The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Grace H. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research on "Civil Government"
Government is 100% necessary in our world's present state. With the natural sin within man, the corruption and evil in the world there must be a force to control the chaos. There are hundreds of different beliefs about government, but what the Bible outlines is the best! Romans 13, explains much of how a government should be run according to Biblical standards. It says everyone is subject to governing authority and god has ultimate supremacy over all. In fact it says all government that exists is from God. There is a very high standard required to run a government under God's will. In Ecclesiastes 8:4-5 it says that a good leader is one who keeps His commands, knows no evil, has a wise heart and knows the proper time and just way. Everyone in high positions must remember who is Ruler over them. Daniel 2:21 says that the Lord sets up kings and deposes them. The founding fathers knew their God and based the American government on the Bible. Slowly we are seeing our faith-based country deteriorate into a morally corrupt nation of selfish people. John Adams once said, "Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." All just and moral governments without God are impossible. Because of our sinful nature, no perfect form of government exists. "Democracy is the worst form of government…except for all the others." - Winston Churchill
Civic Responsibility is another thing Christians are called to. God tells us to obey all authority He has set before us with one exception: if the governing authority is telling you to do something against God's will. In Matthew it says, pay taxes…give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." 1 Peter 2:13-17. What would non-Christians think if they saw Christians disobeying the law and said that it was allowed by God? It wouldn't put Christians in a very good light. This is another reason we must obey the law. Acts 5 says to obey God rather than men, but in God's commands He says to follow the ruling authorities, so it is just another way to show our love to Him. Acts 4 tells the story of how Peter and John were denied freedom of speech and arrested. The Holy Spirit gave them words and they were freed. They left jail praying, praising and thanking God. So there is reward when you stand up for what is right, even when defying your government.
We must use our privileges properly. Galatians 5:13-14 says, "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." "But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak" (1 Corinthians 8:9). Lastly, let God handle things. He is all-present and omniscient. He knows what He is doing! Romans 12:18-19 says, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord'".
