Actually, we need The King, Jesus Christ. But we will not see The King of kings until Jesus comes back.
In the meantime, we are directed by God to self-govern. God gave humans the responsibility to self-govern under the Supreme Rule of God, or we have the choice of freedom to self-govern, while rejecting God's Supreme Authority.
(By the way, keep this thought as your read this post...)
As Christians we have a God given strong sense of right-and-wrong and justice. This is good. We should not lose our sense of right and justice, but neither should we lose the fact that God is love, and love is redemptive. This does not mean that the guilty are not guilty, but it does mean that Jesus died and rose again to forgive and transform sinners and give them eternal salvation. Salvation does not remove accountability and judgment for the crimes a person commits in this world, but it is instrumental in reconciling lost people to God, if they trust in Christ. This post is not addressing the fact of God's judgment or the right and responsibility of the State to protect and provide justice. This post is about the Christian view and work of reconciling the lost to Christ.
Don't sit on a "high horse," of carnal disapproval, attacking the enemy. This is where the idea of, "hate the sin, but love the sinner," is appropriate. Wicked people, movements, nations all need to be condemned for their godlessness, but at the same time we should see the fact that we, as believers, could be in the same situation, except for the grace of God. Love will cause and enable us to treat others in the way we would want others to treat us. Remember, the guilty one needs redemption and remember, they have loved ones that need Christ. Do not put a barrier of "self-righteousness" between God and other people.
God gave us freedom (actually RESPONSIBILITY [obligation and opportunity]) to rule self and rule society, while submitting to the Divine Authority, or the "freedom" (actually REBELLION [obstruction and opposition]) to rule self or rule society, while submitting to Demonic Anarchy.
All authority is morally and legally answerable to God in heavens court. Rebellion is the attitude that goes with overthrow, but overthrow is not always the end result. In the case of God's sovereignty, there are rebels, but there is no ultimate overthrow of God's kingdom. On the other hand, God will reign and rule forever, casting down His enemies eternally.
Make your calling and election to salvation sure (certain and settled) by choosing to submit and follow the rule of God in your life. This means casting down and casting out everything that stands against the rule of God, whether political or private, religious, secular, cultural or legal.
The Christian does not resist evil with the sword of steel, but with the sword of the Spirit. It is the Government's responsibility to wield the sword of steel. While evil kingdoms rise and fall, Christians stand firm in their commitment to the Lordship (Kingship, Rulership) of Jesus Christ. The Christian, the Church must live by God's directives for believers, and we must recognize the State's right to carry out its God given task to punish the criminal and protect the law abiding.
Christians are salt in a corrupted and corrupting world; we are light in a dark and demonic world. Those who trust and follow Jesus do not bow before the Prince of Darkness, the god of this world. We will stand, we will serve and we will suffer rather than surrender to the Wicked One. We will stand for righteousness, we will denounce and renounce wickedness, we will cry aloud and spare not, regardless of personal cost, we will live the life of Christ in this present evil world, we will proclaim the way of truth, light, life, deliverance through Jesus.
This world is not His kingdom. Neither this world nor this world system is eternal. Political parties are the not kingdom of God nor are they the Body of Christ. We will do what is Christlike to save people from the snare of the demonic deception, but we will not take up carnal weapons or physical violence to bring the kingdom of God. Jesus said,
In John 18:36
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
The institution related to the present Lordship of Christ is His Church. (not an earthly kingdom). Christ is the One Lord over the Church. His kingdom is an invisible kingdom, which is not physical or national or political or geographic or economic or racial. His kingdom in this world is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy. We, as Christians, are strangers, sojourners, aliens in this world. We are not trying to save the world (as a political, human system), but we are God's Ambassadors, offering reconciliation to individual rebels. Our weapons are not carnal, but spiritual; we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual beings.
I hope you will read the next three passages and see the connection they have with each other and the application they have in our Christian experience.
This Romans passage is not a carte blanch for any human government (private or political). It is a reminder that all legitimate government submits to Divine rule.
Romans 13:1-7
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Read all of Proverbs 29 with the idea that it applies to individuals and to nations.
Proverbs 29:1-27
1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.
14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.
17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
19 A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
26 Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
Privately we must not resist legitimate human rule, though we must not yield to any man-made rule which opposes God's written and revealed Authority, found in the Bible. We must obey human authority when it is not in contradiction or conflict with Divine Rule.
Obey God rather than man.
Acts 5:22-32
22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Remember, God is love; Love is the fulfilling of the law; love is found in what we think, say and do; love never fail.
Our responsibility is to love our enemies, our neighbors. Our responsibility is to speak the truth in love. Our responsibility is to let others see and hear God's call to salvation, through us.
We choose to be instruments of His love, forgiveness, reconciliation or we choose to be stumbling stones.
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