Thank you for helping to support Peace Devotions through your prayers, likes, and shares.
If you’d like to support our ministry financially, you can donate here.
If I disagree with the government, do I still obey them?
Pastor, if I dislike my government, do I still have to obey them? Today we are happy to be joined by Pastor Mateo (Matthew Behmer). Pastor Mateo explains how Christians should view the government.
Pastor Mateo currently serves Cristo Rey Lutheran Church in Bell Gardens, CA.
Mark 12:17, Romans 13:7
Today let’s talk about some of our interactions with the government and specifically let’s talk about this question: what do we do as Christians when the government tells us to do something that we don’t agree with? Or maybe we’re not that excited about?
Maybe you face this situation or a problem in a simple way. Maybe you’ve been driving down the highway. There’s no other cars around the highways straight. But the speed limit and you want to go 85.
Or maybe you face this problem in a little bit more of a serious way. Maybe you have a great job and you’ve done very well for yourself or maybe you have a great business that you own. But the government wants a certain percentage maybe a big percentage.
Well the simple answer to that question “do I have to obey the government even if they tell me to do something I don’t like?” Is yes.
Jesus tells us “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” That’s talking about paying taxes. And that’s not the only instance in scripture where we are encouraged and even commanded to obey the authorities. In Romans Chapter 13 were told to
Pay what you owe to all of them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, and honor to whom honor is owed. (Romans 13:7)
One thing that can help us pay taxes, share our revenue, give honor and respect to the government is understanding that the government is really God’s representative here on Earth in civil matters. Now the Government’s not perfect, it’s not flawless. We may not agree with everything that the government does, but it’s still been established by God. And the only time that we can oppose our government or disobey them is if the government tells us to do something that goes against God’s Word, that would cause us to do something contrary to Scripture.
As we close our devotion let’s talk about one of the greatest blessings that we have from our government. That is the freedom of religion. Here in the United States. We have the ability to learn and share the gospel freely. The Gospel message that Jesus is our Savior and that through him we have eternal life.
To God Be The Glory. Amen.
