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Submit to our leaders

Editor’s note: This is the second installment of a two-part series written by the Rev. Dr. James Barnes. The first part was published in the Saturday, Oct. 7, edition of the Sentinel.

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4. Government serves to restrain evil.

Rulers are not there to terrify us or make us fearful. It is only when you do evil that you fear them. We have nothing to fear if we keep the law.

Does everyone know what the law is? I mean, not everyone believes the Bible nor even owns one. But Romans 2:14 and 15 says they have the law of God written in their hearts and in their conscience; it either accuses them or excuses them. It is human to have a sense of morality. So if a person obeys the laws of his country, he has no reason to fear. People who riot, people who terrorize society have every reason to be afraid.

How is punishment to come for those who break the law? Deut. 19:13-20 says it is to be without pity. Deut. 13:6-11 says it is to be without partiality. Deut. 25:2 it is to be immediate. Only that kind of punishment puts fear in the hearts of evil-doers.

5. Government serves to promote good.

Paul told Timothy, pray and make petitions with thanksgiving for kings that are in authority that we may live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. As a Christian, we are called by God to live a quiet, tranquil, peaceful life with a submissive attitude toward those over us, and pray for their salvation, or we forfeit our testimony. We don’t want our government to perceive Christianity as an enemy.

The people who lead our government are not the enemy, they are the mission field. In fact, Romans 13:4 identifies them as ministers of God. They may not know God, but they function in a delegated way for God to provide common grace of well-being and tranquility. We should be doing all we can to keep the peace, to support our government, to be model citizens. Robert Huldane said, “The institution of civil government is a dispensation of mercy, and its existence is so indispensable that the moment it ceases under one form, it re-establishes itself in another.” Ask yourself, how long would it take if we had no police and no government for deadly chaos to disrupt the life of this little village? Huldane said that without the powerful obstacle presented by civil government to the selfish passions of man, it would be better to live among the beasts of the forest than an inhuman society. When there was no king in Israel, every man did what was right in his own eyes.

6. Government is empowered by God to inflict severe punishment.

Civil government is not just a pageant, symbol or verbal threat. Government has been given by God the power to take life. It must have that power because it is the ultimate restraining power. Gen. 9 says that whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed. Jesus said if you live by the sword, you will die by the sword. In Acts 25:11, Paul talked about committing things worthy of death.

The institution of government operates as the minister of God and avenges by bringing wrath on those who practice evil. Capital punishment is the will of God, and the executioner is the servant of God. It is not to be changed based on some university research staff. When our society loses touch with the realities of the wretchedness of man and pulls back from punishment, it only contributes to its own death.

7. One final reason to submit to governments, is for conscience sake.

The benefit of submitting to governments and to do right is a clear conscience. I don’t know about you, but when I am going somewhere on the highway and staying within the speed limit, I enjoy driving. But once I am pushing the limits and going over the speed limit, I get anxious and paranoid. When I am not speeding and see a police car along the roadside, I am happy to see it. Why? Because I have nothing to fear. That is the peace that comes to an obedient believer.

Why should a Christian submit to their government? Because governments are ordained by God; to resist is to resist God; those that resist will be punished; governments restrain evil and promote good; they are empowered by God to inflict severe punishment; and for the good of your own conscience. Praise God for our government. Pray for our leaders. And might peace reign in your hearts as you submit to them.

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The Rev. Dr. James Barnes is currently the pastor of White Memorial Church in Milroy.

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