Let us “boldly go where no man has gone before” and discover how a Christian should relate with the government. Now let me get my tongue out of my cheek to assure you that it takes a life-time of walking with Jesus and letting God's Word refine and purify if we wish to learn how to actively honor, pray for, and relate with the government that rules over us. Consider the following principles.
Pray. Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2:1-4. If a follower of Jesus wishes to engage in God's work of redemption in the lives of others, to see the reality of godliness, reverence, salvation, and the knowledge of the truth, then pray for kings (Presidents) and all who are in authority. One vote means something in a nation of 300 million, but a life dedicated to communion with the Creator of those 300 million? Ah, what power! What authority!
Submit. Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. Romans 13:1-3. Yes, I have sometimes wondered why “Courtesy. Professionalism. Respect.” remains the byline of the NYPD, but even when a follower of Jesus does not feel respected by governing authorities, we are called to respect them and be subject to them.
If the State asks you to disobey God, don't do it. We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29. We are called to love our enemies. If the State calls us to kill, we obey God, not men. We are called to speak the truth in love. If the state tells us to call evil “good,” or good “evil,” we obey God, not men. We know that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If the state tells us not to preach the truth, we obey God before men. Sure, we are in the world, but we are not of the world. We can do more to change the world by leading an individual to believe in Jesus Christ and actively follow Jesus, than we can by trying desperately to revise or change or influence the government. Which ticket is God on? Republican? Democrat? God is the Supreme Ruler over all. Follow Him! While writing a letter to the President or a Senator or a Congressman can be good, never forget that communion with the Supreme Ruler on their behalf is to be done first of all.
Pray. Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2:1-4. If a follower of Jesus wishes to engage in God's work of redemption in the lives of others, to see the reality of godliness, reverence, salvation, and the knowledge of the truth, then pray for kings (Presidents) and all who are in authority. One vote means something in a nation of 300 million, but a life dedicated to communion with the Creator of those 300 million? Ah, what power! What authority!
Submit. Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. Romans 13:1-3. Yes, I have sometimes wondered why “Courtesy. Professionalism. Respect.” remains the byline of the NYPD, but even when a follower of Jesus does not feel respected by governing authorities, we are called to respect them and be subject to them.
If the State asks you to disobey God, don't do it. We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29. We are called to love our enemies. If the State calls us to kill, we obey God, not men. We are called to speak the truth in love. If the state tells us to call evil “good,” or good “evil,” we obey God, not men. We know that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If the state tells us not to preach the truth, we obey God before men. Sure, we are in the world, but we are not of the world. We can do more to change the world by leading an individual to believe in Jesus Christ and actively follow Jesus, than we can by trying desperately to revise or change or influence the government. Which ticket is God on? Republican? Democrat? God is the Supreme Ruler over all. Follow Him! While writing a letter to the President or a Senator or a Congressman can be good, never forget that communion with the Supreme Ruler on their behalf is to be done first of all.
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