Old Testament saints participated in secular governments for the good of society and as
a witness of the true God.
Genesis 41 Joseph was placed second in command in Egypt in order to save Egypt and surrounding peoples from a devastating famine.
Book of Esther Esther was made queen “for such a time as this” — to lobby King Xerxes for a change in the law and so save the lives of her people.
Book of Daniel
Daniel was highly revered as an advisor to the kings in Babylon, Media and Persia, engaged in civil disobedience in opposition to Darius’s unjust edict, and was an example of godliness before a pagan culture, bringing glory to God.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego also engaged in civil disobedience, refusing to obey Nebuchadnezzar’s order to bow before his image of gold, and were a powerful witness of the true God to that King.
God sent His prophets to pagan countries to warn them, and proclaimed judgment
against them for their sins.
Book of Jonah Jonas was sent to Nineveh, a pagan nation, to warn them of impending judgment if they did not change their ways.
Amos 1:1 to 2:3 The prophet Amos declared judgments against Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon and Moab for their sins.
Government, including secular government, is God’s domain. Christians should not
abandon it to the ungodly
Speaking of the Roman government, Paul stated: Romans 13:1-4 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. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
This passage teaches
That governmental institutions belong to God and are therefore answerable to Him, as are all of us as individuals;
That governmental leaders are His servants;
That the purpose of government is to reward good and punish evil, i.e. to do justice.
Matthew 5:13-16 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do
people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives
light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that
they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Christians are to provide salt (preservative) and light (truth) to an ungodly world. This
includes the political realm, which God has acknowledged as his territory.
Amos 5:24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
True justice reflects the heart of God. He wants His followers to be involved in bringing
it about.
Proverbs 24:10-12 10 If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! 11
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. 12 If
you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what
they have done?
Biblical Support for Christian's Participation in Secular Government
Old Testament saints participated in secular governments for the good of society and as
a witness of the true God.
Genesis 41 Joseph was placed second in command in Egypt in order to save Egypt and surrounding peoples from a devastating famine.
Book of Esther Esther was made queen “for such a time as this” — to lobby King Xerxes for a change in the law and so save the lives of her people.
Book of Daniel
Daniel was highly revered as an advisor to the kings in Babylon, Media and Persia, engaged in civil disobedience in opposition to Darius’s unjust edict, and was an example of godliness before a pagan culture, bringing glory to God.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego also engaged in civil disobedience, refusing to obey Nebuchadnezzar’s order to bow before his image of gold, and were a powerful witness of the true God to that King.
God sent His prophets to pagan countries to warn them, and proclaimed judgment
against them for their sins.
Book of Jonah Jonas was sent to Nineveh, a pagan nation, to warn them of impending judgment if they did not change their ways.
Amos 1:1 to 2:3 The prophet Amos declared judgments against Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon and Moab for their sins.
Government, including secular government, is God’s domain. Christians should not
abandon it to the ungodly
Speaking of the Roman government, Paul stated: Romans 13:1-4 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. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
This passage teaches
That governmental institutions belong to God and are therefore answerable to Him, as are all of us as individuals;
That governmental leaders are His servants;
That the purpose of government is to reward good and punish evil, i.e. to do justice.
Matthew 5:13-16 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do
people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives
light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that
they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Christians are to provide salt (preservative) and light (truth) to an ungodly world. This
includes the political realm, which God has acknowledged as his territory.
Amos 5:24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
True justice reflects the heart of God. He wants His followers to be involved in bringing
it about.
Proverbs 24:10-12 10 If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! 11
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. 12 If
you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what
they have done?
Biblical Support for
Christian's Participation in
Secular Government
Old Testament saints participated in secular governments for the good of society and as
a witness of the true God.
Genesis 41 Joseph was placed second in command in Egypt in order to save Egypt and surrounding peoples from a devastating famine.
Book of Esther Esther was made queen “for such a time as this” — to lobby King Xerxes for a change in the law and so save the lives of her people.
Book of Daniel
Daniel was highly revered as an advisor to the kings in Babylon, Media and Persia, engaged in civil disobedience in opposition to Darius’s unjust edict, and was an example of godliness before a pagan culture, bringing glory to God.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego also engaged in civil disobedience, refusing to obey Nebuchadnezzar’s order to bow before his image of gold, and were a powerful witness of the true God to that King.
God sent His prophets to pagan countries to warn them, and proclaimed judgment
against them for their sins.
Book of Jonah Jonas was sent to Nineveh, a pagan nation, to warn them of impending judgment if they did not change their ways.
Amos 1:1 to 2:3 The prophet Amos declared judgments against Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon and Moab for their sins.
Government, including secular government, is God’s domain. Christians should not
abandon it to the ungodly
Speaking of the Roman government, Paul stated: Romans 13:1-4 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. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
This passage teaches
That governmental institutions belong to God and are therefore answerable to Him, as are all of us as individuals;
That governmental leaders are His servants;
That the purpose of government is to reward good and punish evil, i.e. to do justice.
Matthew 5:13-16 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do
people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives
light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that
they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Christians are to provide salt (preservative) and light (truth) to an ungodly world. This
includes the political realm, which God has acknowledged as his territory.
Amos 5:24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
True justice reflects the heart of God. He wants His followers to be involved in bringing
it about.
Proverbs 24:10-12 10 If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! 11
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. 12 If
you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what
they have done?