Christianity and Secular Government

The young man leading the Bible study group was adamant. ‘Since the Bible declares that Jesus is Lord then Christians owe no allegiance to secular governments.’ I, like some of the group, was alarmed. Was his argument correct? Did it truly reflect biblical teaching?

Right at the beginning of history, we discover a clear political dimension to reality. The creation accounts reveal that it is God who rules. After establishing his rule and order God hands over the maintenance of that order to humankind.

This relates not to humankind establishing a new order independent and different to God’s, but keeping the good order that God had already established.

The Old Testament reveals that there are three aspects to the rule of God. The first is that he maintains the stability of the natural order. The second is that he is in control of all the nations. Finally, God orders the social existence of the nation of Israel by his revealed law.

For a considerable period the people of Israel had no King. Judges played an important role in keeping order and were given the role of leading the people in the ways of the Lord. When the idea of a human king is advocated in Israel it encounters a great deal of opposition from Samuel, the man who was judge of Israel at the time. Israel’s desire for a king like other nations is rightly seen as a rejection of God as their ruler (1 Samuel 8).

In due time the prophets predict the coming of a king after God’s own heart. This king is none other than the Lord Himself in the person of his Son, Jesus. The rule of God would be restored in the person of the Anointed One.

Our young friend in the Bible study group appears to have been right. No one else has the right to order or judge (Colossians 2:16). However, this rule is not observable to all, and will not be observable to all, until he returns. On that day the unbeliever will see what the believer has known for a long time, that Jesus is Lord.

The time between the Ascension of the Lord and his return is given over, according to the New Testament, to the preaching of the gospel and the winning of the nations. During this period the Lordship of Christ over believers is obvious. He rules and guides the believer through his Word.

However, his rule over the non-believer is far from obvious. 1 Timothy 2:1–7 implies that God has appointed governments to keep order in the period between Christ’s ascension and return, and indicates that the spread of the gospel will be promoted by good order in society.

Governments are to keep peace by punishing those who do wrong and commending those who do right (Romans 13:1–5). Governments are to keep God’s order and not impose its own.

At this point we can see that our young Bible study leader was wrong. The Lordship of Christ is not limited to the spiritual domain. Christ does not just rule the believers by being Lord in their hearts. Governments fulfil a godly and useful role in this age while we await the Lord from heaven. They are to establish peace by punishing those who do wrong and commending those who do right. Like the judges they are to do this under the authority of God.

Christians, then, are given the role of being both friend and foe to the government.

On the one hand they are to be the friend of government. Christians are exhorted to pray for governments (1 Timothy 2:1 – 2). Furthermore Christians are to submit to governments and honour them (1 Peter 2:13 – 17). There are good reasons for doing this. When governments function properly they enable the progress of the gospel (1 Timothy 2:3 – 4).

On the other hand the Christian is to be a severe critic of government. Christians are to evaluate government policies and actions in terms of the will of God and call on them to fulfil the role that God has assigned them. Governments are to be reminded that they come under Christ’s rule and they are obligated to keep his order.

BY Rev Michael Hill

[Source: Anglican Media Sydney]

The Rev Michael Hill is Vice Principal of Moore College.


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