Are all Elected Officials ordained of God? (Part 2)

June 6

Are all Elected Officials ordained of God? (Part 2)

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)

Those who misinterpret the above passage to teach that every elected official who is in office has been placed there by God often tell us that to deny this belief and resist ungodly policy such as the murder of innocent unborn children, homosexual marriage, unnecessary spending and tax increase are actually resisting God Himself.

However, I have challenged them with this question: “When the authorities tell us to stop preaching in Jesus Name, should we humbly submit to the powers that be?” This is exactly what the “powers” did to the apostles in the early church. Notice their response:

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:27-29)

Now were Peter, John and the rest of the apostles in disobedience to God? Should they have disobeyed God and obeyed men and in that way they would be obeying God by disobeying Him? What if the authority tells us to bow down to a false deity? Should we humbly submit? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego seemed to disagree with modern day ideas as they actually resisted the powers. Yet, God blessed them for this resistance of authority (See Dan. 3:13-18). It was not God’s will for these boys to “obey God” by submitting to the king's request.

We must interpret Scripture with Scripture in order to get its correct and fullest meaning. Too many theologians attempt to build a doctrine on only one passage, and usually based on eisegesis of that text. This too often mischaracterizes God and makes Him responsible for the ungodliness happening in our government systems. On the other hand, God’s people should become politically active in our nation and always vote for candidates whose values are closest to those advocated by Scripture.

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