Two Swords (3)

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil…For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain… Romans 13.3, 4

A check on wickedness
The fact that, in the period of history that begins with the New Testament, the sword of politics has been relegated to a secondary role in the divine economy, does not mean that it has no part to play in furthering God’s plan to bless the nations.

Governments are God’s ministers for good. Their purpose is to serve God according to the agenda and ends of His Kingdom.

With the coming of the Kingdom of God the Sword of the Spirit has come near, even into the very midst of the affairs of men and nations. Since the first Christian Pentecost that Sword has been cutting a swath of grace and truth through the course of history, accomplishing far more in the way of righteousness, peace, and joy among the nations than the political sword could ever hope to achieve.

But because wickedness has not been eradicated, and will not be until Jesus returns, because men will continue to do what is wrong rather than what is good, it will be necessary – as in the time of the Old Testament – to check their self-interested and violent ways with the sword of politics, which is the power of the State.

The purpose of civil government
What Paul claims in Romans 13.3, 4 did not simply begin to be true following the resurrection and ascension of our Lord. All governments throughout all of history have had their existence at the pleasure and according to the purposes of God. We may not always be able to discern those purposes or to reason our way to understanding the ways of God’s sovereignty over all governments from all times, but it is true nonetheless. God is sovereign over civil governments, and always has been.

Paul was simply stating for his generation what, as we have seen, the Old Testament consistently taught: The Sword of the Spirit has always ruled the sword of politics. Now, however, with the coming of the Kingdom of God, the transforming powers of the Word of God are much more manifest and available, and more far-reaching than ever they were in the days of the patriarchs and prophets.

So governments today exist at God’s pleasure; they are His servants. Their purpose is to sustain and advance God’s rule of goodness on earth, and our role, as Kingdom citizens within one or another civil administration, is to help civil government accomplish God’s purpose for it.

Now we know that there is scarcely a government anywhere in the world today that would agree with this notion. The secularization of the age and the misuse of the doctrine of the separation of Church and State have corrupted the thinking of rulers and the people they govern, so that, outward formalities aside, no nation today acknowledges its duty to be that of serving the good purposes of God.

The role of God’s people
But this does not exempt governments from this divine calling. God has not changed His mind.

Nor does it mean that those who are grounded and instructed in the ways of divine goodness – the ways of the Sword of the Spirit – may draw back from working to enable governments in every place to fulfill their divinely-appointed service. As ambassadors in the Kingdom of God we work within and upon all forms of civil government in the interests and for the ends of our Sovereign.

But can we depend on the best ideas of men to be able to discern that which is good and right?

We cannot, of course. Rather, we must consult the Lord on such matters, turning to the Sword of the Spirit for guidance in understanding and ordering the proper use of the sword of politics in our day.

God alone, speaking through His Word, can provide us with reliable and unchanging norms of goodness to help us in knowing how governments should fulfill their divinely-appointed roles. The citizens of God’s Kingdom fulfill their callings, in part, when they live, work, pray, and teach in such ways as to counsel and guide the powers-that-be in how they must fulfill the good plan of God for the people they serve.

Next Steps: Continue praying for civil authorities. See if you can find an email or postal address for each one. As Paul often let people know he was praying for them, we should do the same with these civil authorities. What might be a good approach for you in letting your civil authorities know from time to time that you pray for them? Share your thoughts with your prayer partner.

T. M. Moore

This week’s study, Two Swords, is part 1 of a 5-part series on The King’s Heart, a Biblical view of government and politics, and is available as a free download by clicking here. We cannot understand God’s view of government, or how to function in a political environment apart from faith in King Jesus and His rule. Order T. M.’s book The Kingship of Jesusto supplement our studies of God and government.

We’re pleased to bring ReVision to you daily, and ReVision studies each week in PDF at no charge. Please visit our website, www.ailbe.org to learn about the many study topics available. Your gifts to The Fellowship of Ailbe make this ministry possible. It’s easy to give to The Fellowship of Ailbe, and all gifts are, of course, tax-deductible. You can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.