Yesterday we inaugurated a new president. Slightly more than half of Americans were happy to see Joe Biden take the reins of the country, while just under half were dissatisfied and worried. While we are blessed with the opportunity to change our leadership every four years, that also means that we experience frequent periods of upheaval as the pendulum of power swings. Policies change rapidly as power shifts. In this polarized environment, new decisions are often exactly OPPOSITE to the choices made by the previous administration. This is naturally unnerving to the party on its way out, and at some point, you will probably find yourself distressed about the direction of the nation. If you are happy today, then you will be worried again tomorrow, and if you are worried today, the time will come again when you are at peace.
As Christians, our peace should not come from political leaders, but we are still concerned with the values and moral direction of our nation. What does a Christian do, then, during the times when he or she is NOT at peace with leadership of the nation? Under the current administration, it is conservative Christians who will most often be asking themselves this question, although on state and local levels a liberal could ask themselves the same. Here are some guidelines to help us along the way:
The first guideline is this: Pray for the president.
“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2
This is quite straightforward, and it shows that we must be praying for ALL leaders, for our own good as much as theirs. It doesn’t mean that you have to pray for the success of policies you find abhorrent. Pray for the end of those policies and for the wisdom of the people making the decisions. Pray that whatever God’s will is, the person in power will seek Him and follow it. Leave it in God’s hands.
Guideline 2: Watch your rhetoric.
“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him…Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” – 1 Peter 2:13,17
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” – Titus 3:1-3
One of the reasons that our politics has become so dark is because personal attacks are now par for the course. Many blame this on Donald Trump- and he was certainly a big part of the problem- but the hatred directed at him was no less intense than his own insults. The environment is truly toxic on all sides. 
Even people who call themselves Christians are declaring their HATE for others. Some of our most illustrious politicians speak openly about their Christianity but stoke the fires of strife. It is easy to fall into this trap when we view someone as a threat to our values, but we as Christians need to try to oppose policies without resorting to insults or lies. Social media is the enemy of rational discourse, but it is a worthy goal to make a coherent argument rather than a nasty jab. EVERY person is made in the image of God.
It is also worth noting that the emperor Peter was directing readers to honor was most likely Nero- a psychopathic murderer of Christians. Peter himself was probably martyred under Nero, which is a good reminder that “I can speak hatefully because this leader is so objectionable” is not valid reasoning for a Christian. I’m sure that Peter was not asking people to lavish praise upon an evil ruler, but he was still calling for them to honor the position.
Guideline 3: Follow the law.
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established…Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted…” – Romans 13:1-2
”Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust…for if you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.” – 1 Peter 2:18-20
Firstly, this verse establishes that there is nothing on earth that happens without God’s sovereign approval. As Jesus said to Pontius Pilate when he was in the process of ordering Jesus’ crucifixion, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.” (John 19:11) Jesus’ response shows not that He was a supporter of Pilate as the God-appointed leader of the region, but that anyone who does indeed end up in power has done so because God has allowed it. God might allow leaders for a variety of reasons: judgment on a nation, blessing a people, setting the stage for a later event, or merely allowing people to experience what they have chosen. However, nobody is in power if God wills it otherwise.
Secondly, we may be at peace because our leaders will give an account to God for their actions. We need not concern ourselves about their judgment or their souls. Our responsibility is to regulate our own conduct. This is sometimes DIFFICULT when policies concern us, but it does not mean that we cannot oppose bad or ungodly actions- indeed we should. Our method of opposition and our attitude is key, however.
Romans 13 continues, “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”
Does this mean that we have to support every rule and ordinance that is put in place by our governmental leaders? No, but I think that we must be obedient if the rule does not directly require us to disobey God- “…render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” This does not mean that we cannot seek to change an unfair policy. Anyone who has read the New Testament knows that Jesus lived under Roman rule and oppression. 
Tax collection is specifically mentioned over and over as an undue burden on the people. Jesus still advised them to be obedient within the society in which they lived. Nevertheless, He called Matthew the tax collector out of that life and into a better one. In no way was Jesus celebrating the taxes by encouraging His listeners to be obedient.
Guideline 3.5: God’s law is preeminent.
“The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,’ he said. ‘Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.’
Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!’” – Acts 5: 27-29
The Bible repeatedly reminds us to be obedient to those in power, but it also sets a precedent for civil disobedience. By this I am not suggesting that we should rebel, but merely that biblical obedience to an authority does not require blind adherence to everything he or she represents. We are so lucky to live in a governmental system which allows us to choose our own representation and try to change things for the better. We should use that system to stay within the law, but if a law violates God’s law (slavery is a good example), then the higher law may take precedent. In this verse, Peter and the disciples point out that their first responsibility is to God.
It is also interesting to note that when Paul wrote many of the verses quoted above about obedience to authority, he was in prison for his civil disobedience and his refusal to stop preaching the Gospel. There is a limit to our obedience if a law contradicts God’s greater law, but Paul was nonviolent, and he accepted the government’s punishment of death with grace and courage. Again, this should not be used to inflict one’s own will rather than God’s or to stir up discord. Most laws- however unfair- do not demand that we personally contradict God’s law. We are blessed to have many options for our conscientious opposition in America, including the right to protest and to free speech.
Guideline 4: Be honest and supportive when a leader you DIDN’T choose does something RIGHT.
“The perfect is the enemy of the good.”- Voltaire
“I charge you…to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.” – 1 Timothy 5:21
Because our politics have become so divisive, we fear that any encouragement of a politician we didn’t help elect is an approval of their whole platform and may help them to get reelected. We fear that this will sabotage our goals for the country in the long run. It’s only right and honest, however, to support someone when they give you what you say you have been wanting.
This was a complaint of mine while President Trump was in power. If the policy he put in place seemed to be exactly what his opponents had asked for, they suddenly found a way to paint it as not only negative for the country but also as diabolical. They guessed his motives if his actions seemed acceptable. For example, when he encouraged foreign nations to decriminalize homosexuality, it wasn’t the fundamentalist Christians who criticized him. I expected the LGBT lobby to celebrate the effort, but over and over I saw people fail to give him any credit. To be fair, I don’t expect to see anything different with Joe Biden. It is highly likely that Republicans will not find much to praise, and while his current policy plans are not in line with a conservative Christian value system, he should be praised if he DOES come through with any big requests. I promise that I will be the first to praise him if he makes any gains for the pro-life cause. I’m not overly optimistic, but I won’t cut off my nose to spite my face. Remember, it is not “all or nothing.” We should be looking at each individual action honestly and positively reinforcing anything good.
Guideline 5: Be honest when a leader you DID choose does something WRONG.
“Let me now be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.” – Job 32:21-22
For the same reasons that we are afraid to praise an opponent, we are also afraid to criticize an ally. We do not want to sabotage their agenda or their chances in the future. Additionally, we have often become so hopelessly tribal that we cannot even see when a preferred leader does something wrong. You can catch yourself doing this if you have to look at popular opinions on your political side to decide whether you are in support of an action or not and to determine just how outraged you are. We should instead be checking those actions against our consciences and more importantly against the Bible.
In conclusion, the Bible is quite clear about the course of action that a Christ-follower should take when they are not pleased with the current leadership. This does not include petty insults or aggressions- which may be difficult when we feel the same consideration has not been given to us. There may be a temptation to get revenge by making the next presidency equally difficult and by making its supporters feel equally judged. That is not our calling, however. What our neighbors do will be on their own conscience before God. We only control our own responses.
Our Biblical guidance does include prayer and can involve nonviolent opposition within the bounds of the law. We should at all times be seeking to honor God with our behavior both in the personal and the political spheres. Our criticisms cannot include hatred or vengeful motives. We must model good citizenship and respect for our children and our communities. We must pray for God’s guidance of our leaders and His intervention in the highest places of our government. At the same time, we must do what we can to influence leaders toward godly ends. Perhaps most importantly, we must love our families and our neighbors regardless of who we find in power. God bless you all under this new administration, whether you identify as a conservative or a liberal. May we work together to seek God’s kingdom.
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Jackie Chea is a blogger from San Antonio, Texas who holds a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Community Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She writes on political and cultural issues from a conservative, religious standpoint. She lives in the Lone Star State with her husband Nick, her 5-year-old son Lincoln, and her rescue dogs. |
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