A quick overview of the Christian's relationship to a non-Christian world.
God is sovereign, He is the ultimate Lawgiver, Judge and King.
Humans are fallen, but free moral agents, given the obligation and opportunity to believe on Christ, turn from sin and submit to God's will.
Human Government is instituted by God for the protection of the innocent (law abiding) and the punishing of the wicked (lawless), whether domestic or foreign.
God uses the believer and the non-believer to bring about His rule and reign, but God does not force salvation or reprobation on anyone
God requires, enables and rewards faithful submission and living, which is the supernatural response of Divine love within the believer. Still, the believer is able to choose evil, as Adam (who was created without a sinful condition) chose to do evil.
Individuals and States (governments) are able to resist and reject God's will, but God will hold them answerable for their lawlessness and rebellion.
We will all be judged for our deeds done in the flesh, whether good or evil. Those who repent (believe on Christ as Savior and Lord) and live by faith (submit and obey God) are justified by faith in the death and resurrection of Christ.
Christians are directed to obey legitimate authority (from the familial to the governmental spheres).
HOWEVER, any "authority" which commands or requires personal disobedience to the revealed (Scriptural) rule of God must be rejected, in which case we are to obey God rather than men.
Christians choose to do that which is right.
Christians submit and support legitimate governmental authority (local and national).
Christians are directed (through New Testament revelation) to be personally non-violent. It is the States responsibility to enforce justice and judgment on a human level, and it is God's right to exercise eternal justice and judgment.
Christians live by faith (willful trust), and by love (fulfilling the law of God).
Faithful obedience to God will not bring the kingdom of God.
This world is estranged from God and for the greater part, it will not be reconciled to God.
Christians are light and salt in this world and we should do that which is best for this world (always within the will of God), but we are not going to reconcile this world. Christians support the of this worlds wealth, knowledge, law and order, government and military power to promote the well-being of our society. But it will always fall short.
After all of our human devices are expended, the world will still be in chaos because it rejects the rule of the King of kings.
This is no cause to just throw caution to the wind or to sit idly by. We should do what good we can while we can. Even then, it will have a short-term effect. We are not going to resurrect this dying world, but we can offer Divine solace and eternal life to anyone who will believe.
We are created in Christ Jesus to do good works and he that knows to do good but does not do it to him it is sin.
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