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| Elections Do Not Confer Authority |
to assume that a government gets it authority to govern from the outcome of a free and fair general election.
But this is not the Bible's perspective, and it is not because the Bible writers lived in a pre-democratic age!
Biblical perspective on life reflects God's view, and it is wise to be aware of His perspective if we expect out prayers to be heard.
the Bible teaches believers to respect civil authority as from God, that is not the whole picture but it is a good starting point for our understanding.
| "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 whoever 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 the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience." |
At a time when Rome ruled, these were words of wisdom in civic duty from the Apostle Paul to those within its empire.
Roman governmental form was a combination of three: (1) the dictatorial form (Caesar) as shown in the Babylonian empire, (2) the legislative form (Roman Senate) as shown in the Medo-Persian empire, and (3) the urban democratic form (elected Tribunes) as shown in the cities of the Hellenistic empire.
symbolic 'animals'
of Daniel Seven
words quoted above do not mean that Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658, a devout Christian) was wrong in opposing the British Monarchy's abuse of power, raising taxes to finance the king's conquests in France.
God's perspective, which He expects us to share, is that authority was conferred by Him at the very beginning ("...let them have dominion over...") and that it was not based upon exploitive ability but on the fact that all humans were "made in God's image", which, in the context of the time meant nothing other than to represent Him, and so – to do this honestly –
is to do it according to His character, His attitude!
does not rule because He is either stronger, bigger, or more intelligent than any other. Even though He is the Creator of everything, His rule is not even based on His ownership, but only the quality of His character.
Angels (the civil service of His universe) do not worship Him because they fear Him, but because He is worthy!
Character confers authority!
Character confers authority!
historical development of democratic process was meant for the people to be able to choose those whom they trusted the most, those who deserved to be trusted, to rule over them, and so, intrinsic to this perspective, is the character of the persons concerned, not their promises or their elevated party slogans.
Voting for a particular political party because one agrees with its 'ideology' is not God's way!
Elections are not meant for political party support, even though they may be so used, but to choose individuals whose personal character can be trusted!
Character and only character carries authority no matter what legislative framework it functions within.
