With the 2020 election tomorrow, one thing is very clear: lots of people are going to be disappointed on Wednesday, November 4th. Great expectations are wrapped up in elections, and there is a lot riding on this one. But even those who "win" on Tuesday will likely end up among the number of those who are disappointed. Unmet expectations is what brings disappointment. The funny thing, though, about expectations is they do not need to be fair to have power. And what is even more alarming, many (if not most) of our expectations are not the result of conscious deliberation--we are often not entirely sure where our expectations came from in the first place. So as I get ready for tomorrow, I am trying to be aware of my expectations and get them properly ordered in advance. As I have been thinking about this, I have returned to this question: what does the Bible say is the purpose of government? This has implications for how to vote, but it also helps guard me against placing too high a hope on what the government can and should do. Looking at Romans 13:1-7, we can make a few observations regarding the purpose of government. Romans 13:1-7, "13 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. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed." Check Against Evil "3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval... 4 For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer." According to the Apostle Paul, the government has been appointed by God primarily to be a "terror" to "bad conduct" and an "avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer." In other words, God's primary purpose for human government is to oppose and restrain evil conduct--and the word "conduct" is really important. Conduct is what you do. Governments, biblically speaking, are to be in the business of confronting the wicked deeds of men and preventing their uninhibited expression. We are not talking about policing attitudes, beliefs, or motivations; the government is, according to Scripture, commissioned to restrain evil conduct. It is God's chosen instrument to cut back the overgrowth of sinful behavior with the sword God has entrusted to it. Sinful man desires power and the ability to do what is right in his own eyes, and everyone living by those terms means anarchy and misery for all. Government is a mercy from God to restrain man from being as sinful as he could be. However, government has no mandate (nor power) to make people into a different kind of people. If there is one thing we should learn from Scripture is there is no law that has the power to heal a sin-diseased heart. Laws can limit behavior and expose wickedness, but they lack the power to transform. Governments need to stay in their lane and focus on restraining evil and enforcing the rule of law, and Christians should vote with this understanding. What The Government Is Not Our expectation should not be the government will do the work God has assigned to another entity. The government does not exist to bring in the kingdom of God--that is the calling of the church. Nor is it the responsibility of the government to raise children and instill values in its citizens--that belongs to the family. Sometimes people inappropriately turn to the government when they are disillusioned with the church and family. But for the one who listens to the Word of God, there is great danger in putting hope in the government to do a work it is not equipped to do. Rather than being the savior of mankind, the book of Revelation reveals human government often serves as the militant persecutor and opponent of God's church; Satan loves to hijack the sword of the state, given by God to oppose evil, and use it against the church instead. Furthermore, Scripture teaches that sinful man constantly attempts to form coalitions (governments and powers) to oppose the rule of God. Psalm 2:1-6 says, "1 Why do the nations rage God is the Sovereign ruler over all the earth. God has issued His commands, and they are to be obeyed. God has given instruction regarding righteousness and wickedness, and the duty of rulers is to oppose wickedness. Sinful man thinks he can scheme his way out of God's control, and mankind takes false assurance in being part of the "majority" opinion against God. But there is no over-ruling God; He has set up His Son Jesus Christ as King, and all who oppose Christ will be broken. Psalm 2:9 warns the opponents of God, as numerous and powerful as they may be, "[Christ] shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” God commands all people, "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling (Psalm 2:11)." When governments turn their backs on righteousness and fail to oppose evil, God eventually calls them to account. No government can expect to be successful so long as it ignores God's clear commands, and no person should be foolish enough to throw their support behind a ruler or government that has forsaken God's good purposes. Our Posture Towards Government "1 For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment." Every government that exists can only have come to power if God allowed it--and this includes "illegitimate" and evil governments. This is not to claim that everything these governments do is righteous, nor is this an argument for the virtue of the leaders. A Christian's submission to his government is ultimately a declaration that God is sovereign, and His plan is good. However, this command to submit to governments because they are installed by God is not meant to induce passivity in Christians--it is meant to compel our godly effort and prayer. If God is sovereign, that means whatever happens is part of God's good plan. Romans 8:28 promises, "for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Rather than getting angry and frustrated with our government, Christians need to remember that there is a higher power above the government, and we have direct access to Him through His Son, Jesus. The Babylonians were a wicked nation, but they were used of God to bring discipline to His people for their sin. But God is merciful and long-suffering, so even when Jerusalem was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar and the Israelites were ripped out of their homeland, God promised that was not the end of the story for those who would turn to Him in faith. Jeremiah 27:4-8 says, 4 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel...5 “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me. 6 Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him. 7 All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson, until the time of his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave. 8 “‘“But if any nation or kingdom will not serve this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, declares the Lord, until I have consumed it by his hand. Jeremiah's message to the people of Israel was God sent Nebuchadnezzar to conquer many peoples, Judah being one of them. And yes, Nebuchadnezzar was evil, and his nation would one day fall. However, that future judgment against Babylon would happen according to God's timing after they had fulfilled God's purpose for them. In the meantime, God's people were commanded to "serve the king of Babylon and live (Jeremiah 27:17)." The obedience of God's people to the government declares our confidence in God's power and promises. Final Thoughts
Those who lose sight of God's purpose for government can become anxious, frustrated, or discouraged. If we look to government to be a savior we can apply unnecessary metrics when considering candidates to support, and we might ignore the qualities we should want. A good government is about upholding rule or law and opposing evil conduct; we are not expecting government to replace the family or church. Given our unique privilege of being able to vote, we have an obligation as Christians to make sure our action (voting) reflects biblical priorities. Do we vote looking for someone who will oppose evil, or do we vote for someone who encourages it? Do we vote for someone who enforces the rule of law, or do we vote for someone who encourages lawlessness? And will we submit to the government that exists, declaring through our actions that we trust the sovereign purposes of God? Will we pray to God with boldness, believing that He hears us and is responsive to our prayers? These are not ambiguous matters--Scripture addresses them directly. The question is will those who call themselves Christians submit to the Word of God.
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AuthorI am follower of Jesus Christ by God's grace, married to Kelsey, father to four children, and pastor of Lighthouse Church (EPC). Archives
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