Doing Good For Our Nation

Doing GOOD for Our Nation

By Al Diestelkamp

God recognized the need for men to be governed. Ideally, men should be ruled by God's word, but He recognized that most would not submit to His rule, and so he ordained civil government to maintain order in this wicked world.

God revealed that governments are "sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good" (1 Pet. 2:14). Governments that fulfill this mandate, will not be a "terror to to good works, but to evil" ( Rom. 13:3).

The Lord has even given civil rulers authority to "bear the sword" in order to "execute wrath" on evildoers ( Rom. 13:4). Clearly, capital punishment, is an option available to governments in their attempts to maintain order.

Since governments are ordained by God, "whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves" (Rom. 13:2).

However, governments sometimes become corrupt, and violate God's purpose. Christians need to be prepared with the right response should our government make laws which ask us to violate God's word. It's easy for us to see that if our government were to enact a law requiring Christians to bow down to an idol, or prohibiting us from assembling on the first day of the week, we would have to violate such laws. Our first century brethren, when commanded by civil authorities not to preach the gospel, cited the overriding principle: "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Ac. 5:29).

Here in the United States our government has had a history of trying to accommodate religious belief, but there is a growing sentiment away from that practice. We should not fool ourselves into thinking that we will always be so blessed. Already we hear of secularists who want laws against public teaching against homosexuality, classifying it as a "hate crime." Then there are those who want to require churches to allow women to preach, and if they don't, to revoke tax-exempt status.

In such situations it should become clear that the command to "submit yourselves to every ordinance of man" (1 Pet. 2:13) does not apply to man-made laws which would cause us to violate a command of God.

Perhaps a more difficult decision is what to do when the government steps beyond its authority and "binds" where God has "loosed." Consider what should be our response if the governing authorities imposed any of the the following:

1. A law allowing church assemblies only on Sundays. Clearly, the Lord has authorized Christians to meet often--even daily (Ac. 5:42), and we have an example of a church that apparently met only on the first day of the week (Ac. 20:7). Since how often we meet in addition to the first day assembly is a matter to be determined by the local church, some may think that in such a case we must abide by the law of the land. I disagree, and perhaps the next couple of examples will show that when God looses, man (including government) cannot bind.

2. A law prohibiting Christians from having children. Don't scoff at that possibility. Already some nations restrict the number of children people can have. It's not a giant leap to think a government might feel they have the right to restrict the growth of Christianity by prohibiting believers from having children. If that were to happen, I believe we would have the God-given right to disobey such a law (1 Tim. 5:14).

3. A law making spanking of children a crime. This has become a reality in some parts of our nation. While there are other forms of correction available to parents, God's word has clearly endorsed spanking as an authorized form of discipline (Prov. 13:24). Man, including the government, has no right to bind where God has loosed.

What About Taxes?
One of the "good" things we can do for our government is to pay our taxes. Jesus, when asked about paying taxes during a time when Rome was in power said, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Lk. 20:25). The apostle Paul told Christians in Rome to pay our taxes because governments are "God's ministers" ( Rom. 13:6-7).

The fact that governments often use our tax money for evil purposes does not permit us to withhold from them. God will hold them accountable for how they minister for Him.

What You Can Do for Your Country
It is "good and acceptable to God" that we pray for our nation and those in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-3). God listens to His children, making prayer powerful and effective (Jas. 5:16). Who knows, our prayers may affect more positive change than our votes!

In his inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy issued the following challenge: "My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you--ask what can you do for your country." Long before, Solomon supplied the best answer to that question: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov. 14:34). Therefore, the greatest good you can do for your country is to make it more righteous--by being righteous.

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