According to Romans 13:1-5, all human authority and government comes from God. They are His ministers for our good and to maintain a civilized society. All citizens, including Christians, are called to submit to our human authorities, regardless of their political affiliation.
Whether you are a Demomacrat or Republican or Independent in your political views, the United States President, Vice President, members of Congress, military, and all the way down to our local mayor and police officers demand our honor, respect, and obedience. Anyone who criticizes, disrespects, or rebells against their authority is rebelling against God Himself.
Does that mean that all government leaders are morally good people, free from corruption, and perfect in all their actions? Not always.
That is why our prayers for them are so important. As we continually pray for our government leaders, whether good or bad, God will hear our prayers and intervene in their lives. God will use our prayers to sustain and uphold the good leaders, and bring down the bad ones. The Bible tells us:
“the Most High [God almighty] rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He will…” – Daniel 4:17
“He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.” – Daniel 2:21
Therefore, as law-abiding Christians and citizens of our country, it is not our job to criticize, disrespect, or utter bitter complaint or vehement denunciation of leaders we don’t like. We are simply called to pray and allow God time to do His job of personally dealing with our civil authorities. If He has to, God will remove the corrupt leaders who are misusing or abusing their authority, and replace them with new and better leaders.
Accountability
Government leaders should have a sense of accountability before God. They must understand that it is God Himself who has placed them in their position of authority and they are expected to do what is right. If they don’t, God Himself will also judge them and expose their wickedness.
Human and biblical history is full of examples of kings and other leaders that were cut off by God and suffered terrible shame for the crimes they committed while in political office. By contrast, God also praised many of them for doing a good job and promoted them to even higher positions of authority.
High Personal Standards
In order for leaders to stay in power, their personal life must reflect high moral standards that are above reproach. The Bible says, “He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God” (2 Samuel 23:3).
Those leaders who disrespect God and abuse their positions of authority will eventually incur God’s judgment and lose their authority. God will not be mocked; whatsoever a man sows, he will reap (Galatians 6:7).
It is true that, in our own American government, there have been numerous examples of past political leaders who became liars and cheaters, took bribes, committed adultery, blasphemed God, and corrupted their authority. Yet in the long run, they reaped the wrongdoing that they sowed and their evil deeds were brought to the light.
A president or prime minister who does these things may think they are getting away without retribution, but God who sees all that is done in darkness, will not allow it to continue for very long. The day of God’s reckoning will eventually come. They will be judged guilty and suffer the consequences. The Bible tells us that law enforcement authorities are the “ministers of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Romans 13:4). No one is exempt from God’s wrath when they break the law, not even the law makers themselves.
The Bible exhorts Christians to pray for those who are in authority – that they would do their job righteously and create a society where all men, especially Christians, can live in peace and godliness and continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men, for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Put not all your trust in princes
At the same time, we should not be naive and believe that all politicians can be trusted. There will always be some politicians (princes) who become intoxicated with their power after coming into office and misuse that power.
This world is permeated by sin and corruption and the pressure of doing evil in our society today is almost insurmountable. But when Jesus Christ returns He will destroy the wickedness from the earth and restore all righteousness. Until Jesus returns, all we can do is restrain the evil in the world through our prayers and by electing political leaders who share our moral convictions, respect of God’s laws, and have a sincere interest in maintaining a lawful and equitable society for all people.
At the same time, when we elect politicians who fail us, let us not be discouraged. Remember that We have a hope for a better world at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will never fail us.
“Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish.
Happy is he who has the God of Israel for his help, whose hope is in the Jehovah his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and widow;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
The Lord shall reign forever—
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 146:3-10)
Beloved, let’s never get tired of doing what is good because at the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing, if we don’t give up.
– Luis Joseph Castle
HEALTH, HEALING & FAITH MINISTRIES
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#PrayingForOurGovernment #GodlyLeadership #SubmissionToAuthority
A 6.1 earthquake shook Mexico again today, affecting already damaged homes, highways and bridges in Oaxaca.
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