There is a lot of confusion about the interrelations of these two God-ordained entities. Can we get clarity?

First, let’s define the terms.

I.. The Church and Civil Government

A. Brief intro.

The lettered paragraphs under this major point is about the church and civil government, but we also look briefly at the kingdom of God and the satanic kingdom of darkness.

B.. The church.

God introduced the church with the coming of his Son to earth and ministering. He carried over the assembly (qahal) from the OT, but his new church would take on better and broader dimensions with the eventual inclusion of Gentiles his resurrection and ascension. But before then, during his ministry, he proclaimed, “I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). He selected twelve apostles, indicating that he was establishing a new form of leadership, similar to the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he told the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the power of God–the Holy Spirit–to empower them from on high (Acts 1). This empowerment happened in Acts 2, which many (and I) consider the birth of the church.

While they were in Jerusalem, they were the guardians of the traditions handed down about Jesus. In Acts 6 they did not actually distribute food but handed this duty to other leaders. The apostles were called to pray and preach. Next, they and other leaders formed the council in Jerusalem to decide on important issues involving Jewish-Gentile relations (Acts 15). This may not be a formal and overbearing government, but it does show a primitive structure. As the mission expanded out to the Roman provinces, the missionaries appointed elders to lead local congregations. Another primitive government, which we today should adhere to in the church.

The bigger point is that God’s church will be made known to the whole spiritual realms. “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 3:10). Spiritually, but not politically, the church is the center of God’s plan for the ages, while the world is peripheral to God’s plan

C. Civil government

These Scriptures are clear that God has established civil government. It is so important for this post that I quote it in full.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.  ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Rom. 13:1-7)

What we learn from that long passage is that we should obey the civil government because God established it. Don’t rebel against it, or you will bring down judgment on yourself because he set up the civil sphere. In contrast, do what is right, and you will not fear the ruler’s sword. He will even commend you. Civil leaders are in authority for your good. That is, they work for the common good. But what happens if you do wrong? Then watch out for judgment with the sword, which may indicate the death penalty or a sword strike or at least a symbol of authority that threatens. God allows the civil government to wield the sword to keep the peace. Humans are fallen, so they need to be kept in line with the sword. One interesting tidbit is that God’s wrath is expressed by these civil servants of God. )I believe his wrath is demonstrated mainly through them, not natural disasters.) So submit to the authorities  because you fear possible punishment but also to keep a clear conscience with criminality

Finally, Paul teaches us that we should pay our taxes and revenues. Once again he reminds the Roman Christians–made up of Jews and Gentiles–that authorities and governors are God’s servants, so be sure to have the right perspective on civil government.

Another (shorter) passage was written by Peter, which teaches the same truths about civil government. These verses are also very important for this entire post.

¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴ or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. ¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. (1 Peter 2:13-17)

This teaches the same thing as Romans 13:1-7, with some insertions about living in the church. Governors are called to adjudicate matters, even to the point of a sword or to commend those who do right. When Christians do good, they silent the talk of foolish people. Christians are to live as free people in society, but not to become loose in their liberty, in moral matters, when tempted to live outside of propriety,. This may also include social liberty. To prevent loose living, hedonism, Christians  must become God’s slaves (not the slaves of humans). When they show proper respect to everyone and love God’s family and fear God himself, they will not fear punishment from governors. In doing all those things Christians can more easily honor the emperor.

D. The two realms are distinct.

They are distinct, but not mutual enemies, in average, freer societies (but see below, Dysfunctional Civil Government). Paul wrote that the church belonged to heaven: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20).

Jesus said to give back to Caesar the things that belong to him (taxes in this context), and render to God the things that belong to him (Matt. 22:21). He said his kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). How does this work out in practical terms? Can its kingdom citizen’s influence—but not dominate—the civil government? I will argue in the Application section that yes, we can.

When I speak to people outside of the church, who live an immoral, unbiblical life, I prefer to distinguish between the American Republic and its laws on the one hand, and the church and its proclamation on the other. For example, when I meet someone in a same-sex relationship, and he asks my opinion, I offer it. Or when I teach in a state college classroom and we deal with various topics, I tell the individual or students that the laws of the Republic allow them to marry one person of the same sex.

I cannot bring up the gospel at a state school, so I end the answer there. But anyone inside the church can counsel politicians to change the law. If a questioner further asks about the church’s teaching, I tell him that in the kingdom which Jesus established, they are not allowed to have sex outside of marriage, and marriage is ordained by God for one man and one woman (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:20b-24).

E. The kingdom of God

The kingdom of God creates the church, but it rises above this God ordained institution to oversee all of creation, even civil government. Paul and Peter could have just as easily written that the authorities were established by the kingdom of God. But the two apostles made it personal and said God himself set up civil government.

So the kingdom of God is over all.

See this post:

I am a Christian ‘Kingdomist,’ Not a Christian Nationalist

F. The dark kingdom

Paul writes: “For he [the Father] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Col. 1:13)

Satan is called the god of this age: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4). So let’s preach the gospel and the glory of Christ to break the blindness of people trapped in worldly systems.

The kingdoms of the world are under Satan’s partial control. During his temptation of Jesus, Satan proposed this offer:

⁵ The devil led him [Jesus] up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶ And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. (Luke 4:5-6)

Of course Jesus said no to that temptation. The reason these worldly kingdom are under Satan’s partial control is that they are actually under God’s rule, even when we do not yet see it fully. The dark kingdom has permission to infiltrate civil government and put in the minds of politicians evil designs, like late-term abortion or transitioning teens during their time of confusion .

However, in the political and policy realm, our fight is not against the dark kingdom as if it totally controls civil government. The dark kingdom does not. We need to address worldly governors and emperors, just as Paul did in the book of Acts to Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa. He preached the gospel to these human rulers, not spiritual warfare against high-level demonic strongholds (see below in the Application section).

G. Summary

In the relations between the church and civil government, we must speak to its leaders about righteousness, not address satanic powers in the heavenlies. We can certainly pray to be armored up (Eph. 6:10-16), but the gospel goes to people. The invisible, universal church is the centerpiece of God’s plan of salvation, not civil government. But this does not mean that we ignore the government. The people working for it need our gospel message. If they refuse salvation but will listen to us about right policies, then so much the better for the  larger society. But if certain politicians don’t listen to us, I do not advocate rebellion and then imposing on society heavy-handed religious law, particularly from the Torah.

II. Functional Civil Government

A. Brief intro.

What is the proper role of civil government when it functions best? In this section, let’s develop Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17. And I borrow some ideas from J. Rodman Williams, Renewal Theology, vol. 3, chapter 7, pp. 267-72. But I definitely go my own way under some lettered paragraphs.

B. Justice

Civil government promotes justice. Let’s quote some Scriptures.

In Proverbs wisdom is personified and proclaims:

¹⁵ By me kings reign
    and rulers issue decrees that are just;
¹⁶ by me princes govern,
    and nobles—all who rule on earth (Prov. 8:15-16)

We don’t need to debate whether a society should have a monarch. Solomon wrote during the time of kings and was himself a king, so of course he would advocate for monarchy. (Note again that God raises up leaders.) Instead, the basic principle for our purpose here is just decrees.

In this passage Moses writes that judges should adjudicate issues fairly and justly.

¹⁸ Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. ¹⁹ Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent.  ²⁰ Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you. (Deut. 16:18-20)

Judges should not favor the poor just because they are poor, nor favor the rich just because they have money. There is no oppressor versus oppressed based on income or status. Instead, the judges should not favor either side but instead follow “justice and justice alone.” This insightful passage challenges the leftist social philosophy that claims that the rich are always wrong and the poor are always right. No. Follow the evidence and just laws no matter the people’s income. No partiality for ether side.

C. Punishment of criminals

This results in social order and peace.

Here are key verses in Romans 13:

[…] ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. […] ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer (Rom. 13:3a-4)

And 1 Peter 2:14:

[… submit] to governors, who are sent by him [the emperor] to punish those who do wrong (1 Peter 2:14a)

Only the state has the right to punish evildoers. Only civil government implements retributive justice. The church is never allowed to punish criminals. The best it can do is report them. In American society today there are a growing number of reports of clergy sexual abuse and other sexual misconduct and embezzlement. The most that the church can do is report the accused to the civil government and remove him from leadership or from its fellowship, until until he is cleared of wrongdoing or repents if his wrong is not illegal but sinful (1 Cor. 5:1-11).

In any case civil government must do its job and arrest suspects and put them on trial and imprison them, if found guilty. This promotes social order and peace.

It may also make other citizens fear to do wrong.

D. The government should not turn the other cheek

The New Testament permits the State to respond to crime or an attack, even with a sword. True, a government may negotiate when attacked, for it does not have to go to war or respond in kind every time. But no government official should feel bound by kingdom principle of “turning the other cheek.”

In contrast to the State, the Church as an institution is “pacifist” only in its own actions and internal policies, because it follows the dictates of the kingdom of God, his dominion or realm over which he exerts active rule and dynamic reign. And Jesus the resurrected king waged only spiritual warfare, and the apostles followed this path in early church history. Therefore, the Church—as the Church—should never convene a council or general assembly to raise a militia to fight battles or coerce dissidents and heretics to conform. But the Church violates its own Scriptures if it transfers this kingdom policy (only pacifism within itself) to the State.

Therefore, if the State does not respond, even with the sword, to a national attack or criminal activity, then such passivity and inaction becomes immoral and negligent—even vile. This violates the full teaching of the New Testament. The general population must be protected immediately, even if the State has to swing the sword (Rom. 13:1-7).

E. The public or common good

Civil government also promotes the welfare of society.

Romans 13:4a:

 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. (Rom. 13:4a)

Civil government should promote the common good for society, not just for the church. I like Williams here:

[…] the civil government exists to protect whatever good God has given man in creating him. For example, God gave mankind first and foremost life itself. (p. 269)

Then Dr. Williams goes on to describe the Declaration of Independence and its promotion of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. The Declaration also says that governments were instituted to secure these rights, which come from God, not politicians’ legal decrees, which can change from one government to the next, one popular philosophy to the next.

But society lives in a fallen world. So those fundamental rights can be secured most effectively when the government has checks and balances built into it. Then the executive cannot act unilaterally, nor can the legislative branch or hopefully neither can the judiciary.

Further, the authorities must serve the common good even for the church, which is part of society. This implies that if the civil authorities do not serve the common good that includes the church, then the church can speak to them about what the common good is, according to Scripture. Therefore the church united is called to counsel those servants of God, who give their full time to governing.

F. Religious liberty

The First Amendment reads (in part):

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof […]

The constitutional restrictions on Congress include all levels of government. The First Amendment gives the church (and other religions) maximum liberty to exercise their beliefs, but be careful when religion become coercive. Jefferson said that it does not matter to him whether a man worships no God or twenty gods, as long as he does not pick Jefferson’s pocket or break his leg, which means taking money from him or committing violence against him. Religious liberty should be expressed peacefully in society.

However, the First Amendment does not say “freedom from religion.” This means that the church can influence the government in public policies. But as I noted above and repeat below, I would not want to see a toxic mixture of civil and religious law in some sort of grotesque Frankenstein monster of “Christian sharia.”  I advocate for religious liberty, not Christian tyranny.

Please see this post that introduces a long series on Islamic law:

1 Introduction to a Series on Islamic Sharia Law

It has links at the bottom to all the other posts in the series.

G. Moral behavior

It may be difficult for us modern people to believe, but the civil government should promote moral behavior.

Romans 13:3b:

[…] Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. (Rom. 13:3b)

First Peter 2:14:

[…] governors, who are sent by him [the emperor] to […] commend those who do right (1 Peter 2:14)

But how can civil government promote moral behavior? By passing laws that restrain vice; then, hopefully, people will learn to walk on the straight and narrow path. I learned this when my city installed cameras at busy intersections. Over a period of about three years I got three tickets, totally about $1500.00. I learned the hard way to take it easy at those intersections.  (The city got rid of the cameras.} My behavior behind the wheel greatly, “miraculously” improved. Civil government can also promote good behavior by highlighting and rewarding ordinary and military heroes who rescued people in distress. This often happens during natural disasters. Maybe others will follow the example of these everyday heroes and also rescue people.

See this post with many quotations from thinkers throughout church history:

The Law Teaches Virtue and Restrains Vice

H. Summary

Governments live in a fallen world, and those working within it are fallen too. So we have to watch them to make sure they do those things in the above lettered paragraphs. When civil government is functioning at its best, it can accomplish those great things and fulfill its mission.

But what happens when government becomes dysfunctional?

III. Dysfunctional Civil Government

A. Brief intro.

Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peer 2:13-17 say to honor the emperor and governing authorities. But the emperors were not always kind to Christians. The character of the leaders could be substandard and their policies restrictive on the church and other members of society.. And so what happens when civil government goes rogue? What does this look like? How do we respond when it does?

We will look at the church’s influence and solutions it can promote, in the last two lettered paragraphs..

B.. Suppression of economic liberty

They crush or control to a large degree the creative spirit and entrepreneurship. This can happen by outright theft and take over companies by new, oppressive laws, or it can come by excessive taxes. Businesses are where the jobs are. If businesses are hampered by an overbearing government, then businesses slow down. When they slow down, they fire people.

The solution is for government to do the opposite. Keep taxes low and regulations few. Then businesses grow and hire people. When they slow down, they fire their employees,

Please remember these rhyming formulas for businesses (the arrow means “leads to”):

Slow → Fire

Grow → Hire

Government control or restrictions on business leads to the first formula. Government liberty for businesses can lead to the second one.

And so it is an injustice if the government imposes a heavy hand on business, past some basic laws of fairness, like contract law.

C. Suppression of religious liberty

Christianity must flourish for the good of society, but true religion cannot when government–usually communist– shuts down churches. In communist countries, pastors and other Christians can be thrown in prison for their faith. Communist countries? Here in the USA, during the Covid pandemic, government officials closed the doors to churches, but soon they allowed businesses to open, like taverns and giant retail stores. But churches? Keep them closed.

Liberty is the answer. Let individuals decide to go to church or stay home and watch online. Let each person decide on his religion (or none at all) and let him live in peace without government persecution.

D. Suppression of political dissidents

In communist countries political dissidents are thrown in jail or shipped off to a horrible camp. Many languish in prisons to this day in some countries. In the relatively freer West, citizens can sometimes be arrested and thrown in prison. In the UK, at the time of this post, several thousand people have been imprisoned for expressing their opinions on immigration and migrants and Islam, for example. In America, the leftist-owned tech companies deleted posts that did not fit the leftwing narrative, like the efficacy of alternative treatments for Covid or Pres. Biden’s mental decline.

E. Suppression of free speech

This goes along with the previous point. People have the right to post their opinions about anything (except crimes like threats of violence and harm to children; porn should be regulated) in newspapers and in the public square. We should not have government overlords over-regulating freedom of speech.

F. Heavy-handed religious law

The clearest example is sharia in Islamic countries. I studied Islam between 2004-2007 and updated my sharia posts in 2012. I learned how oppressive sharia is. Islamic societies concoct a toxic mixture of religious and civil law. These societies cannot develop as they should when they oppress half their population–women. Original Muslims, like Muhammad their “prophet,” borrowed heavily from the Torah because when they moved up to Medina from Mecca, a thriving community of Jews lived there. So now Islam actually kills people or physically punishes them, like flogging or chopping off hands, when these people violate sharia. Islam mimics the punishments in the Torah.

Once again here is the same link to a long series on Islamic sharia:

1 Introduction to a Series on Islamic Sharia Law

G. The church’s response

Let’s number some key responses.

1.. A serious problem in the church

First, let’s address a big problem. Drinking deeply of worldly trends and mind viruses that sweep across the West, particularly in the USA, many quarters of the church have drifted leftward, probably because they believe that “biblical justice,” as they define the term,  must be centered on leftwing solutions, like government distribution of money to those on welfare or to new arrivals to our country through mass immigration. In California, the new immigrants get free health care, and of course the program is now in debt by billions of dollars. Further, it is believed that transitioning children is normal and liberating for them. Fortunately most of the church has not supported this. But it shows the dangers of the world and the dark kingdom infiltrating the church. The church must deliberately and forcefully (by strong persuasion only) return to biblical conservatism.

In any case, whatever happens to the leftist side of the church, here are sensible solutions that the biblical church can seek to proclaim and possibly to implement by persuading politicians.

2. Persuade the larger public

I don’t know if we conservatives can dissuade the leftwing Christians from their position, so our only hope is to explain to the larger public that limited government is best for more people, and healthy people need to make their own way and acquire skills to get jobs and stop depending on welfare.

3. Liberty

The church should preach liberty in these matters. Yes, even atheists have their right to all these liberties. Our message of liberty should not be for the church only.

Moses was no longer part of the Egyptian government or functioned in his role as a prince, but in this one (sample) verse, he tells the Pharaoh (the State) to free the Hebrews from slavery:

Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’” (Exod. 5:1)

The church needs to preach liberty too.

Leviticus 25:10:

Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. (Lev. 25:10)

Liberty throughout the nations of the world should be the church’s message every year, no, every day.

Recall what 1 Peter 2:14 says: “Live as free people.” Liberty is the word for all of society.

And these words from the Declaration of Independence: “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” When we have liberty, we can enjoy the highest quality of life. And then citizens can pursue their own version of happiness.

However, this pursuit of free-wheeling happiness may not please Christians because sometimes certain citizens can pursue a degraded lifestyle. But the finishing clause of 1 Peter 2:14 reads: “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves” (1 Peter 2:14). People need to be taught that debauchery leads to misery and God’s disapproval.

However, certain citizens may still pursue a degraded lifestyle that damages only themselves. In their cases, the church cannot use government to stop them if they do not disturb order and peace in society. Government oppression is not church’s job. “Christian sharia” is or should be a contradiction. Instead, our mission is to preach the gospel of salvation and transformation. Change is best when God does it through the indwelling Spirit in their hearts.

Once again:

1 Introduction to a Series on Islamic Sharia Law

4. Civil disobedience

Civil disobedience can also be applied. I applauded the pastors who opened their churches during Covid, even though the government told them no. They gave people the option to walk through the doors or stay home and watch online. Liberty is the answer. When necessary civil disobedience is called for.

Two biblical example of civil disobedience are offered here.

First, the Pharaoh told the Hebrew midwives to kill the boy babies. However, the midwives violated the Pharaoh’s order because it wantonly and politically and unjustly destroyed lives.

 ¹⁷ The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. […] ²⁰ So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. ²¹ And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. (Exod. 1:17, 19-20)

The midwives feared God and disobeyed the order. They had a higher loyalty and obeyed God, not the government as represented by the Pharaoh. Their higher loyalty led to the preservation of life, not its destruction by a king’s whims–or even if he had taken counsel from his advisors. God and life.

Second, in Acts 5, the Sanhedrin, the highest court and council in the land, told the apostles to stop preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Notice the apostles’ reply in v. 29:

²⁷ The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸ “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! (Acts 5:27-29)

The church has a higher loyalty to God. The civil government issues decrees and laws that rob the church of its main mission: the proclamation of the gospel, offering people eternal life. Without the gospel, people are doomed for all eternity. So the apostles had to keep on preaching. God and (eternal) life.

However, I agree with Dr. Williams that civil disobedience is only the last resort, not to be used lightly.

Civil disobedience, accordingly, should occur only in situations where there is a clear conflict between the state’s demands or laws and the church’s higher loyalty to God. Even if conflict ensues, the first response should be to intercede for those in authority rather that disobey them, and then work for changes in the law rather than flagrantly break it. Only at the extreme point where the state is clearly disregarding God’s law ought there to be a rebellious action. But, to repeat, since there is no perfect civil government, Christians should exercise patience before defying their government’s laws and ordinances. (p. 283)

Therefore I do not believe that when a police officer shoots a suspect, for example, this is grounds for violent protests and riots. They are not peaceful assemblies, which the Constitution allows in the First Amendment. Rather, they come from a destructive spirit that intends to burn the whole thing down. The church must wait for all the facts of the case to come in. As Dr. Williams said, “Christians should exercise patience.”

5. Exposing and stopping global religious persecution

The church can work to stop the persecution of Christians around the globe (and, sadly, in the West at times and in certain nations). We can join anti-persecution organizations and contribute money and at least pray. We can also pray for revival in oppressed countries that the doors to effective witness will open up (1 Cor. 16:9).

We can write material online to alert the public about suppression of liberty, particularly religious liberty.

Christians (and others) can appeal to Congress

Here’s a post from Congress.gov:

“Faith Under Fire: An Examination of Global Religious Persecution”

Here’s another government agency

Well done, my fellow Christians (and others).

H. Summary

Yes, Romans 13:1-9 and 1 Peter 2:13-17 clearly state that the church should honor and obey governing authorities, but what happens when they cross lines and become oppressive? Where do we draw the line between defective governments and oppressive ones? Maybe the line should be drawn between a politician’s personal life and his policies. Fair enough. But where do we draw the line between honoring his policies when they are defective and, worse, oppressive? No doubt deeper thinkers than I have already come up with solutions. But let me try.

IV. Application

A. Brief intro.

This final section offers advice on how we can participate or at least leave peacefully in our own countries. The next points talk about our duties to the government.

B. Be subject to authorities.

Civil government is not perfect, but generally they promote order and peace and have just laws–in relatively freer nations. In this case Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-14 are clear. Since God has ordained civil government, submit to its leaders and do good. Keep the law–no wrongdoing–and you can live peacefully.

C. Pray for the civil government.

First Timothy 2:1-2:

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers,  intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (1 Tim. 2:1-2)

“The church is obligated to intercede for civil government” (Williams, p. 274). It is overseen by fallen leaders, so they need our prayers. The church needs to live in peace and quiet in society, so Christians must pray for politicians. Without our prayer who knows how far gone the government could be. We would no longer be able to live quiet and peaceful lives.

D. Pay taxes.

Romans 13:6-7a reads:

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue […] (Rom. 13:6-7a)

In Matthew 17:24-27, tax collectors of the temple tax (two drachmas) approached Peter and asked if Jesus paid the temple tax, Of course he said yes. But then he asked Jesus about it.

Jesus replied with a miracle:

“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours [Peter’s].” (Matt. 17:27)

Finally, Jesus is clear in this wise statement:

¹⁹ Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, ²⁰ and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

²¹ “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matt. 22:19-21). 

Every time I read his answer, I always marvel at it.

I counsel conservatives (and others) not to express their civil disobedience by not paying their taxes. They must use other means to express their disagreement with the civil government’s policies. Here are a few ways, next.

E.. Persuasion and counsel

The church can counsel the government leaders and attempt to persuade them from their unjust polices.

I quoted this short sample verse before:

Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’” (Exod. 5:1)

Moses proclaimed the right policy–liberty–to the state, the Pharaoh. We should follow his lead and proclaim better policies, in addition to liberty, to today’s politicians.

Old Testament prophets and kings and queens. Too many examples to cite here, but many of them told the kings and queens of Israel (northern) and Judah (southern) to repent.

John the Baptist rebuked Herod, a government official.

³ Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, ⁴ for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet. (Matt. 14:3-5)

But Herod ended up executing him.

Paul used his Roman citizenship to scold the local leaders for flogging him (Acts 16:37-38). He used his Roman citizenship to demand his legal rights. Don’t flog him when he has not been found guilty; that was illegal and a violation of his rights (Acts 22:24-26).

He is shown to be preaching to Felix about righteousness, self-control, and judgment to come (Acts 24:25). Then he proclaimed his testimony before Festus and King Agrippa (Acts 26). He appealed to Caesar, and they sent him on to Rome. This passage is so clarifying, I have to quote it in full:

²⁴ At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

²⁵ “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. ²⁶ The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

²⁹ Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” (Acts 26:24-29)

Paul tried to persuade earthly rulers. He appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar he was sent. “Agrippa said to Festus, ‘This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar'” (Acts 26:32). He defended himself because he was innocent. And no doubt he preached the gospel in his speech. And so Paul was not a passive citizen of Rome. Evidently church history says he may have indeed appeared before Caesar’s court in Rome, if not the emperor himself.

These next verses teach that we are salt and light, and we must do good works in public so people can see our Father in heaven.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:13-16)

Salt and light, for my purpose here, speak of influence through example (salt) and truth (light) by words. We proclaim the truth to everyone, but for this entire post I have argued that the church is to proclaim the truth in particular to the politicians. This may not always be the pure gospel, alone. We may also offer righteous counsel about various social issues.

For example, same sex marriage. The Supreme Court’s decision Obergefell (2015) said that prohibiting two men or two women from getting married violates their constitutional right. Then the Respect for Marriage Act (2022), which repealed the Defense of Marriage Act (1996) that had said marriage is between a man and a woman, codified into law same-sex marriage. How is the church to respond now, given this reality?

At the very least, Christian organizations can submit amicus briefs to the Supreme Court.

If a Christian organization can reverse same sex marriage by law or another Supreme Court decision that hands the issue back to the states, similar to Dobbs (2022) and abortion, then the organization should try. It will be a difficult challenge because society has moved on and allows two consenting adults to get married. (This is different from abortion where the preborn child is not a consenting adult.) But I don’t want to impose a Christian version of sharia–by a toxic mixture of civil and religious laws–on consenting adults. The church should still proclaim the gospel to the same-sex couples and their children and keep proclaiming it when the (possibly maladjusted) kids grow up. God can rescue these deceived married couples and their children through new birth, daily living in the Spirit, and discipleship.

God will judge America at the Second Coming for these immoral and unbiblical laws, if she refuses to change and repent.

Liberty through gospel transformation is the main takeaway here.

Update: on November 10, 2025, the Supreme Court has declined to hear a case opposing same-sex marriage.

Supreme Court rejects appeal from county clerk who sought to overturn same-sex marriage decision. Things could change in the future, however.

F. Participation in government

One way to be salt and light and to do public good works to persuade society is to vote. That is the least Christians can do. We can vote out the crooks and vote in good conservative people. Let’s hope they too will not become crooks. But even if they violate the law and take government money or illegal donations, thereby becoming crooks, then maybe their conservative policies will, nonetheless, provide the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people, as long as the policies are built on justice.

An even stronger approach to influence government is for true members of the invisible, universal church to run for political office. Then they can pursue policies that benefit the maximum number of people, not just the church, and the policies have to conform to justice, as well. I like to believe that when we pass righteous laws for the good of the larger society, everyone benefits.

G. Ignore the world?

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13:

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? ¹³ God will judge those outside […] (1 Cor. 5:12-13).

The context is that the church should not judge the world, but this does not mean we should not influence it. We should not abandon the world to fend for itself, but to get involved. If you do not engage the world, then “in that case you would have to leave this world” (v. 10).

H. No to Dominionism

The point about participation in government needs a little more explanation. Dominionism is not God’s plan for his church and civil government, for this religious political philosophy imposes on unbelievers religious law, such as those found in the Torah, like capital crimes for personal sins.

Dominionism takes us back to the Torah, when God has moved past the Sinai covenant into the New Covenant.

⁶ But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. ⁷ For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. […]  

¹³ By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. (Heb. 8:6-7, 13)

Dominionism is very much like Islamic sharia. And this is bad for society. I admit, however, that if we are not imposing a “Christian sharia,” then being an overbearing, morally over-charged schoolmarm can also repel people and turn them off from the gospel of the kingdom. It is difficult (for me at least) to know where to draw the line between counseling people towards morality, passing laws that compel people to live morally, or allowing people their liberty even to live immorally, as long as it does no harm to others (e.g. private sexual habits or smoking cannabis at home).

This is why I prefer to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom and get people saved and in church, so that God can guide them towards sanctified living.

Finally, for the last time, begin a long series on sharia at this post:

1 Introduction to a Series on Islamic Sharia Law

I. No to the Seven Mountain Mandate

I further do not believe in the seven-mountain mandate, which says to take over seven areas of society: family, religion, education, media, arts & entertainment, business, and government.

I wonder where medicine is on the list. And how do “arts & entertainment” become one unit? So we see there is already a problem even with forming this list in the first place. Maybe the number seven was chosen because of its biblical significance. That’s possibly why the visionary leader or leaders linked “arts and entertainment” as one unit and skipped medicine. Wonky and needless.

There is no need to follow a mandate, an idea concocted by even more visionary leaders. And no, Matthew 28:18, which says to make disciples of all nations, does not mean to take over entire nations by some quixotic quest.

Discipling nations ≠ Taking over nations.

J. No to Christian nationalism

I’m patriotic (= grateful) about living in my home country, but I don’t need the movement called Christian Nationalism to express my gratitude. Those two terms don’t belong together. They are a distraction. The goal of the kingdom and the church, which is created by the kingdom, is to go global. We can participate in the government, but not become excessive in our patriotism. We are Christian citizens of the kingdom of God first.

See this post:

I am a Christian ‘Kingdomist,’ Not a Christian Nationalist

K. Flaws in these new movements

In addition to the previous points that disclose the flaws in these movements, there is another flaw: novelty. Busy, over-active American Christian leaders fish around for new and exciting things, which lead them to wildly misinterpret the Bible. American church leaders, especially of the charismatic variety, look for the Next Big Thing. Innovation and dreaming big and experimenting with the church are leading all of us astray. Let’s return to the well-trodden paths and gospel simplicity and standard interpretations of Scripture. I prefer biblical exegetes over visionary leaders with their new ideas and big dreams.

Dominionism makes the kingdom of God more manifest than God has willed at this time. It brings down his kingdom on people, and it can become oppressive. This is called over-realized eschatology. It is best to wait for the Second Coming, when God will sort things out and send the unrighteous to their place of separation from his presence. Then kingdom righteousness will prevail, and kingdom citizens will be happy and live in peace in the new creation.

The Kingdom Starts Small and Grows Big (but only at the Second Coming will it be fully realized)

L. Third Wayism is misguided now

The democrat party has gone so far to the left that I am surprised Christians would even think about voting for Kamala Harris in 2024 or the democrats in the 2026 mid-terms or especially the future democrat nominee in 2028. At this time in American politics Christians can no longer advocate the Third Way, which says to take a little bit of ideas from the right and left–take the via media (the middle way). We no longer live in the 1980s or 1990s when many democrat politicians were gentlemen or shared certain common values (see above and the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act). Today, in contrast, the left must be stopped because their “solutions” are destructive or foolish or unworkable or extreme.

Progressivism Is Bad for the Church

The Earliest Disciples Did Not Practice Modern Communism or Socialism

Socialism Is Wrong for Society

So, in today’s political climate, Third Wayism is now obsolete and void of promise and solutions.

M. Better way

The better way to influence society for righteousness is to build up the churches and evangelize the lost, so that they come to church. Then when we instruct the people in our churches on salvation and sanctification and evangelism, society will gradually change, one soul at a time. This is how I read Scripture.

Christian or theological or practical Dominionism and the Seven-Mountain Mandate are just some inflated ideas from innovative, visionary leaders (again!).They should have kept things simple and told Christians to follow the pure gospel and to be good witnesses at their jobs. Let’s ignore these mandates, so that they can just go away. Or we can speak out against them, as I am doing here.

And go here for a long article on Dominionism, Christian Nationalism, and the Seven-Mountain Mandate.

Observations on New Apostolic Reformation and Christian Nationalism

N. Summary

We need to keep the church and civil government distinct. But they are not enemies, either, in most cases.

Further, the church can use persuasion—not force or coercion—to get good and righteous laws passed or bad laws to be repealed.

We can even vote for righteous politicians, whether Christian or otherwise, to help the cause of righteousness. Or we can run for political office.

Most importantly, we can proclaim the good news of the kingdom that will lead people away from their bad laws or to speak about the sinful lifestyle of citizens. We are not to sit passively and watch the civil government burn to the ground.

But we should not belong to any dominion movement or the Seven-Mountain Mandate. These movements deny the mystery of the kingdom that moves around the globe quietly, working in people’s hearts one at a time through the gospel.

Finally, after people are born again and enter God’s kingdom, they cannot just do as they please. Now leaders in the church can appeal to Scripture to disciple new kingdom citizens to follow the King of kings (God and Jesus). It may take a long time, but by God’s grace and his powerful Spirit living in them, they can overcome the power of sin (Rom. 6:11-14). They can lived sanctified lives.

O. God over all

Jesus told Pilate that the governor would have no authority over him unless it had already been given to him by God (John 19:11). God removes kings and sets them up (Dan. 2:20-21). The Lord Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he wills (Dan. 4:17). So God rules over civil government, even if we do not see it yet.. .

Also this passage is good reminder of who is ultimately in charge:

God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (! Tim. 6:15-16, emphasis added; see Rev. 17:14 and 19:16, which call Jesus the King of kings and Lord of lords)

We the church can be blessed and not anxious if we remember God’s and his Son’s Lordship and Kingship over all governments and rulers.

RELATED

Is It Just to Deploy National Guard to Stop Mayhem?

How to Rescue America with These Images

Should the State ‘Turn the Other Cheek’?

An Evil Counterfeit to the Jesus Revolution

Right and Wrong Ways to Protest

BIBLIOGRAPHY

I used J. Rodman Williams’s Renewal Theology, vol. 3, chapter 7, in some sections, but I definitely went my own way, for example in his ethic of love. I say this ethic can take the church only so far in the larger society.

Works Cited