If, as Romans 13 states, political rulers are not just representatives of the people, if they are ministers of God, then what does that say about democracy? Representatives of the people in a democracy, a secular one, that is, are those who stand for their constituents before what? The government, the laws? The governed in general? All of the above? In a Christian democracy, where their status as ministers of God would also be recognized, wouldn't they also represent the people before God? But they wouldn't be priests; they wouldn't represent people in a way that acknowledges their need for a substitutionary, atoning sacrifice. So how would they represent the people? And how would they be ministers of God?
Back to David, he represented the people in courage, defending the nation. When he or his descendants failed to obey God, God's protection through the king failed. Yet, the people's lives could incite God also. "And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah." II Samuel 24:1. God's anger would not have been kindled if there had been no reason. The people must have been unfaithful in some way, and God used the king to do something improper - numbering the people - in order to cause judgment in order to discipline His people.
It seems that when the people disobeyed God, God could use the king as a scorpion to discipline them. Also, at other times, it seems the king represented the best of a faithful people. Yet, there could be kings who absolutely did not represent the people but acted contrary to God and to the people. Those were truly wicked kings. When they were faithful, His protection was full. Do you want a king?
So, who is King now? We know Christ as our High Priest, the head of the Church, but isn't He also Lord of all, which means He's the King. If Christ is King, why would we ever want another human king, even one as good as David? If Christ is the final, penultimate, never-to-die king, then we can live in a different political system. If Christ is King and Savior, and human rulers are His ministers, then no human ruler can claim greater power than or equal power with Christ. If Christ is our atoning sacrifice and our righteousness before God and perfectly reigns in love and justice over us, why wouldn't we want Him as our King? But how do you, as a nation, choose Christ as your king?
We should study Psalm 2:1-2; Deuteronomy 32:43; II Samuel 7:23; Psalm 9:17; 22:27-8; 67:2-4; 72:11, 17; Isaiah 2:1-4; 60:12; Jeremiah 4:2; Daniel 7:14; Micah 4:1-2; Zechariah 2:11; Matthew 25:32; Mark 11:17; 13:2; Acts 14:15-16; Romans 1:5; 16:26; Galatians 3:8; and Revelation 12:5; 13:17; 15:4; 21:26; 22:2.
Okay, you asked for comments :) These are intriguing verses. Some translations use "ministers" of God, and some use the term "servants" of God. Also, some use "ordain" and some use "establish" regarding God's setting up of political leaders. Using the words "ordain" and "minister" might lead us to misunderstand our worldly rulers as if they were priests or spiritual leaders, which they are not. You correctly identify (imo) Jesus as our Priest and King. A political leader is a servant of God, His 'tool,' if you will, to execute His ends on earth. As we see repeatedly in Scripture, God can use both godly and ungodly rulers to achieve His ends. The passage with David and the numbering is particularly interesting, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt bothers me quite a bit when Christians seem to become confused, in their practice, wanting spiritual leaders in political contexts. Do we want Christians in politics? Definitely. We desire godly influence and just decisions based on God's justice, and I particularly want rulers who understand that they are also under judgement and should fear God's judgement for what they do. But we have only one go-between with God, and that's Jesus. And I'm citizen of only one kingdom, and that's God's kingdom.He has placed me here, in the US, as a temporary exile.
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DeleteI agree with you, M.K. However, I'd add two other factors that affect my thinking. I am not just a temporary exile; I'm a dual citizen - of heaven and of the society I live in temporarily here on earth. Otherwise, I would be disenfranchising myself from any citizenship responsibility here, which would not be loving toward my fellow man, for one. Two, it would deny me the exercise of rulership, which life here is supposed to prepare me for in our permanent citizenship in heaven. "Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" I Cor. 6:3.
DeleteSecond, I believe in the victory of Christ's kingdom on earth - before he returns physically a 2nd time. Therefore, I work, I write, I hopefully contribute a brick toward the eventual building of a biblical way of being a judge or public official. An official that reflects the character of the true Judge & servant of all. As long as we're here on earth, we'll need to instruct each other on the areas in which we are gifted, so that we build up the body of Christ, some of whom are public officials, judges and lawyers, who need guidance the bible gives