Romans 13:1
1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.
Daniel 2:21
He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
How do we as followers of Jesus make sure we don’t get taken captive by deceptive philosophy?
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
There is not earthly form of government that will get it right. Human government will fail. The question is, are there forms of human government that get closer to seeing the Kingdom of Heaven on the Earth? Are there forms of government that allow more freedom for the Kingdom of God to establish and expand on the Earth?
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NKJV
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
1. Uneducated people are easier to govern than educated people.
50% of the adults in the United States can’t read a book written in the 8th grade level.
44% don’t read a single book per year.
Seek out education so that you are able to find truth.
2. Indoctrinated people are easier to govern than free-thinking people.
Education is often based on training in ideologies instead of training people how to think critically.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Make sure your education is based on critical thinking, and not deceptive ideologies.
3. Broken people are easier to control than whole people.
If you keep people broken, there is no will to fight.
Don’t let any man-made structure decide what you do with your body, how to spend your resources, or what your family structure should look like. Live your life scripturally, not based on your governing officials opinions.
4. Entertained people are easier to govern than engaged people.
Entertainment is the prime way to distract people.
Amusement: a (negative prefix), muse (to think). Amusement means, “to not think.”
Don't let entertainment keep you from engaging with people and with government.
Knowing that government can so easily lead to corruption, how do we honor our authority under a corrupt government?
When Paul wrote about the government he was under, that government was far worse than anything we’ve had in America, but he still honored his authority.
Matthew 10:16
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves
Micah 6:8
And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
We need to remember that the weapons of our warfare aren’t physical. We are here to engage in a spiritual and idealogical fight. The weapons we use are heavy: prayer and intellect to put forth the Kingdom of God and tear down the lies of the enemy of God.
We have the responsibility, if we are under a corrupt government, to engage that government on an intellectual level with much prayer about their role to protect those doing good and punish those doing evil. We need to be thinking, how do we engage the truth against lies?
Speaking the truth of Christ to those around us is how we change things. You don’t change the world for Jesus by electing government officials or legislation. The Holy Spirit changes that through transformation and discipleship. We need to be engaged on a personal level with the gospel.
Luke 10:27
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind
What does it look like when I love God with ALL of my mind? Instead of binge-watching a show on TV, what would it look like to do that with scripture, prayer, and worship? The more we take in stuff that is the enemy of God as something that entertains us, the more it desensitizes us to it and the more we begin accepting it as normal.
1 Peter 2:13-14 NASB
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
How do we pray for our government?
Luke 12:11-12
When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.
Luke 12:4-5
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
- Pray that our governing authorities would protect those doing good, and punish those doing evil.
- Pray for the welfare of our nation and that our leaders will lead us to peace and prosperity.
Jeremiah 29:7
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
- Pray for leaders to protect and defend human dignity, human rights, and the sanctity of human life from the womb to the tomb.
- Pray for the church to make disciples.
- Pray for God to show us the difference he wants us to make in our sphere of influence, and pray that He will give us the courage to make that difference.
Romans 13:1-2
1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
