Christians and Government

The topic of government and how a Christian is to interact with it and be involved in it is important and one that every Christian needs to stop and consider. This being the 4^th of July 2025 we will do just that and not only delve into government and the Bible but a few good facts about our country. So, let’s delve into it shall we.

                “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; “

1 Timothy 2:1-3

Paul here gives a great outlook for how we should interact and work with our government. We need to pray for them! Now, this does not mean you only pray when someone you like or the party you like is in power. We should ALWAYS be praying that our government would do what is right and that God would work on the hearts of our leaders and if they are not saved that they would get saved and call on the Lord! Our reason to pray is also to be one that would allow us to follow the Lord peacefully and quietly. Notice that doing so is good in the eyes of God!

                So, that brings us to a question, doesn’t it? How often do we pray for our leaders? This applies to all levels of government as well. How often or when was the last time you spent time in prayer and prayed over our leaders? You know God allows every person that is in power to come to be? So, even if they are wicked or evil God can bring good out of it.

Proverbs 8:15 “By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.”

Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”

These verses serve as a reminder that God is the one who appoints and allows people to come to power. Consider the kings of the divided kingdom in the OT. Many of them were evil and wicked men yet God still used them to accomplish His goal. Even Ahab was used to accomplish what God wanted for His people!

Now let’s move to one of the most well-known passages on government, Romans 13. Paul takes and deals with and lays out the outline for government and our goal of how we interact with it should be. Now Romans 13:1 sets the groundwork for the rest of the chapter in that it says “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained by God.”  Did you catch that? Every soul be subject unto the higher power. Meaning in its proper place everyone is supposed to be under God. God is the place ALL power comes from.

Consider how the next number of verses go into detail on how government is supposed to act and what it is supposed to do and its goal. The purpose is to deal with evil and protect the righteous. Government’s purpose and what it is ordained to do is to protect and enforce laws that punish evil. This reminds us that our goal is to obey and follow government as much as possible. There are only select times that we should not obey the government. That is found in Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men”. The only time we have a Biblical reason to disobey the government is when they go and say to do something directly against the Bible. So, even if you don’t like something the government says or does as long as it does not go against what God has laid out clearly in His word, we should obey the government.

Romans 12:18 should be a key verse in how we interact with the government and world around us as it says, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men”. Consider how we are to live good with those around us and those that have authority over us. How well do you interact with those around you? Do you respect and honor those you should or are you always looking for a reason to be hostile or angry at others?

Lastly on this part consider the call of Peter in 1 Peter 2:17 “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.” Peter in the verses before talks about things like living holy in chapter 1 and that by living the right way and following God and governments we can be and show our testimony to those around us. We are to have an attitude that submits to the powers God has placed in our lives. Does that mean at times conflict will come? Certainly! Read the book of Acts. The early church was in conflict with those in power often. However, they did so because the government called for them to do things that went against what God had told them clearly, they were supposed to do. That is why we are told it is better to obey God first and foremost!

So, let me close this one out by asking the question, how are you in submitting to the powers that be in your life? Whether it be home, work, church, or government. Are you submitting and giving honor to the powers that God has placed in your life?