Christians and Civil Authority

In the Bible

Christians and Civil Authority

There are a number of Bible verses that people point to when they try to explain the way they feel about government. Most people in America - including Lutherans - believe that God created two governments - the secular (non-religious) that governs society and the spiritual that governs our personal conduct. Jesus' own words in Matthew 22 are often used to support this idea:

Matthew 22: 15-21

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said.

16 And they sent their disciples to Him, alon gwith the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teah the way of God in Truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.

17 Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll ta to Caesar, or not?"

18 But Jesus perceived their maling and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?

19 Show Me the coin used for the poll tax." And they brought Him a denarius.

20 And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"

21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."

The apostle Paul's words would become the foundation for an idea called the "Divine Right of Kings." This idea said that God chose the kings, and so not to be obedient to the King was about the same as not being obedient to God. God punished people with bad kings and rewarded them with good kings. That seems like a crazy idea to us today! Hundreds of years ago, people really believed that God had chosen their king, in part because of what Paul said in the Bible!

Romans 13: 1-6

1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation among themselves.

3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

4 for it is a minister of God to you for good.

5 Therefore is is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

Titus 3: 1

1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men."

Acts 6:14

14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Martin Luther did not like the book of James, and didn't include it in his translation of the Bible into German. Yet those who believe that Christians should not participate in government or society at large often quote this verse from James:

James 4:4

4 "You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever makes himself a friend of the world is an enemy of God.

Many people quote the Bible to support their points of view and often two people who disagree will both find verses in the Bible that seem to support their ideas. How do you figure out who is right and who is wrong? That is a question you must think about and discuss with your teachers, your family, and your pastor.

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November 2014

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