Bible Studies
The Christian and His Relationship to the Government (Matt. 22:15-22)
Series: Additional StudiesIntroduction:
1. When I began preparation of this lesson my objective was straightforward and rather simple. I wanted to establish that government does not define right and wrong. 2. This is a particularly relevant issue in light of the government validating homosexual marriages, allowing for abortion, defining speed limits, import/export taxes, immigration laws, income taxes, and the list goes on almost forever. 3. Is the Christian bound by whatever the government decides? That is, is it sin if I violate a law made by the government that may be contrary to the law of God? 4. Imagine that I am a pharmacist. I receive a prescription from a doctor calling for an abortifacient. Will I fill the prescription? 5. As a marriage and family therapist I have been asked to give evidence of psychological, emotional stress caused by a pregnancy to determine whether the woman should or should not be granted a government subsidized abortion. 6. It seems that people have struggled with such issues throughout history. Paying taxes to Caesar was as much an issue in the first century as in the 21st. Jesus’ answer here is not designed to address that issue, but the issue of the Pharisees testing him. 7. Whatever principles we accept they must be broad enough to encompass not only the government of the United States, but also government generally.Discussion:
I. In ancient Israel many of the problems that we experience were made non-issues by the form of government known as a theocracy.A. In a theocracy God is the head of the state.
1. In Israel there was no separation of church and state. God was recognized as the supreme ruler in both governmental and spiritual matters.
a. Moses was not only a religious leader, but also a judge of religio-governmental matters (Ex. 18:13ff). The people did not go to Washington, Frankfort, the county court house. They went to Moses. They did not go to find out what the Supreme Court said. They went to find out what God said (Ex. 18:15).
b. Following the rehearsal of the Ten Commandments in Ex. 20 there is a list of ordinances (Ex. 21-23) addressing governmental matters between the people.
2. Very similar to what I read about the kingdom of God (the church) in the N.T.
a. God is the head of every Christian.
b. Every aspect of life comes under His control.
c. 1 Cor. 6:1-6.
B. The Vatican is a modern example of a theocracy. You may question whether God is the head of the state or the pope in this circumstance, but as far as government is concerned it is a theocracy.
C. There are difficulties with theocracy when not everyone recognizes the same god and the same law.
1. The various Islamic States exemplify the problem.
a. The God of the Bible is not recognized instead it is Allah and the Koran.
b. Examples of Islamic States: Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
2. Muhammad, not Moses, is the spokesperson of Allah. Thus the rules are different.
3. Clerics become religio-political leaders.
4. Religious war (Jihad) is declared on infidels.
5. Imagine being a Christian living under such a government. How would your relationship to the government be fleshed out? The question of paying taxes and submitting to the governing authorities looks different now. “Well I would just escape from that country.” But the immigration laws of the country that you want to go to close the borders of that government to you.
D. There are other variations of governmental structure.
1. Roman government involved mostly the rulership of men. There was less consideration to God, although polytheistic concepts were inherent in their religion.
2. Citizens of Rome elected governing officials.
3. The Emperor was honored as a deity.
4. This was the context of first century Christians.
5. When we study passages such as Rom. 13; 1 Pet. 2:13 understand that this is the context.
6. Roman law allowed for all kinds of practices that were everything but in harmony with the ethical standards revealed in the Bible. But hasn’t this always been the case except when the God of the Bible reigns in the hearts of men.
II. In the United States we live under a democracy.A. This is what we are most familiar with and as we read the texts of Scripture we may assume this perspective in our application.
B. In this form of government God is moved more to the background and man is raised to the forefront.
1. The ideal is that the people exercise critical control.
2. The people elect their leaders.
3. Christians can participate in the process. They can vote. They can serve as elected officials, providing they have the money and the following to be elected.
C. But this system is marred by many flaws.
1. Not the least of which is that God is in the background and man is in the foreground.
2. In any system run by men there will be laws made and enforced that according to God’s rule is wrong.
3. The United States is not the kingdom of God. Our rulers, in most cases, do not adhere to the laws of God. Many do not regard the Bible as a revelation from God, nor concern themselves with its ethics. How can we say we are a “Christian nation?” We may be a nation influenced by Christianity, historically, but more and more we are influenced by various forms of religion and non-religion.
4. Why are we surprised that our government enacts laws contrary to the teaching of Scripture?
III. What are we to do? Rom. 13:1ff; 1 Pet. 2:13-17 helps answer this question. IV. Our mission is the ultimate answer.A. Our mission is to take the message of the gospel of God’s kingdom to the world.
B. One person at a time people come under the control of God’s law as they are persuaded that this is the better way.
C. This kingdom is the way of peace. Its ethical standards respect and honor all.
D. It is a kingdom where the weak and vulnerable are cared for.
E. It is a kingdom where those who have no voice are heard.
F. When God’s will is done on earth, as it is in heaven it is glorious.
G. That is what the Lord’s church is. We might even call it a theocracy, a kingdom within kingdoms.
Conclusion:
1. I certainly do not understand all the world’s forms of government. I do not know what a Christian should do in every circumstance that he/she might live under. 2. This I do know, the kingdom of God, is the only Christian nation and being a citizen in that kingdom shapes the very way we go about life. 3. It is this perspective that is to mold our thinking and grant us perspective as we negotiate the circumstances that we find ourselves in. 4. Would you be a member of this kingdom?
