Government
Those in
authority are ultimately responsible to God.
It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 17:18-19, TLB. "And when
he has been crowned and sits upon his throne as king, then he must
copy these laws from the book kept by the Levite-priests. That copy
of the laws shall be his constant companion. He must read from it
every day of his life so that he will learn to respect the Lord his
God by obeying all of His commands." The government must
learn the ways of God in order to rightly govern. The church
does not learn the ways of the government.
Those in
authority are responsible for choosing good leaders.
It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 16:18-19, TLB. "Appoint
judges and administrative officials for all the cities the Lord your
God is giving you. They will administer justice in every part of the
land. Never twist justice to benefit a rich man, and never accept
bribes. For bribes blind the eyes of the wisest and corrupt their
decisions."
We should
obey the governmental authorities that God has placed in power.
It's in the Bible, Romans 13:1-4, TLB. "Obey the
government , for God is the one who has put it there. There is no
government anywhere that God has not placed in power. So those who
refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and
punishment will follow. For the policeman does not frighten people
who are doing right; but those doing evil will always fear him. So
if you don't want to be afraid, keep the laws and you will get along
well. The policeman is sent by God to help you. But if you are doing
something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for he will have
you punished. He is sent by God for that very purpose."
If God has placed
leaders in power, then the leaders must give honor to God's name.
God places the leaders in power to encourage people to do good and
to punish people who do evil. Therefore, the authority must
prevent evil to spread in the country and to reward and encourage
those who obey God's Word.
Believers
should cooperate with the authorities wherever possible to do good
according to God's Word.
It's in the Bible, Titus 3:1, TLB. "Remind your people
to obey the government and its officers, and always to be obedient
and ready for any honest work."
Sometimes
obedience to God and His law may require disobedience of earthly
powers.
It's in the Bible, Acts 5:29, NIV. "We must obey God
rather than men!"
Jesus made clear in
Matthew 22:22 that, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God
what is God's." That is, do not offer to the authority what
belong to God, and do not take what belong to Caesar into the house
of God. Religion and politics cannot be mixed together.
God says, "I will not give my glory to another or my praise to
idols." (Isaiah 42:8)
Jesus gave an
example of citizenship in paying taxes.
It's in the Bible, Matthew 17:27, NIV "But so that we
may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take
the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a
four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and
yours."
Christians
should willingly pay their taxes.
It's in the Bible, Romans 13:5-7, TLB. "Obey the laws,
then, for two reasons: first, to keep from being punished, and
second, just because you know you should. Pay your taxes too, for
these same two reasons. For government workers need to be paid so
that they can keep on doing God's work, serving you. Pay everyone
whatever he ought to have: pay your taxes and import duties gladly,
obey those over you, and give honor and respect to all those to whom
it is due."