Governments?
A lot of people in my circle of friends, seem to think George Bush is a bit of a silly-bugger (can I use that word on the Blog?). Now, I have difficulty defending him at the best of times but I was confronted by a friend of a different persuasion the other day who said something along these lines:
"Be careful not to judge the leaders in Government. Don't forget they have been placed there by God."
Since I regularly paricipate in Bush-bashing (and Howard-bashing), I have been thinking about her comments. However, I have difficulty with that concept, especially when I don't see the 'leaders' leading in a very compassionate or 'Godly' (not to mention intelligent?) manner. However, I am aware the idea is in the Bible. Any thoughts?
BTW: A friend at work seems to think this idea (of leaders being appointed by God) is of the Middle Ages and if we believe it then we should go and live back then...
posted by Cath @ 4:12 pm
3 comments
3 Comments:
thanks Fletch - always good to throw a bit of confusion on a subject. I think we're called to submit to authorities as in Rom 13 because on the whole even bad authority is better than no authority (Iraq being the classic example). In other words leaders are part of God's providential care for the world - even the bad ones.
Having said that, the true authority is the Lord Jesus, as the New Testament makes Crystal clear on almost every page. When Christ contradicts our earthly leaders we need to follow him, but without being anarchists.
Finally, I think thankfulness needs to be part of our vocabulary when we speak of our leaders. Mr Howard might not be my first choice for PM, but on a scale of all the world leaders....perhaps there's a lot to be thankful for after all.
Thanks guys.
I'm fine with the concept that Jesus is our ultimate authority (tick that box!) Are we basically saying, in relation to governments that it's about perspective? ie - Give thanks that we have a decent government on the world scale but still lobby against injustice / call on them to act in ways that are increasingly in accordance with the plan God has shown us? Is it in passages such as 1 Peter 2:13-14 that the idea that 'leaders are part of God's providential care for the world - even the bad ones.' comes from?
[Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.]
What about Govenments that punish those who do right?
I Think Romans 13 is perhaps an even more key passage.
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
Now, the Roman rulers of Paul's time were no Angels - and especially when it came to Christianity. But Paul's point is that basically all rulers have some kind of justice system. It might be corrupt, it might be oppressive, it might at times punish right and encourage wrong, But in the vast majority of cases it's still better than revolution and anarchy.
I guess there is always the thorny issue of a Hitler, and perhaps there came a point where there was no option but to violenty overthrow him (that's certainly what Deitrich Bonhoeffer decided). But if Christians had taken a more positive stand earlier on, perhaps the whole situation could have been averted in a less anti- government kind of way.
Post a Comment
<< Home