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Living the Right-Way in a Left-Way World
Scripture: Romans 13:1-4; I Tim. 2:1-4
There are two extreme positions regarding a Christian's involvement with government: We should not get involved ( II Tim. 2:4 ), “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” The other extreme is where some say it is our duty to create a “Christian nation” wherever we live! Today we will look at our responsibilities in this area.
• Government and the People of God
A. God's Original Plan for His People
1. God established Israel as a “theocracy” in which He would rule the people.
a. But the people rejected that plan and desired to be like the nations around them
1) ( I Sam. 8:4-5, 7 ), “Then the elders of Israel gathered together and came to
Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, ‘Behold, you have grown old, and
your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all
the nations.' … And the Lord said, ‘…they have not rejected you, but they
have rejected Me from being king over them.'”
2) God then warned the people they had not “chosen wisely.” ( vs. 17-18 ), “He
will take 1/10 th of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants.
Then you will cry out in that day because of the king your have chosen for
yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
b. The history of God's people is the history of their king, for the people followed
wherever they led.
1) ( II Kgs. 17:1-2, 6-7 ), “…Hoshea became king over Israel in Samaria, and
reigned nine years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord … In the ninth
year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried away
Israel into exile in Assyria. Now this came about, because the sons of Israel
had sinned against the Lord their God and worshipped other gods.”
2) Thomas Jefferson said, “People get the government they deserve.” So true!!!
B. Government in the New Testament
1. God's people deal with “government” in the Gospels
a. How do we deal with governmental intrusions in our lives?
1) ( Lk. 2:1, 3 ), “Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from
Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth … And all
were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to His own city.”
a) Note the obedience of the people to civil law even when it's
inconvenient (pregnant).
b) ( I Pt. 2:13-14 ), “Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every
human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to
governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers..”
2) Note it is God not Caesar who is in charge (for God is willing to move an
entire population in order to get 3 people to where He needed them).
a) ( Matt. 2:4-6 ), “…Herod began to inquire where the Christ was to be
born. And they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been
written by the prophet, “And you Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no
means least amongst the clans of Judah, for from you shall come forth
a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.”'”
b) So God needed to get Mary & Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem and
He used a king's decree to get them there!
c) Thus we must obey the laws of men, for through them God may be
working His plan!
b. How do we deal with immorality in the government?
1) ( Matt. 14:3-4 ), “When Herod had John arrested, he bound him, and put him
in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John
had been saying, ‘It is not lawful for you to have her'”
2) We must note, John spoke because of Herod's violation of God's Law!
3) Therefore, it is right for God's people to condemn the immoral actions of their
civil leaders.
4) We can speak by; letters to the editor, e-mails to leaders, voting them out, etc.
c. How do we deal with the government's use of authority?
1) ( John 19:10-11 ), “Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Do you not know that I have
authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?' Jesus answered, ‘You
would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given to you from above.'”
2) We must submit to man's rules even when we disagree for God may have a plan, ( I
Pt. 2:21-23 ), “You have been called for this purpose, since Christ Jesus suffered for
you, leaving you an example to follow in His steps; who committed no sin, nor was
any deceit found in His mouth. And while being reviled, He did not revile in return;
while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to the One who
judges righteously.”
3) Review: Obey the government even when it is inconvenient, oppose immorality in
government, accept the government's authority over our lives!
2. God's people deal with “government” in the Book of Acts
a. How do we deal with violations of our religious rights?
1) ( Acts 4:1-3 ), “…then the priests, and the captain of the temple guard, and the
Sadducees came upon them being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the
people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid
hands on them, and put them in Jail until the next day.
2) When given the chance to speak, do not defend yourself but speak for God, ( I Pt.
4:11 ), “Whoever speaks, let him speak as it were, as the oracle of God.”
3) Yet be certain to speak in the manner in which God desires, ( I Pt. 3:15 ), “Sanctify
Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who
asks you to give an account of the hope that lies within you, yet with gentleness and
respect .”
3) Peter makes God's defense, ( Acts 4:8-12 ), “‘Rulers and elders of the people….'”
4) Peter responds to the government's ruling (which also violated their religious rights),
Acts 4:18-20 , “When they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak
or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is
right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God you be the judge.
For we cannot stop speaking what we have both seen and heard!'”
4) We are called to obey the laws of men. But if they are contrary to God's laws – we
must not obey men in violation to the will of God!
b. How do we deal with violations to our civil rights?
1) Paul & Silas are falsely accused, ( Acts 16:22 ), “And the crowd rose up together
against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them, and proceeded to
order them beaten with rods.”
2) After being thrown into prison, Paul demands his rights. ( vs. 37-39 ), “Paul said to
them, ‘They have beaten us in public without a trial, men who are Romans, and have
thrown us into prison; and now they want to send us away secretly? No indeed! But
let them come themselves and bring us out.' And the policemen reported these
words to the chief magistrates. And they were afraid when they heard that they were
Romans, and they came and appealed to them, and when they brought them out, they
kept begging them to leave the city.”
3) God's people have the right to hold the government accountable for any criminal acts
(violations of its own laws)!
c. How do we deal with weak leaders and special interest groups?
1) Paul standing before a weak governor after being unjustly accused by a special
interest group (the Jewish leadership). The governor wanted to hand Paul over to
them which would have meant the death of Paul!
2) Paul's response, ( Acts 25:10-11 ), “Paul said, ‘I am standing before Caesar's
tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also
well know. If then I am an wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death,
I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse
me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.'”
3) Any Roman citizen had the right to appeal directly to Caesar. To protect himself,
Paul did so! Thus, we are called to speak truth to power.
4) Thus, Paul pays Caesar the honor that Peter commands, ( I Pt. 2:17 ), “Honor all men,
love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”
3. If Christians are not to interact with “government,” how come we see them doing it so often?
a. The proconsul of Cyprus, Sergius Paulus. ( Acts 13:7, 12 ), “…the proconsul, a man of
intelligence summoned Saul and Barnabas &sought to hear the word of the Lord … Then the
proconsul believed being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.
b. Another time when Paul was in Corinth, ( Acts 18:12 ), “While Gallio was proconsul in
Achaia [Corinth was the capitol city of the region of Achaia] , the Jews with one accord rose
up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat.”
c. In Ephesus when Paul wanted to enter the Amphitheater to address a mob, ( Acts 19:31 ),
“…some of the Asiarchs [ruling nobles] who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly
urged him not to venture into the theater.””
d. Others include: The governor Felix, King Agrippa, and ultimately, Caesar!
e. Clearly, Christians are not only to interact with the government - but may become part of it
(e.g., Sergius Paulus) !
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Christians are to honor and obey our government officials. We should indeed be the “best” citizens.
2. In those areas where they are in disagreement with God's will, we are to call them on it.
3. Our 1 st responsibility, however, is to God's kingdom, ( Matt. 6:33 ). For we are citizens of heaven, ( Phil.
3:20 ). Our divine mission is to reach world for Jesus and solely be concerned about just one nation, ( Matt.
28:19 )!
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