I am not worried about who will win the next presidential election because I know that God is in control and that “there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” (Romans 13:1) I do worry, though I know everything is in His hand, that my fellow believers will conduct themselves poorly if the outcome is not what they would like.
I wonder if the command “to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates” only applies if the current office-holder is the one for whom we voted. What if the next President of the United States is a liberal? Or a liberal masquerading as a conservative? Or a woman? What if the next President is truly wicked? Does Romans 13 not apply then? I worry that folks will excuse their disrespect by saying something to the effect of, “The command to not speak evil of any man (Titus 3:2) does not apply here because the President is not a man” or some other hypocritical thing.
I KNOW there is a line we must not cross in order to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29), but that obedience always brings glory to God and is not riddled with derision or disrespect and it implies a willingness to suffer for that obedience. And I know it is difficult at times to reconcile our American privilege/responsibility to think and speak critically about our government with our Christian duty to be in submission to earthly authorities, but I think our primary citizenship is in another Kingdom, and we must reflect that first.
Titus 3:1-2; Romans 13:1-7; Acts 5:28-29
February 13, 2008 at 8:54 pm |
Let me add a great big amen to that my friend.
February 14, 2008 at 10:00 am |
I find American politics fascinating. Each side seems to HATE the other. Because we have a multiple party system up here (the big ones are the Conservatives, Liberals, New Democratic, Parti Quebeccois and Green) we don’t have the same “us against them” mentality. Sometimes I am shocked at the vitriolic garbage that is spewed back and forth between the Republicans and Democrats. A Christian should refrain from that.
February 14, 2008 at 10:30 am |
Thanks ladies.
New word #34: vitriolic
Keep ‘em coming!
February 14, 2008 at 2:40 pm |
Wanna learn some French words?
February 14, 2008 at 6:08 pm |
I would LOVE to be able to say, “Pardon my French” in French!
February 19, 2008 at 2:36 pm |
Hmmm. I’m probably guilty of some level of disrespect…and that is on both sides of the aisle lately. I feel quite respectful of the office – and would be respectful of the person who attained the presidency, realizing that God allowed them to be there…(But again, not sure about that…because what if the person in office grossly throws that respect away?)
Anyway, thanks, Sara.
I haven’t been as careful as I should be.
February 19, 2008 at 8:01 pm |
I actually thought you made a good point with your Kellog’s (I think it was Kellog’s – or was it General Mills?) comparison.
Anyway, I’ve been thinking that it’s great when respect is earned, but we should give it even when it isn’t. I mean that the things that God asks of us are not contingent upon others keeping their end of the deal. For example, a wife should probably reverence her husband even if he doesn’t love her as Christ loves the Church and vice versa. I could be wrong, but that’s what I’ve been thinking.
February 20, 2008 at 12:36 am |
No, I don’t think you’re wrong. Very convicting, in fact!