CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST
May 4, 2008
25424 Aldine-Westfield, Spring, TX. 77373
www.geocities.com/adon77373/cypresswoodbulletin.htm
www.cypresswoodchurchofchrist.com
PRAY FOR THE FOLLOWING:
Our congregation Various relatives, friends and co-workers
Our nation, military and leaders
HOW SHOULD WE VIEW GOVERNMENTS?
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God ahs established” (Romans 13:1).
We are in the middle of a political season in which, in November, we will elect new officials. Over the last few election cycles, the role of religion has played an important part, according to the polls. We hear about the religious right and Red Letter Christians, and the religious liberal left. This has brought about debate this year with a number of books written about the role of Christians in and with government. One scholar however has made a statement that I would like to explore (1). He sees from his studies that government is from Satan. Let’s take a look at this.
Greg Boyd is not a fan of government. He sees it as coming from Satan. For instance, 1 John 5:19 states that “the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” Paul tells us “the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Paul argues in Ephesians that there is a conflict in the “heavenly realms” which would include principalities and powers; many would see governments in this. Mr. Boyd thinks that humankind reject God as King just like Israel did in the days of Samuel (1 Samuel 8). This is based of course on the actions of the devil.
There are varying views of this position. David Lipscomb, a preacher and editor in churches of Christ did not think that Christians should be involved in government nor vote (2). There are other groups known as “peace churches” that tend to hold this view of things. Mr. Boyd isn’t opposed to people voting but sees government as dangerous. He sees the temptation of Jesus by the devil to give Him all the kingdoms of the world as such an idea (3). He also sees Revelation as an example of evil governments. Jesus seems to address this view in John. He talks about “the prince of this world being driven out” (12:31), about the prince of this world (14:30-31), and that he stands condemned (16:11). It would appear that Mr. Boyd has a strong point.
There is more scripture to examine and is important in this study. We know from Job that God limits or gives permission to the accuser to do what he did to Job (see chapters 1 & 2). God is King (Psalm 29). We known from Daniel that God raises up kings and nations and takes them down (4). Paul argues before the philosophers of Athens that “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands” (Acts 17:26). His purpose for this was so that we would seek and reach out to Him (vs. 27). Paul argues to the Romans that “The authorities that exist have been established by God” (13:1). This is a difficult text for those who argue like Mr. Boyd. The government that Paul wrote about was governed by the Emperor Nero and the powerful Roman Empire. We should pay our taxes and pray for leaders, but, at least according to Mr. Boyd, keep in mind that these governments attempt to take God’s place and rule.
Power corrupts and can be a dangerous philosophy. Politicians have often abused their power and people suffer. When we see the results of the request for a king for Israel like the other nations, we find that the king was often very influential. All the kings of the northern kingdom were compared to Jeroboam and his sins, some the same, a couple worse, and one not as bad. In the southern kingdom of Judah, the kings were compared to David, with Hezekiah and Josiah being the most faithful of the group. The sins of Manasseh was the cause of the fall of Jerusalem. When Jesus faced Pilate, Pilate stated that he had control of life and death, to which Jesus responded that that control came from God.
I think that Mr. Boyd’s position, though interesting, is somewhat one sided. How all this works is difficult for us to see but we do know that God rules and the evil one is limited in what he can do. God used Assyria to judge the northern kingdom of Israel and Babylon to judge Assyria and the southern kingdom of Judah. Following them was Persia, and the first king, Cyrus, who was called God’s servant. Greece and Rome followed.
Many questions are raised if we hold the view that God rules. Why would He raise up a Hitler or a Stalin? We do not have prophets today to explain such things, so we must wait to answer that question. We can look at scripture and see how God moves people and nations in judgment. The sin of nations is not confined to a few years or decades. It took four hundred years for God to judge Canaan by Israel.
We also must keep in mind two other points. While God rules, humankind has free will, that is, the freedom to choose good or evil. Many leaders have good intentions when they begin but become corrupt, leading to evil events and consequences. Secondly, there is still a battle going on between God and Satan. I do not know or understand how all of this works but this conflict has been the cause of much evil as Satan opposes anything that God does as good (5).
This brings us to the upcoming election. Whoever is elected will have been ordained by God. This is something that some of us will have difficulty accepting. Free will comes into play with humans. Pharaoh was placed in Egypt during the days of Moses and chose to resist God. Eventually God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that Egypt would be judged. I do not know what God has in mind for the United States. We must trust that God is doing what is needed. It might require repentance on our part. It might be a prelude to judgment. We just do not know.
All this makes scripture challenging. I appreciate scholars like Mr. Boyd who make us think. Hopefully we are challenged with such thinking.
George B. Mearns
(1) Greg Boyd has a number of articles on this on his blog at www.gregboyd.blogspot.com
(2) Lipscomb was the long time editor of the Gospel Advocate out of Nashville, Tennessee from about 1855 to the early 1900s. Since then, members of churches of Christ have come to support and have been active in the political processes.
(3) While the devil appears to have control over earthly kingdoms, and the temptation was something he could make, he is also considered a liar by Jesus. That makes me think that the temptation could have been a lie. What makes it effective is the hunger Jesus faced after forty days of fasting.
(4) Daniel 2:21 and other texts from the visions of Daniel
(5) We will explore this idea in a future article, Lord willing, related to creation and the conflict surrounding it.