The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Katie P. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research - Civil Government
"Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." (Romans 13:1)
In a time where we may not be pleased with the government, or the people representing it, it’s very important to remember that God is in control of everything. Everything that happens is all a part of his plan, no matter what we think or feel. God’s plan in much bigger than our own.
Over the past few months with the election and the inauguration, I have heard a lot of good and bad comments made about Obama, McCain and even Bush. I tend to hear more bad than good. Many of these comments are made by people who claim to be Christian. Of course, I have my own opinion, one that isn’t relevant to this paper, so I won’t state it, but an opinion none the less. I can understand the need to share it. But what makes me sad, angry and frustrated is how people trash the men and women who were placed in the government. It really doesn't matter whether or not you like Obama, he is the president of the United States of America, and he deserves our respect. Even though McCain didn't win, and you might not have agreed with his policies, he still fought hard, and is still a senator and he still deserves respect.
I have heard so many people make some really awful comments about people in government, then turn around and proclaim Christianity. It's so frustrating to me, because Paul devotes an entire chapter in Romans to subjecting to the government. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves - Romans 13:2. Jesus speaks on the same subject in the gospels, "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21)
Even though we might not like who the president is or was, he is still the man that God placed in the office. "For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." And he should be respected and supported by the nation. That doesn’t mean that we have to agree with all his opinions and policies - this is America not Communist Russia. It does mean that we are supposed to give him our respect and loyalty, for no other reason than he is the man that God placed in office.
As Christians, we are told to reflect the light of Christ to the world. The best way to start doing that is following God's commandments. Showing support for someone we don’t necessarily agree with is probably one of the hardest things to do. But God gives us these instructions for a reason. We need to stand behind our country, especially now in these hard times. We have to be united. We have to return to being one nation, under God.
