Lesson #33
OUR DUTY TO THE STATE

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Reading: 1 Peter2

Note: The state is the country we live in, its rulers or governments, and its laws and regulations.

Throughout history God has been preparing for Himself apeople who understand His purpose and who will share together the blessingsof the Kingdom, and the joys of everlasting life. In Bible times those peoplelived as a nation, the nation of Israel, which had God as its King. Therewas then no conflict between the State and the believer. Now things havechanged, and we need to consider the Christian's duty to the State, especiallywith regard to such matters as politics and war.

God's people

God is still preparing a people, now from all nations,who will be the centre of His purpose in the Kingdom. The apostle John sawa vision of that community, and he described it as follows:

"A great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" (Revelation 7: 9, 10)

Those people will be gathered together, at the return ofthe Lord Jesus Christ to Earth, to form a new nation, God's own nation,and they will reign with King Jesus for the 1000 years of the Kingdom onearth (see Revelation 5: 9, 10; 20: 4)

God's Kingdom existed once, long ago, when kings sat onGod's throne in Jerusalem and ruled over Israel. It will exist again whenKing Jesus returns (see Acts 1: 6; Luke 1: 32, 33).

God's Kingdom: in the past

3500 years ago, at Mount Sinai, God assembled the peopleof Israel, who were newly released from Egypt, and made a covenant (or agreement)with them. They were to be His nation, and He was to be their God. Theywere to keep the law He gave them through Moses, then they would inheritthe land of Canaan - which we now know as Israel. (Read Exodus 19: 1-8.)The laws of God were the laws of the State. Later, God chose kings for Hispeople. The king's army was God's army, and his wars were God's wars. Theking was there to do as God commanded him.

Then all that changed. The kings forgot God's law, theyfollowed the bad example of nations around them and, eventually, God decidedto end His Kingdom on earth. First the nation of Assyria took captive thenorthern tribes of Israel, then Babylon took captive the southern tribeof Judah. The divided people became exiles without a homeland, and foundthemselves living in states which worshipped other gods, whose laws wereoften against those of the One True God.

How they behaved in those circumstances is of great importanceto us; for those who now become God's people can also live in states withdifficult laws and practices.

To obey God or man?

The experiences of Daniel and his friends give us a clearexample of how to behave in the nations where we now live. They were takencaptive by king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon when he attacked and conqueredJerusalem (about 600 BC), and from the beginning of their exile they showedthey were going to put God first in their lives. Look at these examples:

These examples teach us: - to put God first in our lives;

- to stick to our principles and never compromise;

- that God alone is to be worshipped.

But Daniel and his friends were not troublemakers, lookingfor the opportunity to break the king's laws and receive fame and glory.When those laws agreed with the law of God, they were very law-abiding men.Indeed they were among the best of the king's servants and became importantgovernment officials, supervising the king's business.

This, too, is an important example for all who follow theLord Jesus Christ. When the law of the State doesn't conflict with the lawof God (and many human laws are based in one way or another upon the lawsof God), then we must be law-abiding people too. Like Daniel, it must betrue of us that there is nothing wrong with our behaviour (see Daniel 6:4, 5)

Christians must obey the laws of the State (their country), unless these laws are against the laws of God.

 

God's Kingdom: in the days of Jesus

For nearly 2000 years, God's people have lived among nationswhich have laws and ideas of their own. It was the same for the Lord Jesushimself - he lived in Israel at a time when the nation was subject to Romanrule, and by that law he suffered and died. But he was never a politicaltroublemaker, even though many of his fellow Jews hoped he might be. Nordid he try to replace the Jewish authorities, who were misusing their positionin the temple and in other ways.

Asked once about his attitude to the Roman power, Jesusshowed how a Roman coin had the image of Caesar (the Roman Emperor). Hethen laid down a very important principle:

"Render (that is, give) therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesarís; and unto God the things which are God's" (Matthew 22: 21)

That means that we should pay our taxes, as the law requires(something that the apostle Paul makes equally clear in Romans 13: 7), anddo everything else the State requires of us as long as that does notconflict with the requirements of God's law. This is very importantdistinction, and it is one which was first practised by the Lord Jesus himself.He always rendered to God the things that belonged to God, and so shouldwe.

The Jewish authorities tried to stop Jesus teaching andhealing. But Jesus would not stop. Even when he was obviously annoying themand his life was in danger, he carried on with his work of salvation. ForJesus knew that his work was God's work, and that came first. When, at last,he stood before Pontius Pilate and was in a position in which he might havetried to do a deal with the Roman authorities to save his life, Jesus tookthe opportunity to make several things clear. First, he explained to theRoman Governor that, although he, Jesus, was a king, his kingdom had notyet come:

"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" (John 18: 36)

Quite clearly, Jesus was teaching that there will comea time when his Kingdom will be established on earth (when he rules in powerfrom Jerusalem), but that time was not then come, nor has it yet. But Jesus'second point to Pilate was that God was still in control; behind the scenesHe was directing affairs, causing His will to be done. For, as Jesus saidto the Governor: "Thou couldest have no power at all against me,except it were given thee from above" (John 19: 11)

That faithful example of the Lord Jesus was followed bythe apostles. They too were honest, law-abiding citizens; they never becameinvolved in political affairs, they kept themselves separate from nationalinstitutions, like the Roman army or the administration of justice, andthey were dedicated to the Lord's service. But when conflict came, eitherwith the Jewish or Roman authorities, they put God first and obeyed Hislaws, Thus, when the apostles were told to stop preaching the good newsof salvation, their response was:

"We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5: 29)

 

God's Kingdom: in the present day

These teachings and examples are of great help to us indeciding how to behave as citizens of states which ask difficult thingsof us. As followers of the Lord Jesus, there are some things we should keepwell clear of, and some occupations we should avoid, to limit the conflictswe might otherwise have between God's laws and those devised by men.

God counts true believers as part of His people. When youread 1 Peter chapter 2, you will notice that the language first used byGod to Israel (in Exodus 19) has become the language by which He now addressesChristian believers. They are a "chosen generation, a royal priesthood,an holy nation" (2: 9), and it is their mission to live in a waythat praises God. Notice that they are a nation in their own right, thoughof course they are scattered among the different nations among which theylive.

Being separate from the world

Believers who now form part of God's nation, or kingdom,are waiting for their King to come to Jerusalem. At his coming he will callthem together to serve, and work with him. It follows that they must donothing until his coming which will damage their relationship with GodóGodmust be first in all that they do. Yet, although God is at work behind thescenes to bring His purpose to its completion, it is not always clear howthat will be done, nor which people and nations God will use.

It follows that it is wrong to be involved in human government,in either local or national politics, for God's people belong to His orderof things and already have a King, the Lord Jesus Christ. And it would beequally wrong to try to use the political systems of men to try to bringabout a better world - God will do that when Jesus comes. So the true Christianwill not become involved in politics, or even vote.

In the same way, it is necessary to keep out of situationswhich are unsuitable for the followers of Christ, like the using or makingof destructive weapons or explosives. Taking an oath of allegiance to theState or to an earthly ruler should also be avoided. As explained earlier,the Christian will be obedient to the laws of the State (see, for example,1 Peter 2:17) but if there has to be a choice, his or her final loyaltymust be to Christ. Joining the police force or army would be inadvisablefor this reason, and those who are already members before they come to thisunderstanding will need to change their profession. God is able to finda way out of all our difficulties.

It should be clearly understood that the need to keep separatefrom politics and from difficult occupations in no way reflects badly uponthe politics and practices of the state in question. These principles applyin just the same way to believers everywhere. They are now under "thelaw of Christ" (1 Corinthians 9: 21) and must live accordingly.As the apostle Paul said, about all worldly institutions and problems:

"Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:17)

Our separation from the ways and practices of human governmentis part of our calling out of the world, that we might truly belong to God.

Summary

1. We must obey God's laws.

2. We must obey the laws of our country except when these are in conflict with the laws of God.

3. We must avoid any job, activity or involvement that might lead us into conflict between Godís laws and man's laws.

Chapters to read: Daniel 3& 6; Romans 13; Matthew 22: 15-22

Good verses to memorise: 1Peter 2: 9-11