In The Master's Service

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Stop the Swinging Pendulum

Elder Wayne Crocker

The question of how much a Christian should be involved in civil government and other affairs of this present world is a matter much debated. As in most activities of life, the pendulum often swings from one extreme to the opposite extreme. We should consider carefully what the holy scriptures have to say on the subject, observe the conditions about us today, and apply our God-given wisdom in finding the center of truth on this important matter. As we attempt to do so, we should remember the necessity of prayer to our Lord that we may have the wisdom and courage to find the truth and to walk therein.

Perhaps, the most popular position occupied by Christians throughout the ages has been to remain apart from the activities of this present world to the extent possible. The idea is that God will work through wicked men and good men to bring about the kind of civil government He desires for His people.

There are a good number of scriptural passages that might lead one to occupy that position. But while we acknowledge the hand of Providence continually at work in the kingdoms of this world, there is not sufficient reason to believe that God absolutely predetermines and works to bring about the reign of every specific ruler that comes to power. At first reading there are a number of scriptures that might lead one to that conclusion, but when considered in context and compared to other plain teachings of God's word, we will find that position is not valid.

The Scriptures most assuredly teach that there have been times when God used ungodly rulers and nations to bring about chastisement of His people. Moreover, God told Pharaoh, "And in very deed for this cause I have raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth" (Exodus 9:16). Perhaps Daniel 4:17 and 25 present the strongest proofs that God was involved in ruling "in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men."

In what way did the Lord raise up Pharaoh, rule in the kingdom of men and place the basest of men over the kingdom? I believe we find in Acts 2:23 and 4:27-28 the principle regarding how the Lord worked in these matters. In the crucifixion of Jesus the Lord used the evil designs of wicked men to carry out His plans: "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and crucified and slain" (Acts 2:23). "For a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou has anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done" (Acts 4:27-28). It was not necessary for the Lord to cause sinful men to commit the wicked act of crucifying Jesus. Their wicked hands did this according to their own sinful will when God withheld His restraining hand. James tells us that "God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any,man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" (James 1:13-14).

I believe in a similar manner, God raised up Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and other rulers to deal in special ways with His chosen people, Israel. The Lord removed to an extent, His hand of protection or restraint in order for His purposes to be fulfilled. The Lord used the king of Assyria to punish Samaria and Jerusalem for their idol worship, but He also punished the king for the wicked, prideful manner in which he carried out those acts (Isaiah 10:5-15).

Apparently, even in those events, the Lord was not orchestrating all the details and the extent of what occurred. In Zechariah 1:15 the Lord says: "And I was sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction." I believe this plainly indicates that the heathen had exceeded the degree of chastisement the Lord had designed to bring His people to repentance.

To teach that every wicked leader that comes to power and every satanic, government that arises is ordained of God is denying the overall teaching of God's word. According to the revealed will of God many things occur in this world that are displeasing to Him. Although the Lord, for His own good reason, does not choose to intervene on every occasion to stop sinful, wicked actions among nations, this does not mean He approves of these actions.

It cannot be denied that the Lord worked in an extraordinary manner with His chosen people from Abraham until the day of Jesus Christ. During this time God "winked at" the idol worship carried on in ignorance by heathen peoples of the world (Acts 17:29-30). If God stood somewhat aloof from the heathen in regard to their idol worship, is it not unreasonable to think that He would be intervening to bring specific rulers to power in every part of the earth? Consequently, the statements in Daniel 4 are apparently limited to the rulers of the kingdom or kingdoms that had a bearing on the welfare of Israel. This is not to say that God does not from time to time work in His providence to bring about certain governments and to place individuals of His choosing in authority even today. But, when considered in proper context and in a manner to harmonize with other scriptures, Daniel 4 should not be interpreted to mean that God brings to power every depraved ruler and satanic government that comes to power throughout the entire earth in all ages.

Often Romans 13 is used in an attempt to prove that God ordains every ruler upon the face of the earth. However, nothing could be further from the truth. That idea will not stand up when you consider every aspect of Romans 13:1-4: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that reist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil, Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."

Essentially the same lesson is taught in I Peter 2:13-14: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well."

The main lesson being taught is that God has ordained civil government and its authorities for the good of mankind and God's people in particular. Even corrupt governments and rulers generally carry out their proper function in a manner to curb common criminal activity such as robbery and murder. No doubt the corrupt Roman government and its governors were still fulfilling this proper role at the time of the writings of Paul and Peter. But not long afterward, it became a terror to good works as Nero tortured and murdered thousands of Christians.

Since the days of Nero there have been and are still many governments that are a terror to good works. Communist and Islamic governments today are a terror to Christians. In many places it is against the law to talk about Jesus Christ and the Bible. It is a violation of the law to bring your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord in some of these nations. Rather than submit to laws forbidding one to follow the clear teachings of scripture, the example of the apostles should be followed: "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). 1 think such satanic leaders as Stalin, Hitler, Mao Tse-tung, Fidel Castro, and many others were not ordained of God. It seems to me that those who advocate otherwise have swung to the far left of the pendulum.

On the other hand, those who would deny that the Lord has been and perhaps still is in some cases working to bring about certain events in the affairs of men and the kingdoms of this world have taken an extreme position on the far right of the pendulum.

To deny the special manifestation of the hand of God at times in these matters is to go against the plain teachings of scripture. To indicate that everything that occurs is entirely left up to the natural order of things with men doing whatsoever they desire in carrying out their evil designs would leave the child of God in a very fearful condition. I trust that none of us are that far out on the pendulum. But, no doubt, some of us may have gone too far in that direction.

The providence of God was very evident in the events which led to the independence and prosperity of our nation. There was no way the little colonies of America could stand against the greatest military and economic power on earth, Great Britain, without the overruling hand of Providence! The U. S. Constition and its adoption would not have come into being without the special blessing of God on this endeavor. Without a doubt, George Washington was raised up, protected, and became our first president through the workings of Divine Providence.

As American citizens and followers of Christ, we have been given great blessings; but also have great responsibilities. We have the responsibility of choosing those who govern us. Also, we have the duty to persuade those whom we elect to do the right thing. How can a disciple of Christ stand by, doing nothing, while about 40 million unborn children are put to death due to our government's lack of action in providing protection for these most helpless children? At the very least, we have a duty to speak out against this atrocity.

In conclusion, we need to occupy the position within the center of truth rather than swinging to extreme positions on the left or on the right. We need to acknowledge our dependence upon God. We must realize that He can and does intervene in the affairs of men. We need to recognize that His providential hand works to bring good to His people, including chastising them in their disobedience. But, we must also recognize the fact that Satan is alive and well on planet earth and is responsible in one way or the other for the sin, wickedness and terror that reigns in much of the world. God is not the author of sin and confusion!