We have learned this week about our government’s ability and
desire to access every fragment of communication occurring between humans.
Apparently it matters not whether they are terrorists, civilians, a grandmother
learning to use facebook for the first time, or bored teenagers swapping text
messages during an algebra test.
Coupled with this are new revelations about the attacks that
took place on the American Embassy in Benghazi as well as a growing conspiracy
around the IRS and their confession of targeting conservative political groups
for more stringent processes in their attempts to obtain tax-free status.
All of this while new reports appear to reveal that a
startling number of embassy guards around the world have been protected in
their roles even after it was discovered that they were spending far more time
searching out prostitutes and minors than protecting our diplomats.
And as if all of this were not bad enough news for the
current administration, the Gallup
pole released this week actually shows, for the first time ever, that a higher
percentage of Americans have a favorable view of George W. Bush (49%) than President
Obama (47%).
Sarcasm aside, there is real debate right now about the role
of government in our daily lives. Wise and competent debaters on either side of
the argument seem to find reason enough in the above stories to defend their
conviction about big or small government. In my own life, I have family,
friends and colleagues that run the political gamut. Those who embrace
universal healthcare and stricter gun control, others who think Christians should
not pay taxes or allow immigrants into the country. Some who think that
religion and politics are the same thing and others who think the two should have
nothing to do with one another. And none of them would suggest that their views
are insignificant or easily dismissed. And neither would I.
What I would like to suggest today however is that whatever
you political views are, if you name the name of Christ, if you are a believer
and follower of His Kingdom, that you filter your political views through the
lens of scripture. In particular, I would ask you to consider what exactly the
Apostle Paul meant when writing about the government in Romans 13:1-7, part of which
reads:
“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.”
Wrestle with those words for a moment. And as you do so
please keep in mind that no amount of exegetical gymnastics about culture, or
economy, or modern civilization or democracy will soften the blow here. Please
remember that the man who penned these words was arrested, imprisoned, and
beaten countless times before (scholars assume) he finally died shackled to a cell
in a Roman prison at the hands of a government that hated Christians and killed
them by the thousands in coliseums; using them as torches for the emperor’s
parties and as sport for wild animals and bloodthirsty crowds. Into this
environment Paul says, “be subject to governing authorities.” Did Paul know
something many of us have forgotten?
Our hope as believers should never be in government. God
never instituted it for the sake of our salvation. By stating this I am not
suggesting that Christians should be apathetic about politics and disinterested
in global affairs, or refuse to vote or participate in the military. I am
suggesting, however, that it concerns me much when I find that many of my
brothers and sisters appear at times to be more concerned about a “denial of
their rights” than the joy of denying themselves.
Paul reminds us that we must, as followers of the true King,
guard ourselves from allowing our identity to get wrapped in a national flag,
rather than living as “foreigners,” “aliens,” and “ambassadors” of another
Kingdom who’s King has appointed the rulers of this very world.
In the end, our charge as followers of Christ is a clear and
consistent call to shed the light of the gospel into the darkest corners of the
world. Be faithful in this endeavor and arguments about big versus small
government seem to take on a less central place at the table. There is very
little time to accomplish the work we have been given and spending too much
time arguing about government, in my humble opinion, is simply too much time
distracted. By way of encouragement on the journey, I leave you with the famous
words by the Gamaliel (leader of the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem) who, just
prior to beating and releasing captive apostles, admitted to a heavily biased
jury of his peers that no human government could ever posses the might to stop
the work of God in the world:
“if
it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found
opposing God!” (Acts 5:39)
Jesus
promised that the very gates of Hell could not prevail against the Church. Most
certainly that would also mean that no government formed by human hands and
minds could ever stop it either. We, followers of Christ, more than anyone
else, have nothing to fear.
After
all, we can be certain Jesus actually said this because the NSA has it recorded
on tape for us.
