A Study on Dignitaries - Amy Lawrence

Politics and Christianity

A Study on Dignitaries

Politics is a subject I actively avoid. It is one that is dominated by opinion, and when anyone is contradicted concerning their preferred candidate, it is taken personally and is a great way to start an argument. Many see religion in the same light, but when it comes to opinion on that matter, only one matters: God’s. That begs the question…does God have an opinion on politics? Absolutely. I feel it is important as a citizen of this republic to be aware of my responsibilities, but my first responsibility is as a citizen of the kingdom of God, Mt. 6:33, Phil. 3:20. God’s kingdom is not a republic. It is a theocracy - one Ruler, one Authority - and Christ the Lord is its King,  Mt. 16:18-19, Eph. 1:22-23. As a Christian, my priority should be God’s laws, Acts 5:29, but what if one of God’s laws is to obey the authority of the government? Let’s look deeper into this. First, we need to examine Romans 13:1-7. This will be the platform for our study.

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.” (NKJV) 

The words “every soul” tell us that this command is not limited to Christians. This is a universal mandate, as are all of God’s New Testament commands, Acts 17:30-31, 1 Tim. 2:3-4. We are to submit to the authority of the government, Titus 3:1.

“For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” (NKJV) Daniel wrote, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” (Dan. 2:20-21)  Many never consider why Pharaoh was respectfully asked by God to let the Israelites go into the wilderness to worship Him. God, the Ultimate Authority, appointed Pharaoh to that position. It would therefore have been counterproductive for God to undermine Pharaoh’s authority over the Israelites. Unfortunately, Pharaoh’s stubborn heart and his foolish pride refused to acknowledge God’s higher authority, Ex. 5:2, and so the 10 plagues were loosed upon the Egyptians. Every authority that is in place is thus because God determined it to be so through His providence and for His will. David understood this, 1 Sam. 24:1-18. Esther knew that God’s will, whether it be done through her or through another, is always accomplished, Esther 4:13-16.  Jesus told Pilate, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.” (John 19:11) Even by Pilate’s ignorance, God’s will was being done.

“Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same…But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain.” (NKJV) Paul the apostle, when he was brought before the Sanhedrin, was struck on the face after he had spoken harshly to Ananias (the high priest at the time). Paul was angry about being struck…until he realized what he had done, Acts 23:3-5. God demands respect for the authorities that have been put into positions of power over us.

The justice system of any nation should have a singular purpose: to quell evil. Jesus told his apostles to obey the scribes’ and Pharisees’ authority, but with one exception - do not become hypocrites as they were. They still had the power of the justice system and, even though Jesus knew that they would use it to kill Him, He still commanded that His apostles have a fearful respect for their authority, Mt. 23:1-3. One of the two thieves on either side of Jesus even acknowledged that they deserved their punishment in accordance with justice, but Jesus did not, Lk. 23:39-43. 

“Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” (NKJV) Caesar’s authority was observed and respected by Jesus, Mk. 12:14-17. You will not find one jot or tittle written in red in the New Testament where Christ undermined or blasphemed any standing authority. We often get the wrong idea in our head that when we don’t like a politician that has been voted into office by election, we have the allowance to speak ill of them. We reject the undesired politician in both word and action. There’s a term scripture uses to describe a person who rejects the authority of God and those appointed by God: blasphemy. Being blasphemous by speaking ill of God-appointed dignitaries is shown in scripture to be in direct contrast to God’s commandment, Eph. 4:31, Col. 3:8. Michael, the archangel, disputed with Satan concerning the body of Moses, Jude 9. The interesting thing about this particular context are the words

“reviling accusation”. The original Greek word for “reviling accusation” is the same Greek word for “blasphemy” in Col. 3:8. Michael refused to speak blasphemously to the Devil, the one that had authority given to him by God, Job 1:12, concerning the body of Moses. Michael refused to rebuke Satan’s authority or speak ill of him. Michael instead told him that the right to rebuke him belonged to God. This Greek word is also found in Jude 8 in the description of those that are comparable to the fallen angels, the men of Sodom and Gomorrah, Cain, Balaam, and Korah. People such as these “speak evil” of dignitaries. In this, they refuse - as those (listed above) refused - to humble themselves under the authority set over them by God. We must be careful of how we speak of God’s appointed dignitaries, Mt. 12:36-37.

All in all, God’s hand is in everything. Our finite minds tend to forget that. No, we won’t always like those put in positions of power. Yes, suffering is usually the consequence for us all when those of authority allow sin to rule them…but they will get their just rewards from God, not from us, Rom. 12:17-21. We can do what we’re able - as we should - but everything is still in the hands of God Almighty. We as Christians must have faith in God. If we are found faithful at the end of this life, imagine the rest we’ll have in the next, Rev. 2:10