Trusting God with Government

October 23, 2024

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 14:27"

The world we live in presents many opportunities to demonstrate the abiding peace and deep love made possible by faith in the resurrection of Jesus. Followers of Christ are the grateful recipients of transformed minds, purified hearts, and the beautiful promise of the Holy Spirit. These powerful and abiding characteristics provide comfort and wisdom amidst the confusion, political unrest, and deception so evident in the world around us. We live in a world that trusts in political systems, leaders, and government powers to preserve one’s desired way of life, and responds with fear, hatred, and violent discourse when things don’t go as desired. Thankfully, as citizens of Christ’s kingdom, we can place our hope in God and serve as ambassadors for Christ. Whether divisive elections, violence, or hardship, remembering God’s faithfulness through the ages can put our hearts at ease in tumultuous times. Following his instruction will keep our hearts from anxiety and fear and keep our feet from falling.

Observing evil committed by those in positions of power may raise our anxiety level. However, God uses both good and bad leaders and events to accomplish his will and purposes. God chose the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar to be his servant to bring judgment upon Israel and the surrounding countries. Not many years later, he moved Cyrus to issue a decree permitting the Jews to return to their homeland. Of the Egyptian pharaoh of the exodus, God declared: “For this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.”[1] It requires faith and confidence in God to remain calm in our hearts in the face of events that appear to be harmful to the nation in which we are temporary residents – pilgrims and strangers (expatriates) in a world that is not our home.

When the powers that be are corrupt, it offers a significant opportunity to demonstrate our faith in God and obedience to his word. He clearly teaches us to submit to the government to the extent that it does not compromise our faith. “Let every soul be subject to the higher powers (governing authorities). For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”[2] Human governments exist by the will of God. Imperfect as they are, they provide some degree of order and are part of God’s plan for governing the world until Christ returns. Only when the authorities attempted to prevent the apostles from preaching and witnessing for Christ did Peter declare, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”[3] Therefore, we should respect the office of elected officials even if we don’t agree with some of their views, policies, or conduct. The Word says to, “Honor all men,” but specifically follows up with, “Honor the king.”[4] The king at this time was the infamous Roman emperor Nero, under whose reign both Peter and Paul were martyred.

Prayer and godliness in civic participation

As pilgrims and strangers in this world, we need not be ignorant of circumstances around us. We may even be able to influence the world around us for good. If we choose to engage, we should align our views with godly principles and do our best to understand truth objectively. Most political commentary is unashamedly partisan and self-serving, and we may tend to give more credence to what appears to align with our views. With a humble and diligent pursuit of understanding, we can align our perspective with biblical principles and commandments. Looking to the Bible, sharing thoughts and concerns with other believers, and praying for the Holy Spirit to help us discern between truth and error, will keep us from being deceived.

Rather than engaging presumptuously in political conflicts, we are called to be like Jesus, gentle and meek. “If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men.”[5] This emphasizes the effort we should make toward peace, but also implies that there may be instances where it is not possible. We are responsible for our reaction to a situation. As peacemakers, followers of Jesus should never provoke hostilities or sow strife. Passions may run high following a contested election or the implementation of laws that go against scripture. “A soft (gentle, mild, conciliatory) answer turns away wrath, but grievous (harsh, spiteful, retaliatory) words stir up anger.”[6]

As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we pray, “For kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.”[7] This means national, state, and local positions all around the globe. It may be a challenge to keep praying for leaders if they fail to live up to their promises or if our peace is disturbed by civil unrest. Like Timothy, we are taught to not be entangled in the civic affairs of this life and may have to “endure hardness.”[8] We may not understand God’s purpose on this side of eternity. He reminds us that, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”[9] His ways are “past finding out!”[10]

Appropriate gratitude for country

We are taught to respect the people and the land where we live, loving our neighbors as ourselves.[11] Such patriotism, the love for country and fellow citizens, can sometimes subtly shift our thinking toward viewing others as inferior or unimportant. We may find ourselves being deceptively drawn towards nationalism, which contains elements of appreciation of country, but further asserts a narrow focus of what a nation or culture should stand for and attempts to elevate that nation and its values as superior to all others. Tragically, nationalist governments have often become authoritarian and repressive, marginalizing and persecuting groups that did not conform to cultural standards. While some ideas being promoted by nationalists may seem appealing and may even share some aspects of Christian virtue, it seems clear from the ministry of Jesus and the apostles that Christians are commissioned to proclaim Christ’s message to the world through the Spirit working in his church, not by governmental decree.

Let’s trust God and his promises rather than being fearful or angry about the future. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”[12] Paul writes his final words of encouragement to Timothy from prison, sensing that his death is imminent, forsaken by many of his coworkers, and burdened by the growing threat of division and deception in the church. Despite these desperate circumstances, Paul’s vision is fixed on Jesus and his return. “The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”[13] Let’s endeavor to keep that vision and confidence whenever we face uncertain times.

[1] Exodus 9:16

[2] Romans 13:1

[3] Acts 5:29

[4] 1 Peter 2:17

[5] Romans 12:18

[6] Proverbs 15:1

[7] 1 Timothy 2:2

[8] 2 Timothy 2:3

[9] Isaiah 55:9

[10] Romans 11:33

[11] Jeremiah 29:5-7

[12] 2 Timothy 1:7

[13] 2 Timothy 4:18

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Always thankful

October 21, 2026

As we approach the end of fall and the harvest season, we often focus our attention on Thanksgiving Day. We are fortunate to live in a land that recognizes the need to pause and give thanks to our great God for the many blessings he bestows upon us. However, the Bible calls us to be thankful in all times and circumstances – not just once a year. “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good.” [i] “In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” [ii] These two verses are similar and yet can be interpreted differently if quoted in isolation. Thanking God for his goodness seems an easy commandment to obey; however, some circumstances are more difficult to appreciate. Giving thanks or being thankful is referenced over one hundred times in scripture. And naturally it can seem easier to give thanks when circumstances are pleasing. It is easier to thank God when a loved one repents. It is easier to thank him when we are sitting in church, listening to his Word, worshipping in song, surrounded by faithful believers. It is easier to recite 1 Thess. 5:18 when the trials of life are light and well-spaced. But what happens when life is not going well, circumstances seem impossible, or difficulties seem to pile up? Can we have thankful posture in dire situations or through sad experiences? It is clear in the Bible that by God’s grace and with intentional effort, we can have a thankful spirit and respect toward God even when the load is heavy. Scriptures in Job provide an excellent Old Testament example. After hearing a series of devastating reports about his family and possessions, Job was able to say “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” [iii] After being struck with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown and having been ridiculed by his wife for retaining his integrity, Job said “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” [iv] Job did not minimize the pain of the evil he was experiencing, but in the midst of the devastation he focused his attention on the goodness and faithfulness of God. Likewise, the disciples in the New Testament were often faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles as they spread the Word of God. Yet they looked upon their afflictions as a privilege. After being beaten and commanded to not speak in the name of Jesus, “They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” [v] At the same time, when Stephen was stoned, they grieved deeply at the devastating loss, yet trusted in God’s grace and goodness to see them through and somehow redeem the worst of circumstances. -----------------CONTINUED PORTION BELOW-------------------- Remembering the Lord's graciousness and track record of bringing good out of evil can help us maintain a thankful heart despite the challenges we face. Whether amidst hard circumstances or easy, we can focus on the goodness and faithfulness of God. Without intentional focus, we can tend to overlook gratitude when life is good because the very simple and basic needs of life are so easily realized. An abundance of material blessings can lead us to take basic needs for granted. However, being grounded in a thankful spirit can help carry us when sometimes things do not seem abundant. Simple disciplines or practices can help us foster this thankful spirit. Taking the time to pause and write a list of all we have received from God, giving him thanks for his goodness can help us turn from an entitled mindset toward a thankful mindset. Remembering God's goodness can be especially helpful when life is hard. The practice of gratitude journaling helps us remain focused on God above all during these overwhelming times. Beyond the physical needs that can be so easy to count, he also provides many spiritual blessings. In time of need, he provides us with an abundance of grace that gives us love we do not deserve and helps us serve him in ways far beyond what we could do of our own ability. God’s wisdom and his compassion assure us that he will provide for all our needs, and yet he will also withhold what is harmful if we will allow him to do so. He knows our needs and in his infinite wisdom he will supply all our needs. A practice of worshipping God can also help grow our spiritual life and encourage grateful hearts. God’s truths can be engraved into our minds as we sing and praise him, no matter the circumstances. In addition, our church body encourages us to connect, travel, and grow together as believers, helping one another during both joyous and hard times in life. This spiritual connection with others is a spiritual blessing that can easily be forgotten. Finally, many of us have been born into families where we were taught the truth of God’s Word, being exposed since we were young to the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ and the knowledge of our great and loving God whom we can call Father. This thankful spirit is often born out of knowing the Father, whose image we carry. Having a clear vision and understanding of God’s character and attributes can help us develop a thankful spirit. Among the many reasons to thank God are his power, his grace, and his mercy. We thank him for the love he showed when he sent his only begotten son, allowing us to have forgiveness of our sins and victory over death through repentance, confession, and faith in his name. He provides his Word, giving us a perfect source of wisdom and direction for our lives. His Holy Spirit provides believers with comfort, conviction, and guidance toward all truth. In addition, there are many other attributes of God to consider such as his goodness, presence, sustenance, protection, and many more. The implications for our lives of the many attributes in this list, which could be much longer, are beyond human comprehension but worth contemplating more deeply as we practice a life of gratitude. Whether you are in a joyous time of life or a time when life is difficult, may the remembrance of these many truths provide a new understanding to the Scripture’s challenge to, “In every thing, give thanks.” [vi] May this Thanksgiving holiday remind you of our great and good God, the loving sacrifice of Jesus, and the faithful presence of the Holy Spirit who has come to guide us not only in the good, but also in the difficult of life. And may this testimony of thankfulness greatly affect our own lives and the lives of those around us. [i] Psalm 107:1 [ii] I Thess. 5:18 [iii] Job 1:21 [iv] Job 2:10 [v] Acts 5:41 [vi] I Thess. 5:18