God & Government, Pt. 8

"Not every leader is anointed by God, but they are appointed by God." - Dr. James Merritt

God & Government, Pt. 8

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves."

(Romans 13:1-2)

Last week in our devotionals, we read in 1 Timothy 2:1-7 about how we are to pray for those over us in government. Romans 13:1 says we are to be subject to the governing authorities, and in verse 5, "you must be subject." The Greek word is hypotasso, and it is a military term which means to line up under and be in subjection to. Governing officials are our leaders, and we are to submit to their authority. In obeying the government leader, we are honoring what God has designed. He created law and order. God appoints the authorities over us.

Dr. James Merritt pointed out in his message on God and government: "The God that gives grace gives us government." We must acknowledge the God-given authority of government. God appoints those in leadership. He places good people in power to be a blessing, and He places or allows evil people into power for judgment. Authority is granted by God and God alone. I am certainly not saying figures like Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot are morally approved by God; I am saying that no matter what kind of government or leader, no ruler has any authority in himself; it comes from God.

Matthew 28:18 says all authority has been given to Jesus. John 19:10-11 states, "Then Pilate said to Him, 'Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?' Jesus answered, 'You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.'" The Greek word translated "power" in these two verses is exousia, for which a good definition is authority. It also means delegated influence. All authority is given to Jesus, and He delegates it to whomever He chooses. Very few politicians around the world recognize that they have been allowed by God to rule and lead.

What about civil disobedience? We should submit to the governing authorities unless they ask us to do something that is contrary to what God says. Acts 5:29 is the best example. When the leaders told the apostles to no longer preach in Jesus' name, they replied: "We ought to obey God rather than men." This is justified civil disobedience. Other biblical examples include the story of the birth of Moses when Pharaoh ordered all newborn Jews to be killed, but Moses' family disobeyed, and Moses was allowed to live. King Nebuchadnezzar commanded everyone to fall down and worship the golden idol, but the three Hebrew teenagers, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, defied and resisted. King Darius gave the royal decree that for 30 days, no one was allowed to pray to anyone but to him. The first thing Daniel did upon hearing this royal decree was go to his room and pray to God.

Merritt wisely pointed out, "Not every leader is anointed by God, but they are appointed by God."