Most Christian ideologies about submission to government and spiritual authority in the Christian community are conflicting and contradicting due to different basis of understanding. For example, there are people who say that Christians are supposed to submit to government - just any government system, whether it's a Christian government (Godly) or not - assuming that the government was placed there by God, but they will still point to Romans 13:1 in bible where the verse literally says,"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God," to prove their belief. However, Romans chapter 13:1, actually disproves their belief that Christians are supposed submit to ungodly governments and authorities because the benevolent God does not appoint the ungodly to lead his people. If there is no existing authority except from God then the authority must be from God, operate in God's ways, have faith in God, point other people towards God's word, and so on because these critical actions are supposed to be completed by God's authorities. If an authority (or government) of God does not do any of the previously mentioned actions, then the government might not understand that they are supposed to, the government may refuse to, or the government is just simply not from God. Clearly though, the government's misunderstanding can and will be corrected by God and the Christians - who both also know God and do God's word. The government's refusal to do God's word should soon result in Christians no longer following their government's counsel - Psalm 1:1 says," Blessed is the man who does no walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. And finally, if the government does not come from God then the government should not be followed or supported by Christians.
Even for the people in authority who to claim to be Christians, their ways must line up with God's ways in the best way possible because true Christians give birth to the ways of the Lord (or at least they hard try to) - Matthew 7:18, lets Christians know that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. For example, a "so called" Godly authority cannot legalize stealing or gay marriage, but still say that they are from God - it's a contradiction. The bible clearly states that thou shall not steal (Exodus 20:15 in the bible) and that marriage is only supposed arranged between a man and woman (Genesis 2:24) . The authority will not be able to pretend for long because the authority's actions will begin to tell what the authority truly believes in - plus, Christians can see the heart of men as well. There is a solid difference between making a mistake and just flat out not following God. Christians will realize that the authority's actions do line up with the word of God, thus Christians - who follow God - will know not to follow the authority and know that the authority is not really from God. Therefore, if the authority does not rule (or if government does not govern) based off the word of God and if the authority is not full of born-again Christians, Christians are not supposed to submit to that authority and the of rules of that authority because the government represents an ungodly authority. An ungodly authority will lead Christians away from God. The idea of God even appointing ungodly (or evil) leaders or governments for Christians to submit to would represent a huge contradiction in the nature of God because this goes against God's benevolent nature (this makes no logical sense). Plus, God does not even submit to the ungodly, so why would he ask Christians to do so? God does not appoint ungodly leaders or governments for Christians to submit to nor has God ever done so. Therefore, as Christians, do not submit to ungodly authorities.
The real problem with discerning this authority issue comes from how most Christian view God and leaders from their current society. Before most people become Christians, they lived in the world where God was not looked at as important and they had worldly authorities who were bosses over them. Once these people got born-again, they began trying to incorrectly bring God into the world and see God through the world because they do not fully understand what they signed up for when they got born-again. Plus, their current society serves them with most of the information they know. For instance, in general, most societies teach their people from an early age about the world, how to participate in the society, to respect the society, and etc; therefore, Christians will usually have a hard time separating God from their society and comprehending that, not only does, their current society not line with God's society in any way, but that they are not even supposed to be in their current society. Christians try entering the world's job market, business ventures, schools, and etc where they look to bring God and his ways, but doing this does not work. The world does not operate like God does. In fact, the world and God are exact opposites in every way - thoughts, actions, beliefs, and so on. Sadly though, some Christians probably lose sleep at night trying to correctly put God ways into the world. The answer is simple though, God cannot be forced or placed in the world, nor was God ever supposed to be mixed into the world. Most Christians try to change the world and mix God and the world together, but it will not work; trying to mix both sides (God and the ungodly) together in the world will only add more confusion, conflict, and contradictions among Christians. The world will more than likely turn Christians to their ways of life instead - the world is the world's turf. The world has it's own systems, thoughts, beliefs, and etc. Unfortunately, Christians are also not taught that they are not supposed to apply the ways of God into the structures of world. God and the world are polar opposites and, like water and oil, they do not mix. Christians need to completely abandon the world (and the world's system) and build God's kingdom on earth where they can live how God really wants them to.
Matthew 6:10 says, "Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven". Now, as the previous scripture clearly states, God's kingdom and will both should come on earth as it is in heaven. God's kingdom represents an existing system in third heaven. God and his followers to live their lives by and within his kingdom in heaven. God's followers on earth should also live by and within God's kingdom. Jesus did not say that God's kingdom should come on top of another system or added as part of a of another system. However, most people do not realize what Matthew 6:10 really means (they most likely think that it's a metaphor or something), hence this is why they misinterpret the bible's instruction about submission to government and spiritual authorities. Most people try view God's thoughts and ways through their current system of life (or society) and place their systems way of life on God, even though their system does not line up with God - which is a understandable mistake. Though, if anyone to tries to understand God through their current societal system, they will most likely misinterpret God's word because their society usually does not function the way God's system functions. Almost no country in the world, if any, operates the way God's kingdom does and born-again Christians as followers of God must look at God through his system's ways. Otherwise, Christians will not experience the full lively hood that God wants for them.
One enters God's kingdom as an official member, once one gets born-again with spirit of God. Getting born-again allows one to enter 3rd heaven. Getting born-again mainly consist of repenting for one's past sins, believing Jesus died for one's sins, accepting Jesus as one's Lord and savior, receiving the Holy Spirit, and choosing to follow God. However, after getting born-again, Christians still cannot spiritually enter third heaven where God resides at until the body dies, so Christians are supposed to build God's kingdom physically on earth with help of God and the bible. Jesus, informs Christians that the prayer in Matthew chapter 6: 9-13 stands as the prayer that Christians should be sure to pray (model prayer) and that Christians are to pray for God's Kingdom to come on earth within this prayer. Prayer speaks to prosperity and prayer brings words, thoughts, and beliefs to physical life from the spiritual realm - the world calls this self-fulfilling prophecy, though the Christians have God added to their prayers. Here's an example, when Christians pray for the Holy Spirit's help in their endeavors. These Christians expect the Holy Spirit's help in their endeavors as soon as possible and they look to their hearts for instruction. Thus, if Jesus tells one to pray for God's kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, then God's kingdom should come to earth and his will should literally be done on earth physically. Christians should be able to point to God's Kingdom on a map and say," It's located there!" because all Christians prayed for, got the instructions for, physically built, and live in and by God's kingdom.
See, the churches, gospel music, marriages, and so on were all originally made to take place in the kingdom of God alone because each serve as applications of God's Kingdom - not capitalism and the kingdom of God together or socialism and the kingdom of God together. Christians learn about God's kingdom, ways, and thoughts in Church, then they go out into the systems of world, only to found out that God does not matter in the world. Many college universities, for example, do not purposely place bible scriptures all around their campuses to endorse God because the ways of God are not a major focus for them - they want to universally appeal to everyone. Christians, to survive in this type ungodly world, naturally act like the world, only to return at Church - an asset of God's kingdom - on Sunday morning where they are reminded to practice God's word. Then the insane and silly process now begins all over again, Christians learn about God's kingdom, ways, and thoughts in Church, then they go out into the systems of world, only to found out that God does not matter in the world. Christians, to survive in this type ungodly world, naturally act like the world, only to return at Church on Sunday morning where they are reminded to practice God's word.
The recycled process of learning God's word, while being included in the world does not work. Some Christians have developed the "God's word is so powerful that world cannot bother us" mentality just to cope with the effects of trying to participate in God's system and the world system at once. When the real answer is to simply leave the world's system and focus on building God's kingdom. Until, Christians live on the ground of God kingdom where they live, work, operate, and so fourth, do not even mention submission to government or spiritual authority because God did not appoint ungodly authorities. Romans chapter 13 in the bible, means that Christians should submit to the kingdom of God's government and authorities because the chapter references how Christians should conduct themselves in the kingdom God - not in the world. Romans 13: 3 even says," Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil". Evil and ungodly rulers are not a terror to evil works, but to good - the complete opposite, so Christians should stay away from them. Here are some other reasons why many Christians think that they are supposed to submit to just any government or spiritual authority (good or bad).
- They do not understand that God made a new covenant (contract) with man. After, the new covenant was made, no more men were ever appointed as sole human authorities because God named himself as the only authority in every way (spiritually, governmental, and etc). God can trust himself to keep his perfect law because he is perfect like his law*, but he cannot trust humans to keep his perfect laws. Humans are not perfect, so they cannot naturally keep God's perfect spiritual laws or properly rule others completely. Humans usually mess up, very badly, when they try to keep God's Laws or rules as spiritual authorities; like King Solomon did in the bible (1st Kings Chapter 11), he messed up trying to keep God's Laws and rules as the main spiritual authority, which explains why people need a savior. God, knowing that humans cannot keep his laws, threw away the old covenant used in old testament of the bible and that is why God can only be seen appointing certain men as human authority's during the old covenant. Notice, that only within most of the old testament and old covenant, God appointed men as spiritual authorities (or kings) such as King Solomon, David, and Abram. Many people try to use old testament examples to prove that Christians supposed to submit to government or spiritual authorities, but since born-again Christians abide by the new covenant. Every old covenant argument should be automatically be discarded when the topic of spiritual authority and submission to government arises because those arguments have no use anymore.
-There were only two men who were appointed as authorities by God in the new testament and those two men were Jesus and Pilate. Jesus, his situation almost self explanatory, as the son of God and God in the flesh, Jesus was obviously a human authority. Now Pilate, was given authority by God over Jesus alone and Jesus can be found confirming that Pilate was given authority over him by God when he said", "Jesus answered [speaking to Pilate], "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above," in John 19:11 of the bible, so Pilate could lead Jesus to the correct destination - which was Crucifixion on the cross. Some people try to use John 19:11 to prove that God gave non-Christians authority over Christians for the new covenant. However, notice that Pilate still was not given authority by God after the new covenant. The new covenant was made after Jesus had died. Jesus even made the authority issue clear in Matthew 28:18 where he says", Then Jesus came to them and said," All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me". So, God still did not give anymore men complete spiritual authority after the new covenant was made and Pilate does not stand as example as God giving an ungodly man authority over Christian in the new covenant, so this ruins the Pilate argument.
-And Finally, 1st Peter 2:13 says," Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority," and some people will use verse to prove that Christians are supposed to submit to human authority. Although, for passages like 1st Peter 2:13, learn to always read the full chapter, so one can fully (or at least try to) grasp the real meaning of the verse. Look at what Peter said in 1st Peter 2:11, just two verses before 1st Peter 2:13. 1st Peter 2:11 says," Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims". In other words, Peter does not tell one to submit to ungodly kings or emperors in one's own land, but Peter does tell one to submit to ungodly kings or emperor as sojourners and pilgrims. Meaning, be respectful to other kingdoms - and represent God well - when one visits their Kingdom because they may observe one and glorify God in during the day or days of one's visitation. Peter teaches one how act as Christians when traveling to other lands for visitation purposes. To be submissive to them without compromising God and his will, while one is there. Therefore, no, 1st Peter 2:13 does not tell one to submit to just any king, spiritual authority, government, or etc no matter what in any point in time.
Even when Abram, King Solomon, and David were appointed as leaders by God. They all believed in God and they all served God, which this leads to another famous contradiction. Think about this, most preachers of God center many Christians around themselves in church where they teach about God right? The preachers of God lead Christians to the word of the God to the best of their ability, so this is another clue that tells one that Christians are not supposed to be lead by ungodly leaders. Most would agree that it makes no sense for Christians follow ungodly leaders in a church setting; therefore, why do some Christians, all of a sudden, think that Christians should follow ungodly societies in a societal setting?
Christians are supposed to follow God first and then submit to only Godly leaders with talent (or gifts) only within the kingdom of God in the right situation. God gives every person a talent and this is obviously evident in the lives of many people. Some people are naturally better at cooking food, building structures, managing, and etc than other people are. The bible points out and confirms that people have different talents in Ephesians 4:7-16, Romans 12:3-8, and even in 1st Corinthians chapter 12. Some Christians may think that their special talents (or gifts) give them the right to completely rule other people, but talents are not meant for Christians (or non-Christians also) to completely rule other people with. The talents of Christians are supposed to be used within God's kingdom to help one another survive, further improve the kingdom of God, and to serve God. Christians, while living in the kingdom of God, are supposed to submit towards the talents and knowledge, more so than anything else, possessed by people of God for guidance and improvement. Since, no one can be ever perfect in every area of life because people are not perfect. People are usually great in one area of life, but not very great in another area of life. For example, one person may be very good at managing musical artist, but they cannot create music very well. Though, another person may create great sounding music, but they have a hard time keeping up with dates and etc. The problem areas of the manager and musical artist allow them help one another greatly (of course, this assuming that they can also get along well from a personality stand point). Together as business partners, who submit to each others talent and knowledge, can work, create great music, go on tours, and mainly build a business by providing great sounding music for others to buy and enjoy within God's kingdom. The manager can manage the musical artist who can make great sounding music, and they can work together as partners - not bosses of one another.
God took the boss idea out of the equation for his people and placed it on himself because he knows humans are not fit to be the boss of one another. If the world wants to have human bosses, then let them do so. However, God did not make Christians permanent or complete authorities over each other anymore in any way. God, instead, made every made every born-again Christian a king (a spiritual authority; men and women) in their own right. Some ministers have been known to refer to Christians as "little Gods" because they realize that God has also made all Christians kings through him. God gives all Christians a piece of his spirit, so Christians can spiritually be alive to God and live the way God wants them to. John says in Revelation 1:5-6," To him who loved us and washed us from our sin in his own blood, and has made us kings and priest unto God and his Father: to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.". Many Christians have realized that they are spiritual authorities through God, but do not understand the true meaning behind it. God has given Christians spiritual authority through him and the authority is exercised through spoken word and faith. Therefore, Christians can spiritually authorize physical healing through God just like Jesus did in the bible. Though, many Christians just brush off being called a king and go back to thinking that they are supposed to submit to ungodly governments and human authorities.
Roman Chapter 13 refers to Godly government within the kingdom of God because authorities in the kingdom of God are from God. Everyone in the government of God must be born-again Christians, who are connected with the Holy Spirit, are followers of God, and are people who want to serve other Christians with their God-given spiritual gifts. Some Christians are going to be great politicians within the kingdom of God and Christians are supposed to submit to them as politicians of God - and of course when the right time approaches. God, through, will always remain the true authority in every way, shape, and form for all Christians though. Now to be clear, since Christians are still largely connected to the world. Christians should consider themselves as visitors of the world and practice what Peter taught in 1st 2:11-13, which is to be respectful to the world as sojourners and pilgrims. Being submissive to the world without compromising God and his will, while in the world.
Notes
God, himself, is only fit to complete rule other people. He is perfect and can handle authority properly. Human are not perfect and are not fit handle complete authority
The talents of people were never meant be used as a way to destroy others during competition. Here is another blog about competition: http://cool3disk.blogspot.com/2013/12/improves-lives-of-people-if-they.html
Also, remember that God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34 says so) and God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:11 says so). Everyone has some talent that can help other people.
Yes, the husband may be the head of the household, but the God is the true authority in the marriage. God kingdom is where marriage takes place. In, the church, the elders, preachers, deacons, and etc all play a part in the church, but God is the true authority in the church. God kingdom works more like the church when it comes to business, government, and etc. Everyone works together to equip, serve, and edify the people of God. The kingdom of God is where the Godly applications like marriage truly work.
God does not appoint evil leaders or governments for Christians to submit to anymore nor has God ever done so.
© Copyright 2014 - Present for The Truth About Spiritual Authority & Submission to Government Explained
