church.

The fact that God used King Nebuchadnezzar and the Roman emperors to achieve His plans and called His people to submit respectfully to their authority should caution us against presuming to know whom God wishes to run the government. Should we not show governing authorities respect since they wield power at God’s discretion?

Rather than malign politicians, we are called to proclaim the Gospel and the “Kingdom of God” to all nations, not to work for “perishing meat.” None of the existing political powers, ideologies, and parties will exist after the return of Jesus.

We are summoned for something higher, holier, and more enduring than partisan politics. Can we not rise above, or do we prefer to behave as the rest of the world does? Does the Bible not encourage us to strive for HOLINESS?

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