Hi everyone,
Christians have “wrestled” (a favorite term of my pastor) with the concept of submitting to authority since the time of Christ. “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Jesus forced His enemies to pull out the hated Roman coin and answer the humiliating question, “Whose image is this?” My question is what does the “image” of obedience to Caesar and God in this multicultural world look like? Most of us live in the United States under President Biden, others live under prime ministers with the names Trudeau, Johnson and Modi (apologies for overlooking any). While trying to minimize the political slant here, I believe all of them have not acted for the well-being of their countrymen, let me leave it like that.
Romans 13:1-6 is my “default” Scripture for this subject and I’d bet it is for many Christians. Peter also touches on this in 1 Peter 2:13-14. I would like to bring a third Scripture to this discussion, one that really tests our priorities: “ First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 2:5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human (1 Ti 2:1–5, NET Bible). The issue is authority here, regardless of how the ruler came into power (representative republic, votes in parliament, militarily, etc.) The book of Daniel, among its many themes, is that God sets rulers up and removes them when they have served His purposes. He is sovereign over how they enter office: money, violence, media, organization, you name it. The inspired human writers of Scriptures wrote when terrible people were in power such as Nebuchadnezzar and Nero, yes Nero! If Peter and Paul taught submission to leaders during that wicked man’s rule, how little excuse does anyone living in a western democracy have for ungodly disobedience!
I heard that Franklin Graham caused a firestorm on Twitter for asking for prayers for Mr. Putin of Russia. They were as biblical as could be. Yet, he was condemned by some. Something similar applies to President Trump (trying to stay a-political here) when in office: cursing him was not only tolerated in many quarters but actively encouraged. Fast-forward to 2021 and the vulgar language happens to President Biden and there is outrage among some over the “loss of civility” over such language. Mr. Biden is my president now as much as Mr. Trump was four years earlier. To say “that person is not my president” is anarchy and the Bible roundly condemns such chaos.
This brings up the thorny subject of leaders and spokesmen in the Christian community about “speaking truth to power.” If they speak it has to be consistent regardless of who is in power at the moment. They are representing Lord and not a political party, social movement or whatever captures the public’s attention at the moment.
I don’t have as much time and energy as I would like for our community so I am aiming for topics like this that are of utmost importance, cross-cultural and stimulating. This was my initial impression of the community and what attracted me to it.