Striking a Nerve

Every view strikes a nerve nowadays. Whether you talk sports, religion or politics, you are bound to offend someone with what you believe and the stance you take on a topic. Politics seems to strike a nerve more than anything else these days. Views have become completely polarized. There is no longer any middle ground; you are either for or against whoever is in office. But what does the Bible tell us about how we are to treat those in charge?

Back in the book of Exodus when Moses was going through all the Laws that God had given him to instruct the Israelites, He gave them this little line: "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.” - Exodus 22:28.   Now I know that this was given to the nation of Israel and not to Christians but there are Old Testament truths that still hold true no matter what.

If you don’t think that the Old Testament laws apply to you, here you go: “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work” - Titus 3:1. The New Testament gives us the same advice. We, as Christians, are to be obedient to those in office. We are to be honorable people and we are to honor the office no matter who holds it.

We do not have to agree with all things that the person in office does but we are instructed to be obedient (unless it goes against God’s Word). We don’t always agree with our spouse but we honor our spouse because we love them and God instructs us to do so. We don’t always agree with our bosses but we honor that they have authority over us and we obey them. So why don’t we do that with our elected officials?  Why do we find it so easy to throw hate and anger at them for every thing they do?

We ruin our witness to the world that doesn’t believe in God when we take part in the same things that the world does. If we don’t look any different than the world then why should they want to be Christians?  We will never fully agree with any person that is in office but we can always honor the position like God wants us to and be a great witness for Christ.

Have a great day and God bless.