The year 2020 has definitely been a year for the record books. From a pandemic to riots in the streets, from social justice being shouted in every metropolis to a very polarized presidential election, nobody with a pulse can deny how uncharacteristic this year has been. Because of all this, there are Christians out there asking “what do we do with now?”
While we wait for the
much-anticipated outcome of the presidential election, we ponder what the world
will be like once finalized. The argument can be made that the pandemic, social
justice, and riots will all be solved or made worse depending on who ends up
sitting in the Oval Office.
Though already on a downward moral
and spiritual spiral, the conclusion of the election could potentially cause
America to spiral further, and possibly faster. If our government turns to tyrannical
rule, a socialist / Marxist pre-cursor, or worse, we are left as
Christ-followers wondering about our voice, our place, and ultimately our
action, if necessary.
As a Christian, how should I interact
with my government? Though America is much different than much of the world due
to democracy and our many freedoms, I am a Christian before I am an American. And
the Bible does not differentiate between how I should relate to my government,
whether a democracy or a dictatorship. In fact, Scripture essentially only
outlines that relationship with ‘government’ in a higher sense.
Passages like Romans 13:1-7 and I
Peter 2:13-15 seem to be very clear on this matter: submit to authority, for going
against them is essentially going against what God has determined to be in
place. Do what they say.
But what about tyranny? What about
me losing my freedom? What if they government goes against the Founding Fathers
and eventually does away with church, religion, prayer, and the like? Do I draw
the line in my submission to authority somewhere, or do I fight back, even if
it means picking up arms and going to war?
I think Pastor John Macarthur sums
up these two passages and answers my follow-up questions rather well, in his
article Can Christians Participate in Civil Disobedience?
“We believe the Scripture teaches
that we are to submit to government even if that government does not function
entirely (or ever primarily) by biblical principles (Romans 13:1-7). That
principle is explicit in Peter’s message to servants (I Peter 2:18-19), which
directly follows his more general comments regarding government (I Peter 2:13-17).
And that epistle teaches the same thing over and over again in varied ways: Submit
even if you suffer, because in doing so you identify with Christ and are
blessed (cf. I Peter 2:21-24; 3:1-2; 4:12-14; 5:9-10). There are times when we
must obey God rather than men, but we believe that we should disobey the
authorities only if they command us to do something directly against God’s law
(e.g. Acts 5:29 and its surrounding context).
“So we believe that civil
disobedience is justified only when government compels us to sin, or when there
is no legal recourse for fighting injustice. The reason we draw the line there is
simply because all the scriptural examples of civil disobedience fall squarely
into those two situations. Any other kind of activism has no precedent in the
Word of God and violates the spirit of Romans 13 and I Peter 2.”
Again, I am a Christian before I
am an American. So essentially my freedoms are not something to fight for, but to
be blessed with. My role is to become more like Christ, to love like He did,
and shine that into the world around me.
All that said, though, in the
context of democracy and freedom of speech, even a Christian is given the right
to speak out on matters and vote when necessary. These are freedoms we should
take advantage of as long as we are allotted. But when those freedoms are taken
away, we are taught to submit and suffer.
If the American government decides
to allow the LGBQ+ community to marry one another, give one skin pigmentation
certain rights over another, or level the economic playing field via socialism,
then my responsibility is to submit. If that same government decides to abolish
organized religion, demolish all religious buildings, and throw those in prison
who worship only God and pray openly in His name, then I continue to serve Him,
no matter the earthly consequences.
But then given the divided nature
of this election and how lines are being drawn, the 2nd Amendment
and rumors of potential civil war and unrest begin to circulate. According to
John Macarthur’s article What does the Bible say about war? Is there ever a
just reason for it? the Christian is permitted to participate in “just war”
(https://www.gty.org/library/questions/QA65/what-does-the-bible-say-about-war-is-there-ever-a-just-reason-for-it).
A “just war” is justified on three main supports: 1) God considers human life
precious; 2) God commands protection of human life; and 3) God commissioned
government to punish evildoers.
I Peter 2:13-14 indicates “that
God gives governments the responsibility of carrying out punishment on those
who commit deadly atrocities—like those perpetrated on September 11. And that
responsibility includes waging war when necessary against nations or groups
that carry out such actions.”
So if a new Hitler arises in
America and begins murdering image-bearers of God, the government has a right and
responsibility to retaliate, and the Christian has a right to participate in
that military response. But what if the government is ‘Hitler’? I think especially
in the United States, the people are in charge of the government, and given the
2nd Amendment and a well-regulate militia may have the right in
certain circumstances to also organize and retaliate.
This area gets grey when we talk about
something like abortion though. If the killing of unborn children, also
image-bearers of God, is legalized by the government, do we as Christian’s have
a right and necessity to retaliate against the government and / or
organizations that are legalizing, normalizing, and helping in this atrocious act?
My own thought on this matter, right or wrong, is that the government legalizing
it does not mean you are forced to do it – if forced, one should obviously go
against it. This matter is then left in the hands of the individual – and a
sinner who has the opportunity and desire to do this can do so legally – and the
Christian’s response is to do everything in their power to stop it.
In summary, we submit to our
governing authorities, unless that authority contradicts God’s holy law.
We do not wage war against any government unless it is in justified defense of
image-bearers of God, and that is done in an organized, regulated governmental
sort of fashion.
[Note: I realize this rambling
does not discuss self-defense, including and especially lethal self-defense.
That is a similar yet different topic. Quickly put though, I think the Bible allows
for the carrying of lethal weapons and the use of those in the case of self-defense
matching force-with-force.]
Source Articles:
Can
Christians Participate in Civil Disobedience? (gty.org)
The
Christian's Responsibility to Government, Part 1 (gty.org) (Parts 2-4 are
also on gty.org)
What
does the Bible say about war? Is there ever a just reason for it? (gty.org)
