Are all Elected Officials ordained of God? (Part 1)

June 5

Are all Elected Officials ordained of God? (Part 1)

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God (Romans 13:1-2)

Many Christians in the United States believe that every elected official, no matter how godly or ungodly, was placed in office by God. This is despite the fact that the USA has elections to choose their leaders. This idea is often based on a faulty understanding of our opening passage.

In the USA our elected officials are where they are by THE WILL OF MAN and not God. Romans 13 is speaking about the fact that God ordains the AUTHORITY, or rather, the POSITION and not necessarily the PERSON. If we believe that every single person in a position of authority was there by God’s divine will then God is responsible for murderers such as Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, Hussein, Kim Jong Il, Idi Amin Dada, and numerous other dictators who tortured people and massacred others.
We are in essence saying that it was the will of God that leaders who advocate policies that go directly against God's will (abortion, homosexual marriage, etc.) were placed in office by Him. If it was God's will to have certain liberal politicians in office then it is also God's will to have baby killing continue and homosexual marriage promoted as well as have taxes so high that one would have less to support the gospel with. Those are all God's will if God is the One who put these individuals in office.

In the context of the passage God set up authority for the purpose of law and good being done in the land, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good.” (Rom. 13:3-4a).

In the context it is not saying that every person placed in authority is ordained of God, unless one wants to contend that there is some mysterious good in killing and starving the people you are ruling over, or aborting children and promoting the legalization of gay marriage.
No, the office of PRESIDENT is ordained of God. The office is ordained of God. The one who sits in the office is not always ordained of Him. However, we are required to pray for everyone that is authority (1 Tim. 2:1-6)

======================================================

Get a free .pdf copy of this devotional by visiting http://www.vindicatinggod.org/devotional.html