We have begun a series we are calling The Christian and Government. We are approaching this in a survey fashion and are not fully developing each principle. Hopefully, this will provide a necessary foundation.

In the previous article, we began to look at 10 principles related to The Christian and Government. We covered the first six principles, and in this piece, we want to complete the final four.

By way of review, the following are the principles we covered last time.
1. Submit to Government Authorities
2. God is the Ultimate Authority
3. Government’s Primary Purpose is to Restrain Evil and Uphold Good
4. Responses to Governing Authorities have Consequences
5. Authorities are God’s Servants
6. Support and Honor are due to Government Authorities

Principle # 7 – Christians are Responsible to Pray for our Governing Authorities

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior. —1 Timothy 2:1-3

The Bible tells us that we are to pray for our leaders. While God has given to us the government, the government is not to be our God. Government leaders are to be supported, but God is the true source.

All manner of prayer is to be made on behalf of our leaders that we may lead lives that are peaceable, godly, and dignified in every way. We must never replace depending on God’s power with depending on political power.

It is easy to complain about our leaders, and typically we do it without praying for them. If we ever come to a place where our conscience demands that we disobey our leaders, it can never be done if we have not first prayed for our leaders.

We must remember that we live in a world with two realms. We don’t wrestle with flesh and blood but demonic powers in the spiritual realm. And we know from Scripture that there are principalities that seek to direct the affairs of nations. While we can and should vote, prayer is the ultimate influence the Christian can wield on behalf of his or her leader and country.

Principle #8 - If Conflicted, God is to be Obeyed Rather than Government

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. —Acts 4:18–22 (NIV84)

In the Book of Acts, the religious leaders of that day attempted to force the disciples of Jesus to stop preaching the Gospel. However, Jesus had directed these disciples to spread the Gospel everywhere they could. The response of Peter and John was that they must obey God rather than human authorities, in other words, civil disobedience. There is another biblical account with three Hebrew youth, that demonstrates civil disobedience can be a Godly response (Daniel 3:3-18).

If what we are asked to do by human authorities conflict with God’s will, we are to “obey God rather than men.” If we are asked to violate our conscience, a conscience controlled by the Scriptures and directed by the Holy Spirit, then we should refuse and, instead, do what God would have us do.

If our conscience toward God requires civil disobedience, Christians must be prepared for and willing to suffer consequences from authorities for such disobedience. We see that was the scenario for the three Hebrew young men in Daniel 3. And the apostles likewise were willing to pay whatever the cost for their disobedience to authorities in order to obey God.

Principle #9 - God Honors Making Appeals to Government Authorities

The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service…. 8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way…. 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” 11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. —Daniel 1:5, 8, 10-16 (NIV84)

There are times when governing authorities require actions and obedience to that which compromises a believer’s conscience. At such times, making an appeal to authorities for an alternative to the edict or directive is viable before God.

Submission respects authorities but submission does not always demand passive compliance. When necessary, appeals can respectfully be made, which God honors.

The appeal may not always be received and with a positive response. But it is an appropriate option. An option to be made with respect but none-the-less to be made.

Principle #10 - American Christians have Dual Citizenship

Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” —Matthew 22:17–21 (ESV)

Jesus responds to His interrogators, who were trying to trap Him, whether God’s people should pay taxes. His response was, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” Jesus, in His reply, revealed that God’s people must be responsible to both the human governments and to God.

American Christians are citizens of God’s Kingdom. Also, they are citizens of the United States of America. American Christians carry dual citizenship.

In America, there is a separation in spheres of authority between the Church (God’s Kingdom) and the government. The constitutional structure in the United States of America does not allow for the state to rule the church or the church to rule the state.

The American Christian must balance the tension of his or her dual citizenship. We must give to our governing authorities what belongs to them in honor and taxes and give to God what belongs to God as the Supreme Creator and our Lord.

Summary

As was mentioned earlier, we have presented a survey of the Christian’s responsibility to the human government and the government’s responsibility to God and society. While not exhaustive, the principles provide a foundation for us. Living by principles can help us think rightly and to process our decision making.

May we all honor and worship God first. May we honor our governing authorities. May we be salt and light in our world. May we advance God’s kingdom. And, let us not be afraid to engage with and influence our culture and society for God so that His kingdom may come and that His will be done earth as it is in heaven!

Richest blessings to you!
Mike