PASTOR DAN ON
POLITICS AND RELIGION
WHO’S IN CHARGE?
[ Being Subject to
Authorities ] Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For
there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been
instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God
has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a
terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority?
Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, ...
I will give you the keys
of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
What if we understood that God was in charge of all
authority in heaven and on earth? What
if we understood that he gave authority to the government of what we call political
matters had the authority to punish wrong doers based upon a moral authority
outside of itself? What if we understood
Jesus’ words to St. Peter as recorded in Matthew’s Gospel that the moral
authority that formed the basis of the political government’s decisions was in
fact the Church?
In reality that is precisely how authority works.
The source of all authority comes from God who has given the
keys to His Kingdom both in heaven and on earth to guide everyone in areas of
right and wrong. The State has the
authority to enforce these moral precepts through laws and even punishments if
necessary.
One author described this relationship thusly. The Church and the State, (the political government) are like two
bookends of the society. When the Church
and State works together the society benefits.
I.e., people remain protected from harm and people live in peace.
The principle is simple and was understood by the founders
of our nation but is often forgotten by governments and by citizens today.
But what happens if the State acts alone as the sole
authority in all political matters? That
has happened throughout history and often happens here. When the state acts alone it becomes the
religion that supersedes all other religions.
It acts without any real moral authority. It can change what is right and wrong based
upon only based upon force. It is never
held in check nor can it ever be.
Without the Church we have tyranny.
Pastor Dan
Share your reflections, please.
