Christian Citizenship and Co-operation

GOLDEN TEXT: “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law.” —Romans 13:10

ROMANS 13:1-10; I CORINTHIANS 3:4-9

SOME have erroneously claimed that Paul’s statement, “The powers that be are ordained of God,” refers to power, or authority, invested by God in church leaders. However, such expressions in the lesson as “he beareth not the sword in vain,” and “render … tribute to whom tribute is due, and custom to whom custom” is due, preclude the possibility of this interpretation.

The reference is unquestionably to civil governments, the chief of which in Paul’s day was centered in Rome. But some may wonder how it could be that wicked civil powers could be “ordained [‘ordered,’ margin] of God.” The explanation of this is found in Daniel 2:31-44. The incidents recorded in these verses occurred in 607 B.C., the second year after the typical kingdom of God which had existed in the hands of Israel’s kings was overthrown, and when to Zedekiah, the last king, the Prophet Ezekiel said, “Remove the diadem, and take off the crown; … it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.”—Ezek. 21:26,27

God was to be no longer represented on earth through a kingdom, until “he come whose right it is.” But in order that his objective in the development of a kingdom class might be accomplished, it was essential that law and order be maintained in the earth, so he permitted, or “ordained,” Nebuchadnezzar to be the first of a long line of rulers who would govern throughout that part of the earth where the plans and purposes of God were principally being carried out.

Nebuchadnezzar was the representative head of the Babylonian Empire. To him God said through Daniel, “The God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom.” (Dan. 2:37) In outlining the prophecy further, Daniel revealed that this would continue through three successive empires, which turned out to be Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. It was in the days of the Roman Empire that Paul wrote, “The powers that be are ordained of God.” Paul understood Daniel’s prophecy, and knew that this divine “ordination” of Gentile powers began with Babylon.

This does not mean that God has sanctioned and blessed everything these civil powers have done, but they have been used by him to maintain a degree of law and order in which his own people could live in a measure of peace and promulgate the Gospel of the kingdom. This thought is highlighted by Paul’s exhortation to Timothy that he should pray for “kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”—I Tim. 2:2

That the Christian should be subject to the civil powers is further stated by Paul in his letter to Titus, where he says, “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work.” (Titus 3:1) Generally speaking, the laws of civil governments are designed to promote good, and certainly, as Paul says, every Christian should be “ready to every good work.”

There are times, however, when a government might demand an obedience which would be contrary to Christian conscience. In such an event, the consecrated child of God has no alternative but to obey God rather than man. An example of this appears in connection with compulsory military service. However, today, in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, the lawmakers recognize the rights of religious conscience, and have made provision to exempt from military service those who prove their conscientious objections. So even in this a Christian does not need to disobey the law.

Our relationship to civil governments is one of endeavoring to get along peaceably with them while we live in a world which is alien to us, and, at the same time, busy ourselves in our real vocation, which is serving the Lord by promoting the truth and laying down our lives for the brethren. In this service it is important to get and maintain the proper viewpoint of the objective for which we are striving.

In the church at Corinth, for a while they made the mistake of attaching themselves to one or another of the teachers who had come among them. They did not seem to realize that their work was not to build up an organization under the direction of a human head, or leader. Paul endeavored to have them understand that they were all brethren under the one Master.

Nor could they expect all to render the same type of service. The Lord might use one to plant the seeds of truth, and another to water that seed. One service was just as important as the other. None except the Lord could give the “increase,” so none should be looked up to as being superior to his brethren. They were to all work together in the spirit of love.

QUESTIONS

What are the “powers” that are ordained of God, and when did this ordination take place?

Should we pray for rulers, and why?

Should a Christian violate his conscience in order to obey the powers that be?

What is the main vocation of a Christian, and what viewpoint should we have in working together?

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