Governing & Government

 

Pro 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

WHERE ARE WE AT NOW??

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Involvement in government is critical. Government is defined as “the action or manner of controlling or regulating a nation, organization, or people”. We see this every day of our lives.

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At any public election it is crucial the public knows the candidates. Whether they are righteous or unrighteous people and have made decisions if they are running for another term or are a new candidate. These are the people who will be determining how we will live our lives in the near future. It’s a scary thought if a candidate is chosen who does not believe in Jesus Christ and they will be enacting rules and laws as to how we will be affected. God will provide the righteous candidate and expects his people to be a part of that group, and will do the will of the people. If an unjust, evil person is elected into any office God will uphold the appointment, even though it was not His choice for His people. If an evil person is placed into office it’s only because God honors free will, and choosing the evil person over the person selected by God will become the burden of the people. We should not complain when this happens as it was man’s will not what God had intended for us.

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​There are a lot of public offices. This does not mean you need to run for those offices, but, you can still be involved as a volunteer for Christ and provide badly needed information on all the candidates and how they follow what the bible teaches and not what the media, social media, or advertising is saying. This is a huge opportunity to be involved in your community as they will have the resources necessary. Christians are needed to monitor, advise, and influence the leaders that God has provided for us.

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The church needs to be the ‘goto’ place for what your looking for to get involved and these tasks are needed by the community and the body of Christ. This is not just for things to do but for information and resources on what really is happening in the world today and are the people in those positions following biblical standards.

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What is the purpose of civil government, according to the Bible? The purpose of civil government is, very simply, to be God's servant to restrain evil and reward good (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14). Christians are (a) to pray for and obey governmental authority (1 Timothy 2:1-4), unless (b) it forbids what God requires or requires what God forbids, in which case Christians cannot submit, and some form of civil disobedience becomes inescapable (Acts 4:18-31, 5:17-29), (c) to influence government because all of life is under God's authority (Psalm 24:1; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 42:8; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 10:5). In a participatory democracy, Christians are under obligation to participate in civil government (Matthew 22:21).

Pro 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

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Does God appoint evil leaders to lead nations?

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The answer is yes! That is the message of Romans 13:1, but Hosea 8:4 seems to contradict.

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Romans 13:1 (NASB)

Here is Hosea 8:4,

They have set up kings, but not by Me;
They have appointed princes, but I did not know it.
With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves,
that they might be cut off. Hosea 8:4 (NASB)

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Romans 13:1 states That God Establishes All Governments.

The key statement that we want to examine in Romans 13:1 is “no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” There are two words of interest. The first is the word “authority” which in the Greek is exousia. It refers to anyone who has power or can exercise authority. In the context of Romans 13:1-7, it refers to governmental authority. The Greek word that is translated as “established” is tasso. This word appears eight times in the New Testament (Matthew 28:16; Luke 7:8; Acts 13:48; 15:2; 22:10; 28:23; Romans 13:1; 1 Corinthians 16:15). The word means “to appoint, to order, or to arrange”. That is, every governmental leader has been appointed, arranged or established by God.

Earlier in Romans 9:17, we are reminded that God put the Pharaoh of Egypt in his position of authority. We learn from Exodus 7-11 that this Pharaoh was an evil ruler. Romans 9:17 is a quote from Exodus 9:16-17, and it illustrates the principle of Romans 13:1.

 

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth. Romans 9:17 (NASB)

In John 19:11 Jesus told Pontius Pilate, who was an evil governor, that his authority came from God the Father. In Daniel 4:17, the evil ruler of the Babylonian empire, King Nebuchadnezzar, reports part of a dream that God gave him.

 

This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers and the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men.” Daniel 4:17 (NASB)

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The same principle is communicated throughout Scripture (Psalms 75:6-7; Proverbs 8:15).

God allows nations to select rulers and then He establishes them.

In 1 Samuel 8, an amazing event is described that illustrates how God establishes or appoints rulers over nations. In 1 Samuel 8:1-7, we are told that the nation of Israel had rejected God as their king. Verse 7 summarizes Israel’s request.

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The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.” 1 Samuel 8:7 (NASB)

Consequently, God allowed Israel to have their own king. Verses 10-18 record what God told Samuel to communicate to Israel that they would experience with their new king. The entire description is negative and in verse 18 we read this,

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Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day. 1 Samuel 8:18 (NASB)

The message to Israel was simple. They would be allowed to select their ruler, but it was not the ruler God wanted for them. The ruler would be an evil one who would oppress them. Yet God would establish his throne, but he would not be God’s choice.

Later in Hosea 13:9-11, God rebukes Israel for rejecting Him as their king. Notice that God says they had asked the judges for a king. The prophet Samuel was also a judge (1 Samuel 3:20; 7:15). They had asked for a king, and God gave them a king. In verse 11, God reveals that this was not His choice. Yet God appointed him and established his throne.

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It is your destruction, O Israel, that you are against Me, against your help. Where now is your king that he may save you in all your cities, and your judges of whom you requested, “Give me a king and princes”? I gave you a king in My anger and took him away in My wrath. Hosea 13:9-11 (NASB)

 

King Saul proved to be an evil king. Most of the kings of the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah were evil kings. The people of Israel or the leaders of Israel selected their kings without consulting God. He allowed their choices. Yet He granted these men the authority to rule as kings.

Hosea 8:4 Records God’s Appointment Of The Kings Israel Selected

Therefore, how should we understand Hosea 8:4?

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They cry out to Me, “My God, we of Israel know You!” Israel has rejected the good; the enemy will pursue him. They have set up kings, but not by Me; they have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, that they might be cut off. Hoses 8:2-4 (NASB)

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The answer is that as Israel rejected God as their king in 1 Samuel 8:1-18,  God granted their choice. God repeatedly supported their horrible choices of subsequent kings. There is no contradiction between Romans 13:1 and Hosea 8:4.

 

The Purpose of Government.

Government exists and survives because God supports it. Yet when the rulers become too evil, God will judge them and punish them. Zechariah 1:15 tells us that God tolerates some evil from nations; but when they are excessively evil, God punishes them.

Romans 13:4 gives us the purpose of government and rulers. They were appointed by God to suppress evil or keep evil in check. When they fail to do this, it is time for judgment. God has not established human government to Christianize the world. The purpose of government is to suppress evil and maintain some semblance of justice and care for the oppressed (Isaiah 1:16-17).  Isaiah 1:16-17 is not a Christian statement. It describes the rebuke of the nation of Israel. Amos 5:15 is another rebuke of the nation for failing to hate evil, love good and establish justice.

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Conclusion:

The government of the United States of America is currently failing to hate evil, love good, and establish justice. The government is accepting evil, even loving evil. Lady Justice is lifting the blindfold so that one eye can see who is being accused, and then she often fails to render justice. There is one standard of justice for the politically connected, powerful and wealthy, and another standard of law for everyone else. Judges 21:25 describes our nation.

 

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25   (NASB)

Judgment is coming upon the United States unless it changes. Remember the purpose of government is to suppress evil. Yet, God commands us to submit to whatever government He has established.

1 Peter 2:13-15 tells us that it is His will that we submit to government. We encourage the reader to visit, “Seeking God’s Will.”  In Scripture individual Christians are never encouraged to demonstrate or commit acts of violence in response to repressive governments.  To do so would be to rebel against God’s established authority (Romans 13:2-4; Titus 3:1). Evil governments are God’s ministers as long they are not excessively evil (Zechariah 1:15). There is only one reason for Christians to disobey government. That is when government commands us to violate God’s laws (Acts 4:19-20; 5:27-29). Otherwise, Jesus calls us to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). In the United States of America, we have the privilege and responsibility to express our disagreement or approval of our government by voting. So, Christian, vote according to biblical principles and pray for your nation! Pray that its leaders would come to faith in Jesus Christ.