We continue examining our obedience to government, particularly during this season of pandemic. So far, we’ve seen that we are called to obey government in all things, with the only exception to the rule being when government calls us to deny Christ or disobey God directly.
In today’s post we discuss the question regarding the widespread fear and panic coming from the COVID-19 outbreak, and whether our perceptions of the danger of the situation should change our submission to government.
The question is important, not only in this situation with COVID-19, but with countless other issues relating to government.
Who decides?
At its core, the question is one of authority. Can our perceptions and opinions of how the government should manage our country influence our willingness to obey the government?
The answer, from every text dealing with government in the Bible, is a strong ‘no’.
None of the statements regarding obedience to governing authorities come with caveats. Paul does not tell us to obey governing authorities, but only if we agree with them. Peter does not tell us to submit ourselves to every human institution, but only those that get it right.
Instead, the Bible loudly calls us to submit, whether we agree with decisions or not.
Consider Nero
Think, for a moment, about the cultural and political contexts these men wrote. Certainly there were a great many policy decisions made by Nero that the apostles would have disagreed with.
However, as Jason pointed out last time, there is not a single word in the New Testament about these social issues. There is never a statement by any of the apostles dealing with political intrigue. Not a single word.
Coronavirus, or no coronavirus…that isn’t the question
The issue facing Christians these days is no different than the New Testament church. The question is not whether the coronavirus is real or overblown. The question is not whether the lockdown is a good decision or a poor one.
The question facing Christians is quite simple—will we obey the governing authorities or no? And in doing so, will we obey God or no?
Questions about the virus, about situational ethics, about political maneuvering are not wrong to ask. We are blessed to live in a country where we have freedom to ask and debate these things!
But while we ask these questions, we must remember that our allegiance to God mandates our submission to His choice in authorities, whether our opinion is considered or not.
