Once a Department of Water Resources representative stops at a Texas ranch and talks with an old rancher. He tells the rancher, “I need to inspect your ranch for your water allocation.” The old rancher says, “Okay, but don’t go in that field over there.” The Water Department representative says, “Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me. See this card? This card means I am allowed to go WHEREVER I WISH on any agricultural land. No questions asked or answered. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?” The old rancher nods politely and goes about his chores. Later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the Water Rep running for his life. And close behind is the rancher’s bull. The bull is gaining with every step. The Rep is clearly terrified, so the old rancher immediately throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at the top of his lungs, “Your card! Show him your card!” One of the things I love about that story is it highlights how complicated the idea of government is for us in the United States. The good news about today’s sermon is that we are not going to talk about particular policies or get into politics. The more good news is that good government seems to matter to God. The even more good news is that Paul and the Bible have a lot to say about how people who seek God and follow Jesus are to interact with the government. In our divisive times, wouldn’t it be nice to get some guidance from God on this?
So according to our passage, the Bible says good government does three things:
1. Rewards good conduct and punishes bad conduct. Paul writes, “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 he will commend you.”
2. Seek the good of the people. Paul writes, authority “is God’s servant for your good.”
3. Gives people the space to live, love, and worship the way God calls us to. More on that in a minute.
You’ll notice that Paul doesn’t pick a favorite about the form a government should take—republic, monarchy, empire, theocracy, etc. What matters is, are they doing their job? We can debate the particulars, but these are the three things good governments do—reward good conduct and punish the bad, seek the good of the people, and give people the space to worship as God leads.
So that was pretty interesting, but the part that’s probably got you on the edge of your seat is how does God call us to interact with the government?
1. Advocate for the poor, the marginalized, the widow, the orphan and the stranger, because these are the groups God has a heart for. Some might say, “I thought you weren’t going to get into politics.” I’m not. I’m just telling you what the Bible says about God’s priorities. If we had a little more time I could show you at least 20 places in the Old and New Testaments where God makes that clear. You’ll notice I’m not telling you how to take care of these groups, or how to be on their side—that would be politics! But the Biblical record is clear that we look after the folks who are least able to help themselves, because God has a heart for these people, just as God has a heart for us.
2. Take thought for what is right, or noble in the eyes of everyone, especially what leads to peace. We are in the game of life together, so we should take thought for what, in our culture, makes the kind of impact Jesus would want to make.
3. Live a life of grace. Paul quotes Proverbs 25:21–22, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Perhaps the original writer in Proverbs had in mind making people feel even worse about doing things, but Jesus changes the story, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” So we give our enemies food and drink because they are hungry and thirsty, because we want to be people of love and grace, and that’s what people of love and grace do. Paul adds, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
4. Be involved in government and civic life. Paul writes, “Pay taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.” These are all ways that we contribute positively to the government—and even society—working for all of us.
God calls us to live a life marked by thoughtful justice and steadfast love. As William Temple writes, “The Church is likely to be attacked from both sides if it does its duty. It will be told that it has become ‘political’ when in fact it has merely stated its principles and pointed out when they have been breached. The Church will be told by advocates of particular policies that it is futile because it does not support theirs. If the Church is faithful to its commission, it will ignore both sets of complaints and continue as far as it can to influence all citizens and permeate all parties.”
While I really like the story about the rancher and the Water Resource representative, it suggests that people and the government are in an adversarial relationship, when in fact, we want the government to work for us and with us. The biggest problems that we face as a nation and a people probably boil down to self-centeredness—people seeking their own good, ahead of the good of others. William Temple writes, “Each of us takes our place in the center of our own world. But I am not the center of the world, or the standard of reference between good and bad. I am not, but God is. In other words, from the beginning I put myself in God’s place…I am in a state [of self-centeredness], from birth, in which I shall bring disaster on myself and everyone else unless I escape it. Education may make my self-centeredness less disastrous by widening my horizons. But this is like climbing a tower which widens the horizons of my vision while leaving me still the center of reference. The only way to deliver me from my self-centeredness is by winning my entire heart’s devotion, the total allegiance of my will to God—and this can only be done by the Divine Love of God disclosed by Christ in his life and death.” This is why those who follow Jesus Christ are so important to society, to our government, and to our world—at our best, we help the world look past self-interest and self-absorption by living lives shaped by Jesus, who was willing to be hung on a cross in order to make a way to a better future for all of us. That’s our mission too—to be the “soul of the world,” the conscience of our government, and the example of living for more than just ourselves, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Not just because it’s a good idea, but because the Lord of love is leading us.