The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Brooke R. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research - Civil Government
The role of civil government is often a controversial topic among Christians. Some feel in violation of their conscience when paying taxes, knowing that some tax dollars are used to fund abortion. Others believe they must disobey a government mandate for public education and decide to home school. But what does the Bible have to say about the government's role in relation to its Christian constituents? Romans 13 gives a number of points that are relevant to this question.
Romans 13:1-7: "Everyone must submit himself 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, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
Paul effectively answers many questions on the topic of civil government in this passage. It is clear that we are to obey the government, because its authorities were established by God, and are God's servants. In essence, we are to obey government as an indirect form of obedience to God. God has given the role of punisher to the government; it is their role, and not ours, to give penalties for civil infractions. Also addressed in this passage are those who are afraid of the government. Paul says that doing what is right will be commended, and that those who do not have good reason to fear. However, it is important to note that it is said to do "right"—not necessarily to obey the government. Although in most cases the two coincide, there are some cases in which government and God conflict.
Daniel 3:1-19: "King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold…Then the herald loudly proclaimed, '…you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up….' Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, '…O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.' Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed."
Acts 4:18-20: "Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'"
Acts 5:28-30: "'We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,' he said. 'Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching…' Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must obey God rather than men!...'"
In these passages, the government had mandated something that directly opposed an order from God. And in each case, the subjects had chosen to resist the government rather than God. However, they did have to suffer the consequences of their actions, although God sometimes saved them. In Daniel, the three men were thrown into a blazing furnace yet remained unharmed. But in Acts, the apostles were whipped for their disobedience. Look at their response to the reprimand in Acts 5:41-42: "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."
We are not told to retaliate when we are unfairly treated. Romans 12:14-22 says: "Bless those who persecute you…Live in harmony with one another…Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath…On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink…' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
As Christians, there may be times where we, as the apostles did, must obey God rather than government. But we must remember who we truly belong to. Philippians 3:20: "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…" A perfect example of what our mind-set should be is given in Philippians 2:5-8: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!"
The Bible tells us to obey the government, as it was established by God. However, in areas where the government's policies come into conflict with God's laws, we are to give our allegiance to Christ, knowing that our true citizenship is in Heaven.
