Many people lament the condition of our world today. Cultures are fractured as ethnic accusations fly and inflation soars. Politicians leverage the masses’ fear for personal gain by indicting “the other” for our miseries. While our day-to-day is hardly impacted by government leaders ruling thousands of miles away, our tribal identities result in suspicion, condemnation, and hate in our communities. This is a game in which no one wins–other than the individuals pursuing power.

While Christians are, ultimately, governed by a higher authority Who seeks justice for the oppressed and relief for the marginalized, how should we react when the elected political leader opposes–or worse, suppresses–our theological priorities? Liberal thought advocates for entitlements for the poor while claiming abortion is a mother’s unambiguous choice. Conservatives believe in the sanctity of unborn life but are quick to kowtow to corporate interests for the sake of the economic prosperity of the fortunate few. Neither side represents all of Christianity’s concerns.

The first half of Romans 13 addresses political authority and unintentionally invites controversy. It opens with, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (Romans 13:1, NIV) How can this be true in a world where political authorities unjustly imprison or execute civilians, particularly professing Christians?

An obedient life does not necessarily imply a fair one. Another’s sin against us does not condone us to sin in retaliation. In another of Paul’s letters, he issues an equivalently difficult–and controversial–command to the Ephesians. He instructs slaves to “obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.” (Ephesians 6:5-6, NIV) While indentured servitude was more common in Paul’s days than the barbaric slavery well-known from the Atlantic slave trade, Paul makes no delineation here. Slaves who believe in Christ, no matter their circumstances, have a responsibility of servitude.

It seems unfair. While our Western culture is divided by rampant victimhood, our Holy Word suggests we are to ignore our plight and instead “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” (Ephesians 6:7. NIV) Elsewhere, the Bible instructs us, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” (Proverbs 25:21-22, NIV) We are called to bring burning coals of shame upon our enemies’ heads, not a sword of vengeance. In this way, believers are to be respectful and subservient to those opposed to them or in authority over them.

This is our plight when a government official wields unbiblical power over us–we must still respectfully serve, though within the bounds of our Christian convictions. However difficult, there is freedom in this path. By adopting the behavior we hope to see in the world, we make the world that much better. We may not control our circumstances, but we can free ourselves to respond to them in joy and hope so that our testimony echoes louder than any chant or assembly. 

Such subservience is particularly counter-cultural to the Western ethos of pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps or riding off into the sunset to live a life free from conformation. In our land of Manifest Destiny, where we are encouraged to be all we can be, allowing anyone else to dictate what, who, or how we serve does not fit well. Yet, our resistance and rebellion against leadership only bring more suffering and strife by perpetuating the same cycle of power ascension and abdication that put us in this mess in the first place. For anyone who thinks they have the answer to peace, there is someone who disagrees and is willing to fight over it. Peace is nowhere to be had.

However, we can take encouragement from the Bible that God sees our condition. Speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord condemns Israel’s rulers, who did not care for the people as they should. He declared, “I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them…” (Ezekiel 34:10, NIV). God goes on to judge between the proverbial rams–who trample the ground and edge out the weak–and the meek sheep (Ezekiel 34:20). Instead, the Lord will bless the sheep, saving them from plunder and providing them peace.

These words are later echoed by Jesus when He declares that He will sort out the goats from the sheep (Matthew 25). Jesus called Himself the good shepherd (John 10:11) who will care for His flock. And it is ultimately exemplified as He was led to the cross, as a lamb to slaughter (Isaiah 53). Jesus is our utmost example and hope, all wrapped up in one.

His strength extends not only to us but to those we may seek to resist. Though we may not appreciate His grace for all people, Jesus will give even the worst rulers a chance to repent and return (see Jonah in Nineveh). So, too, must we endure in God’s calling–like Jonah did–so that all are given an equal chance to recognize the error of their ways, even if we are the recipients of their fallen orders.

In this case, the Lord says, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” (Deuteronomy 32:35, NIV) We may exercise our Western democratic right to vote, but those rights do not extend to rebellion or resistance. It is our job to wait upon the Lord; our faith in Him will renew our endurance and strength (Isaiah 40:31). Peace comes only through faith, hope, and love, not through election or rebellion. This is yet another difficult task Christians are called to; however, it is better to pin our hope upon our eternal loving God than the outcome of the next election.

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