I am not an expert in politics, but as a minister, I am a specialist in the Bible. So, in this short essay, I would like to lay out a biblical perspective on the relationship between faith and politics. And to do this well, while preserving brevity, I will narrow the scope of my essay to the discussion of a Biblical text that is especially clear and direct regarding this subject: Romans 13:1-7; because, after all, my own, subjective opinion will only benefit you, in so far as it is governed by the objective truth and authority of God’s word.
So let’s begin by looking together at Romans 13:1-2.
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
The first thing this text clearly teaches us, is that Christians must be involved in the public square. In verse 1, Paul writes that we are to “be subject to the governing authorities.” We cannot become civic monks as it were, isolating ourselves from political life, or from the governing structures of society, as if they did not exist, or had no bearing on our lives. There are some religious groups who promote political abstinence, as do some Christians who erroneously believe that the Christian life should only be concerned with the spiritual realm, and that since this is a fallen world, and politics is a dirty business, we should steer clear from the public square. But, since God’s word says we are to be subject to the governing authorities, then we must respectfully and earnestly engage with them. This also means that we must strive to be well informed about the politics of our day, for how will we rightly submit to our governing authorities, if we don’t know the laws and policies they have implemented?
The second thing we learn from this text, is that our involvement in the public square is governed by God’s sovereignty. In verses 1-2, we read that the authorities that exist have been instituted and appointed by God. This is a critically important point – perhaps the most important point in this text. Many Christians and non-Christians alike promote the idea that there is no place for God in the public square, as if the separation of church and state was the same thing as the separation of God and state. But, that is not the case, since, according to Scripture, God sovereignly institutes and appoints the government. It is because God is sovereign that governments are supposed to keep justice and promote the good. In fact, as we know, the Declaration of Independence grounds the inalienable rights of human beings on their divine origin, being endowed by the Creator.
There are three lessons I want to underscore here. First, the further government moves away from recognizing God’s sovereignty, the more vulnerable its citizens will become. That is because the value and the rights of each human life are not grounded in nature – where survival of the fittest is the law, and the strong prey on the weak; rather, the dignity and worth of each human life is grounded on our being made in God’s image and likeness, as male and female, being knitted in our mother’s womb, fearfully and wonderfully made, as the Psalmist writes in Psalm 139. The reason the progressive agenda is a serious menace to human flourishing, and demonstrates great disdain for God’s image in every human being – especially against the most vulnerable: babies in the womb, women, and the elderly – is precisely because it denies God’s sovereignty and the authority of His word.
Second, as Christians, our disposition toward government and authority ought to be one of deference and respect, because God is sovereign. And, it should be noted, that this admonition from Scripture does not only refer to government by Christians. For example, in Exodus 9:16, we learn that God appointed Pharaoh to rule over Egypt, and to have authority over God’s people. And in Daniel 4:17, we learn that God appointed Nebuchadnezzar to rule over Babylon, and to have authority over God’s people. And in Isaiah 45:1, we learn that God appointed Cyrus to rule over Persia, and to have authority over God’s people. And, finally, in Acts 4:28, we learn that God appointed Pilate to rule over the Roman Province of Judea, and to have authority over God’s people. This means that God is sovereign, even over the rule of wicked governments, and that we, as citizens, because we are under God’s authority, owe respect and obedience to the government over us, regardless of religious affiliation. This is very important, because it not only grounds our responsibility to submit to government, but it also defines the boundaries of our required obedience. In other words, since we are to obey the government because God is sovereign, then our allegiance is grounded on God’s Law.
Let’s look more closely at Romans 13:2-5, because here is the crux of the matter:
2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
Since governments are under God’s authority, they are accountable to Him. They are supposed to approve good conduct, and carry out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer, for not in vain, writes Paul, did God grant them the power of the sword. This is a crucial point because the implication is that if the government fails to promote God’s Law, or worse yet, if it compels its citizens to break God’s Law, then Christians must disobey.
Sometimes, religious institutions will appeal to texts like Romans 13, to call their members to submit to the law of the land, or sometimes even to promote and celebrate the law, even when the law of the land contradicts the Law of God. For example, the Bible calls us to protect the vulnerable. Yet, even though no one is more vulnerable than a baby in the womb, 2023 saw 1,037,000 abortions performed legally in the United States, making it the leading cause of death in this country. To put it in perspective, the next two leading causes of death were Heart Disease at 680,000, and Cancer at 613,000. In comparison, the deadliest year for COVID was 2021, in which 462,000 died in America, less than one-half of the number of babies being killed in the womb each year.
Another example of an unbiblical law is that of so-called Gay Marriage, which not only attempts to rewrite the Biblical definition of marriage, but also violates God’s prohibition of men lying with men, and women with women. Furthermore, it stifles the full expression of the image of God within the home, since God created man male and female in His own image and likeness. Furthermore, it robs the family’s very foundation from the unique gifts that each of the sexes brings to the union, and from the capacity to fulfill the creation mandate to be fruitful and fill the earth.
Another example is so-called Gender-Affirming Care, which not only violates God’s creation of human beings as male or female, but also promotes the mutilation of people’s bodies (including children), causes sterilization, and mistreats those with gender dysphoria. And, as if this weren’t enough, now men are taking advantage of their size and genetics to legally defeat women in sports – even, literally, getting paid to beat them up physically.
No true Christian can stand for laws such as these, not only because they show contempt for God by violating and mocking His word, but also because they show contempt for their neighbor, by failing to speak the truth in love to them. And because Satan is the father of lies, it is no accident that abortion is called “Reproductive Rights,” – when what is being asserted is the right to prevent reproduction at any cost – and same-sex union is called marriage, when the Bible defines marriage as being between one man and one woman; and gender transitioning is called “Gender Affirming Care,” when instead of affirming a person’s God-given gender, it denies it, even as studies have shown that a high percentage of people who receive this treatment, far from being cared for, end up with regret and severe mental health problems. No, as Christians, we are called to tell the truth in love, even if it is costly to us – whether in fines, job loss, or even prison. Make no mistake: progressive politicians champion this culture of death, promoting it, and even celebrating it with parades. As Christians, our vote must be aimed at stopping this profound hatred for God and for fellow human beings.
And, the third lesson we learn in these verses is this: Because God is sovereign, our hope is not rooted in the government, nor in any particular candidate; it is rooted in God. Contrary to this, the progressive mindset, because it denies God’s sovereignty and the authority of God’s word, places all its hopes and aspirations on the government. That is why it not only promotes laws that take power away from people (such as limiting free speech, enacting and enforcing laws and policies that promote censorship, and going after the businesses of people who hold to a biblical view of sexuality), but it also engenders hysteria when their preferred candidate loses an election, because, at its core, progressivism is a form of religious idolatry, seeing those with differing views, not as fellow citizens with rights, but as wicked heretics who oppose their god. As Christians, we must not fall into that snare from Satan. The real battle is not against flesh and blood, but against Satan, and sin, and death, and the solution is found in Jesus Christ, our hope, and the hope of the world.
Now, in Romans 13:6-7, Paul calls Christians to pay taxes, to pay our debts, and to show respect and honor to those who merit it. This is important, because it is both a call to be good citizens, and a call to always act respectfully and honorably, not only regarding the state, but also regarding our fellow human beings with whom we disagree, since they are made in God’s image. For we must be especially diligent in adhering to God’s word, when we are calling others to do the same. Our political influence as Christians will be most effective, not by the wielding of the sword – for that is the role of government, and God will hold them accountable – but by the integrity of our lives, our commitment to God’s word, and our willingness to suffer for the sake of Christ. Thus Joseph bore witness while in exile in Egypt, and Daniel bore witness while in exile in Babylon; and we shall bear witness during our exile here, for as Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20, “our citizenship is in Heaven.”
In Matthew 22, Pharisees and Sadducees attempted to trick Jesus by asking him if it was right to pay taxes to Caesar. If Jesus answered ‘yes,’ they believed he would lose favor with the people. If Jesus answered ‘no,’ they would denounce him to Rome as an insurrectionist. But, Jesus asked for a coin and said, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”
They answered, “Caesar’s.”
So, Jesus said, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Many see in this text a Biblical basis for the separation of church and state; but its meaning is more profound. You see, one side of the coin had the image of Emperor Tiberius Caesar; the other side read, “Tiberius Caesar, Son of the God Augustus.” So when the Pharisees and Sadducees saw the image of Caesar and the inscription about the Divine Son, it was the true Divine Son, in whose image Caesar was made, who held the coin in His hand. The point is that everything belongs to the God, even Caesar and his possessions. So, submit to the government, as unto the Lord. And be active in the public square, promoting the virtues of the Lord. And, when necessary, disobey in a manner worthy of the Lord. And, of course, vote in accordance with the Law of the Lord.
In this fallen world, the Lord will not be on the ballot, because He sits on the throne. And since He is sovereign, the right way to vote is clearly discernable. Joseph discerned the right way forward, even while he supported Pharaoh; and Daniel discerned the right way forward, even while he supported Nebuchadnezzar; and Zerubbabel discerned the right way forward, even while he supported Cyrus. And because Christ reigns, so shall you, if you submit to His authority.
