On Politics: "Be Subject to the Superior Authorities"
As the Body of Christ, national politics is not our business.
Howdy!
This newsletter is the first in a three-part series about politics, as it relates to the Body of Christ today. While Scripture is not, by any means, a political handbook, Paul, the apostle to the nations, was explicit about what our attitude should be toward politics and government, no matter our personal feelings about who is in office, who is not in office, or the consequences that arise by virtue of who is in office.
A Bit About Me
Once upon a time, I worked as a full-time journalist. My first paid writing gig was drafting political news for a digital outlet.
Despite wanting to be a screenwriter, as well as the next great American author, I settled for a writing profession that, at the time, seemed to promise the most financial stability.
I was paid $25 for my first piece of political journalism.
I started out as a freelancer, before, eventually, landing a salaried position.
I went on to publish over 2,000 pieces of political news and journalism. During that time, I had the opportunity to speak with prominent voices, including political figures, journalists, and notable cultural commentators relevant to political discourse across the U.S.
Needless to say, I learned a lot about the political landscape during that time.
I came to understand that politics, like religion, is oftentimes a method by which people develop a lethal sense of superiority and self-righteousness, all under the guise of serving the populace, or ridding the world of their political opposition.
Sadly, I, too, was sucked into the vortex.
I became calloused and hateful toward those who didn’t think, or believe, as I did. I thought my political opponents were stupid, foolish, or, at best, profoundly ignorant.
And I stayed that way, for years.
Political zealotry can, and often is, just as destructive as religious zealotry.
Thankfully, God, in His infinite grace, has since “rescue[d] [me] out of the jurisdiction of Darkness” (Colossians 1:13).
But politics is still here. It’s everywhere.
So, in an effort to learn God’s mind concerning politics and government today, we must turn to Scripture, where He has revealed to us, specifically, how we ought to conduct ourselves on these matters.
“No Authority Except Under God”
Paul, in his letter to the Romans, is very clear about what the Body of Christ’s attitude should be, as it relates to the “authorities.”
Despite Paul’s admonitions, Christians today long for the manifestation of a so-called Christian nation, which will, according to them, reflect their own beliefs and convictions.
(If you’re unaware, Christian nationalism has gained visibility and influence over the past decade.)
And thus, they, Christians, will ever live in harmony with The Big Cheese (i.e. God).
When challenged on this topic, Christians retort: “What Christian wouldn’t want to live in a Christian nation?”
Well, I don’t know about Christians, but members of the Body of Christ are never encouraged to search out an earthly nation, or kingdom, that reflects their views.
Why?
Because our future is in the celestial realms, not the earth. The Circumcision were promised an earthly kingdom, and they will get it, in due time.
It is crucial to understand this distinction.
As for the idiots, morons, and hillbillies among the Uncircumcision, our allotment is far and away superior to the future earthly kingdom.
Our allotment, revealed to us exclusively through Paul’s epistles, have nothing to do with a kingdom, or nation, that will be set up on this planet.
Paul’s Teaching on “Authorities”
The legacy of modern politics is the act of rebelling, or refusing, the authority of pre-existing forms of governance.
There is always a contingent, within any country, that feels slighted by the government under which they live.
Sometimes, this leads to an overthrow, and sometimes, it leads to an authoritarian form of government that exercises draconian methods to keep the population in line.
Consider Paul.
I bet Paul didn’t think too highly of the Roman Empire. He spent much of his ministry under house arrest, or imprisoned. And, to top it off, he was executed by the very government he implored believers, at the time, to be subject to!
And still, despite this, Paul encourages members of the Body of Christ to be “subject to the superior authorities.”
Paul was imploring believers, based on God’s will, not on his own political sensibilities. It’s imperative to keep this in mind.
Nowhere, in all of Paul’s writings, does it suggest that he tried to overthrow the Roman Empire, or usher in a new form of government he thought was best. He did not try to lower taxes, or advocate for Empire-wide healthcare.
In Romans 13:1-7, Paul writes:
1 Let every soul be subject to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except under God. Now those which are, have been set under God,
2 so that he who is resisting an authority has withstood God's mandate. Now those who have withstood, will be getting judgment for themselves,
3 for magistrates are not a fear to the good act, but to the evil. Now you do not want to be fearing the authority. Do good, and you will be having applause from it.
4 For it is God's servant for your good. Now if you should be doing evil, fear, for not feignedly is it wearing the sword. For it is God's servant, an avenger for indignation to him who is committing evil.
5 Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of indignation, but also because of conscience.
6 For therefore you are settling taxes also, for they are God's ministers, perpetuated for this self-same thing.
7 Render to all their dues, to whom tax, tax, to whom tribute, tribute, to whom fear, fear, to whom honor, honor.
The “authorities,” or governments, that have been installed on Earth are there because God has made it so. They do not possess any inherent power of their own, despite what Fox News, CNN, or some random podcast claims.
And so, when believers reject the “authorities,” they are, in fact, withstanding God’s superior method of organizing modern civilization in this “present wicked eon” (Galatians 1:4).
The passage above can be summed up by a fragment from verse one: “[T]here is no authority except under God.”
How many really, truly, believe this, though?
Both believers and nonbelievers are rushing, headlong, into political debates, both in person and online, believing that it is their duty to bring about the much-needed change.
Neither Democrat nor Republican
We are to follow the law of the land, despite what disagreements we may have with it. We are to pay taxes to whom we owe taxes.
The Body of Christ is not destined for governmental heroism, or political partisanship. The Body of Christ is not invited to the Progressive Parade. The Body of Christ is not invited to the “Don’t Tread On Me” Club.
Nevertheless, believers still get pulled into political jockeying on social media, constantly arguing for things that apply to a terrestrial location, of which they have no permanent stake.
It would be like me, an American, traveling to Scotland, or Mozambique, and demanding that they change their laws to fit my governmental wants and desires. To use Scriptural language, that would be stupid!
The knowledge of rising gas prices will not make them go down.
Conversely, the knowledge of rising gas prices does make people angry, discontent, and hateful toward those who are purportedly responsible.
Instead, this is our lot:
Now a slave of the Lord must not be fighting, but be gentle toward all, apt to teach, bearing with evil, with meekness…" (2 Timothy 2:24-25)
To be Democrat, or Republican—at least in the U.S.—is incoherent for those who are believers in Paul’s evangel. Neither party speaks of our future allotment in the celestials.
Since I left the journalism world, I have made a conscious effort to stay as far away as possible from politics, both locally and nationally.
Not a single good thing comes of it, from the perspective of the Body of Christ.
Perhaps there’s a good reason why politics, generally speaking, is a topic best avoided during family gatherings.
Instead, we ought to lend an ear to Paul, who, in Ephesians 6:12, writes:
[F]or it is not ours to wrestle with blood and flesh, but with the sovereignties, with the authorities, with the world-mights of this darkness, with the spiritual forces of wickedness among the celestials.
All human politics, authorities, and governments will fail. None of them are meant to last. None of them are going to solve our problems.
All sides are wrong. All are doomed. Period.
Politics is a vice that swells the ego, and, often, gives us a misplaced sense of self-righteousness.
We are aliens here. Campers. Pitching our tent here for a time. But not for all time.
Before you go…
The second and third installments of this study on politics, government, and our future allotment will be published over the next two weeks. My challenge for you, in the meantime, is to find sources of positive influence, outside the realm of politics. It seems politics has a funny way of making people angry virtually all the time, and we shouldn’t be, given our future allotment, and the sublime grace that God has bestowed upon humanity. Everything is playing out exactly how God has planned it.
So…
Grill some steaks. Join a Pickleball club. Pick your nose. Whatever it is that gives you joy.
With grace, and the tie of peace,
Concordant Student
Wholeheartedly concur! Nice work, brother. By the way, my first job out of uni was working on the Sports Desk of the Dallas Times Herald. Yet another similarity.