What about obeying the government?

Exodus 39; Proverbs 15; John 18; Philippians 2

Some Christians claim that God will not allow them to experience a plague. They quote Scripture and continue to meet in large numbers. In contrast, a friend said that we trust God yet wear a bicycle helmet, drive the speed limit, take our vitamins and so on. God promises protection but is it okay to play in traffic? One of the devil’s temptations to Jesus encouraged Him to jump off the top of the temple because angels wouldn’t let Him be injured. Jesus replied that this was putting God to the test.

God’s people, me included, need to remember that God’s protection goes hand in hand with obedience including this passage:

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (Romans 13:1–2)

God is sovereign. That covers all authorities, even those we don’t like. Agreeing with separation of church and state does not include ignoring political authority during this crisis. That attitude is deadly.

My hubby once took a course called “Christ and Government” which suggests there is much to consider on this topic. I am challenged to think more deeply by this passage:

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. (John 18:33–38)

The kingdom of God is not like those of the world. It is not defined by boundaries. It has no flag or logos. Its citizens are not governed by military might, nor according to how much money they donate to their current political party. Jesus’ kingdom is about allegiance to Him and having a personal relationship with Him. All our ‘laws and rules’ are in the Bible.

My devotional book offers additional thoughts. It says that Jesus’ servants will not fight to advance His kingdom the way the kingdoms of this world achieve success — using military drive or human armies. Apparently, Pilate believed at least this part of what Jesus was saying, and therefore saw him as no political threat . . . . But this does not mean that Jesus is making no claim whatsoever with respect to the kingdoms of this world. He insists He is King Jesus, even if His source of authority is not in this world, and His servants will not defend Him by resorting to arms. However, the time will come when all will acknowledge that He alone is Lord of lords and King of kings and all the kingdoms of this world are destined to become His.

How does this work in a practical sense? Again, my heart says to obey those in authority, not because I trust them, but because I trust the One who tells me to do it.

What if they order something contrary to the Lord’s commands? The Bible answers that also. The authorities were worried that the Gospel would spread so they decided to warn the disciples:

So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:17–20)

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:27–29)

APPLY: Pay close attention to both the Bible and governing authorities. This could mean the difference between life or death even as God gives me a means to stay alive at this time. I am a citizen of heaven living as an ambassador for Jesus in a worldly kingdom. As long as I’m here, I’m to trust Jesus and obey His Word, especially concerning those in authority.

Christ had no problem with submission . . .

Generally, I first read the suggested passage of Scripture. As I think about it, I then read the focus verse in my devotional guide, then the author’s comments on the passage. Sometimes God speaks to me so clearly in the first step that I skip the next two and write from the thoughts He put in my heart. Today is a combination of all three.

The topic is the Christian mind. I’m thinking of the mind of Christ at the same time because God gives that to His children and I need to learn how to think as Christ thinks. The Word of God guides me in the process.

For the past few days, the devotional booklet discussed how Christians should think about authority. In that regard, the passage today, 1 Timothy 2:1–15, touches on several important areas of my life.

Government: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

In the part of the world where I live, it seems normal for people to complain about the government. However, Christians who submit to the authority of God and His Word must not do that. God wants me to pray for our leaders. It pleases Him. It is also important to the advance of the gospel. How foolish for me to think that grumbling about political matters has nothing to do my spiritual life when it actually is refusing to think with the mind of Christ.

Gospel: It was hard to pick a word that describes this passage. God is my authority; His Word is my authority; the truth of the Gospel also has authority in my life, so I picked the last one: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.”

The world around me thinks that there are many gods, or they assume there are many ways to be saved, all of them involving something we do. Unless a person believes in Christ, they assume living a good life is sufficient, but even some Christians think that those of other religions will “be okay” if they live decently. The Gospel says otherwise. Submitting to the Gospel is not very popular, even among those who profess to believe it. Yet saying no to it is the same as saying no to God.

Biblical world view: While world vies is not exactly an authority, God’s Word presents God’s view about what is true and right and good. These few verses touch on some values: “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.”

How many men put prayer at the top of their priority list? How many women think that they are the most beautiful when they display self-control, godliness, and are doing good things for others? God values these things. This is the mind of Christ and it ought to be at the forefront of my mind too.

Marriage: This one is a hot button in our culture too. “Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.”

For many women, submission is a swear word, but it is so misunderstood, not only by women but also by men who use it to be the “bossy boss” and even abusive in their households. The best way I’ve understood it (so far) is that submission in marriage is supposed to look like the relationship (in its most ideal state) between the Bridegroom Jesus Christ and His bride — those who believe in Him. In my own experience with that relationship, I must say that when I am in harmony with Jesus, I am never happier, more content, more productive or blissful. God put His Son in authority over me because I cannot handle sin, life, obedience, the tough stuff, or anything else without Him. While He is not asking quite the same between me and my hubby, the more we choose that ideal, the more glorious our life together is.

Christians are challenged by the world regarding our attitude toward authority. The rest of the world thinks submission is unrealistic (to use the nicest term). Even some of God’s people resist what God asks of us. If anyone wants to think with the mind of Christ, a good place to start is praying for those in government. If all of us would do that, and if we would confess our resistance in those other areas, we would be astonished at the results. 

Climbing that mountain

Monday I started a Bible study called Walk of Repentance. The first week’s focus is on obedience to authority and how I am to have the mind of Christ in His obedience to His Father. Today pointed me to verses showing what He gave up for my sake, making me aware again that obedience is costly.

This study also makes me aware that if I want to be like Jesus, then I must be prepared to yield all my rights and desires. Being like Jesus involves seeing Him as He is. I cannot pick and choose the qualities about Him that might feel good or be popular or win friends.

Spurgeon’s reading for today is about going higher too, and about seeing Jesus by working my way up there. He points to this verse:

Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” (Isaiah 40:9)

Spurgeon writes about his homeland and mountain climbing. His words are delightful, yet sobering. I’ve edited and personalized them.

When I am at the base of a mountain, the mountain itself appears only one-half as high as it really is. If I stay in the valley, I will discover only rippling brooks as they descend into the stream at the foot of the mountain. But if I climb the first rising knoll, the valley lengthens and widens beneath my feet. If I go higher, I will see the country for four or five miles round and be delighted with the widening prospect. If I climb higher, the scene enlarges. If I reach the summit and look around, I will see the vastness of the land, perhaps a forest in the distance, even two hundred miles away. Depending where I climb, I might see the sea and a shining river and the smoking chimneys of a town, or the masts of the ships in a busy port. All these things will please and delight me. I might say, “I could not have imagined that so much could be seen at this elevation.”

The Christian life is like this. When I first believed in Christ I could see only a little of Him. The higher I climb the more I discover of His glory. Yet who has ever gained the summit? Who has known all the heights and depths of the love of Christ which passes knowledge? Paul, when grown old, sitting grey-haired, shivering in a dungeon in Rome, could say with greater emphasis than I can, “I know whom I have believed,” for each experience he had was like climbing a hill. Each trial was like ascending another summit and his death seemed like gaining the top of the mountain. There he could see the whole faithfulness and love of the One whom he had committed his soul.

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Lord, You know that I am a valley person. I don’t like heights nor do I like the big picture view as much as the details on safer ground. However, You bid me to know You in increasing measure. You ask me to look at You, think of You, keep my heart open to Your revelations of Yourself. At times this is much like a climb up a steep and rocky place. I fear missteps and falling. I get tremendously tired and am challenged by each step. However, as Spurgeon says, then there is the view! The closer You draw me to Yourself, the more I see, and the more I see, the more I want to see. Guard my focus, guide my steps and keep me climbing!

To Live is Christ — happily under authority

The utility corridor near our home is a favorite place for walking, jogging, biking and dog walking. Dogs must be on a leash, and for good reason. For a few months, a coyote patrolled this path. Raised on a farm, I know that coyotes will lure dogs away and kill them. If anyone had their dog off a leash, I warned them about the coyote.

One morning a man stopped his car and let out a large dog, no leash. The dog ran all over, rushing up to people and other dogs. When the man walked near me, I politely told him that the signs say this is not an off-leash area. He began yelling at me, including words like, “Who are you to tell me what to do?”

I suspected that I was not the only one who couldn’t give him orders. I also wondered if he needed a reminder that he was setting a questionable example for his grandchildren, but didn’t say that. This was obviously not the first time he disregarded rules and had no respect for the authority behind them.

The Apostle Paul was not like that. He paid attention to his Boss and had no regard for his own wants and wishes.

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)

The word “ministry” is diakonia, the same Greek word that is translated deacon. It means serving and refers to those who serve or execute the commands of others. A “minister” is someone who, by the command of God, proclaims and promotes the gospel. This is what Paul did. It was his calling.

While “serving” (same word) is listed as one of the spiritual gifts, all Christians are called to serve others. This is one segment of what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself.” The Greek word for love, agape, means to give of oneself in a sacrificial way for the current and eternal well-being of others. In other words, to love people means to serve them, meet their needs, put them before myself.

No doubt thousands of books have been written describing ways to do that. Husbands are to minister to their wives, and wives are to minister to their husbands. Pastors minister to their congregations. Christians serve one another and reach out in ministry to a needy world. As Paul says, being a Christian is not about me. He denied himself and served. He did this in obedience to Jesus Christ who gave him this ministry.

Ministry requires a good attitude, but also requires godly wisdom. In a section describing it, James says godly wisdom goes hand in hand with unselfish service. That is, the wise person is a person who yields up their life to serve, just as Paul did. I’ve italicized key words.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. . . . Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure. . . . Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. (James 3:13–4:3)

In short, the selfish person has no concern for others and is foolish. The wise person yields to God and serves others. So if I want to be a wise person, then self-seeking or stubbornly insisting on my own way cannot be part of the picture. I have to listen to authority, God first, and do what I’m told. If I won’t listen to God, my sinful and self-seeking nature will not listen to any other authority. Instead, I will ignore speed limits and other social rules and do whatever I want.

The fruit of doing my own thing might feel like “freedom” but is it? Paul abandoned his own plans to serve the Lord. As a result, nothing in this life “moved him” because it was not important. He also was free from the tyranny of needed his own way and instead served God with joy.

James associates self-serving with confusion and evil, even with demons. On the other hand, he associates willingness to yield with purity, peace, and the assurance of answered prayer.

The sinful human heart has this notion that if I cannot control my environment, then I will not prosper or be happy. If I can’t let my dog run wherever I want, then I am in bondage to the legal system. But God says and demonstrates that we are only joyful and have inner peace when we give up our I-wants, obey authority (God first) and serve others. Sinful me could suppose that God is out of touch with real life, but when I compare the example of the Apostle Paul or the list of what is wise with that man yelling at me over his rights, there is no doubt that God knows the best way for me to live.