Romans 13                                 Revelation 13

Godly Government                      Ungodly Government

Christian Submission                   Christian Persecution

Works for your good                    Works against your good

God’s Servant                              God’s Enemy

Is Obeyed                                    Is Worshipped

Judgment, justice and authority come from God. (13:1-2)

Understand that our role is first to submit to the government (13:1)

Do what is right and the government will treat you well. (13:3-4)

Government officials are ministers of God. Know that they provide peace and safety. (13:5-6)

Endeavor to show a positive attitude to your government officials. (13:7)

“Then Jesus told them, “Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s…” (Mark 12:17, HCSB)

“Pay your obligations to everyone: …respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.” (Romans 13:7, HCSB)

“It is by me that kings reign and rulers enact just law;” (Proverbs 8:15, HCSB)

“A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord’s hand: He directs it wherever He chooses.” (Proverbs 21:1, HCSB)

Right now is election season. The United States is less than three weeks from an election between two candidates (Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.) It has been a long election season. Many wish for it to be over. There are have been many comments made about who should be the right president for this country. The implication is that one candidate will be a better candidate to keep the United States on the right track. Also implied in the endorsements (especially of many evangelical Christian leaders of late) has been that a Mormon would be better than a Christian because he has the same values as a Christian. However, a Mormon and a Christian don’t even worship the same God and have completely different views about Christ and the church.

Jesus never “endorsed” a candidate. His famous statement to “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God to what is God’s” illustrated a coexistence of government and the church while also positioning the church as a separate authority than the government. Paul defines the role of government as an agent of God to execute law and order in the country for its citizens.

In Proverbs, Solomon reveals an important truth about governments. God is bigger than any government. God is bigger than the United States. God is bigger than the President of the United States. God is bigger than any candidate for the United States President. No matter the outcome of the election, God will still work His purposes. We will be no better or worse off whichever candidate is chosen. In this day and age when it seems that all we hear is gloom and doom from all sides, it is better to say that in the end, just as the song says, “God has the whole world in His hands” – even the President of the United States.

Photo by Michael on Unsplash