–– Malamulo Chindongo
Audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
In a few days, South Africans will head to the polls to cast their votes in the National elections; making a mark on that ballot paper, for the political party they believe should run the affairs of the country at the national and provincial level. How should Christians be thinking amidst the many discussions regarding the upcoming elections?
What we will consider here does not apply to the elections in South Africa alone but to all other nations considering elections as well. God’s people must carefully explore our role in the way national leaders are appointed and how we can relate with them. Some of our frustration with our political leaders stems from the fact that we ask from them that which only God can supply. Christians ought to relate to the civil government biblically. If we can apply biblical principles and instructions we will do our souls a great deal of service and escape unnecessary grievances against our politicians. We must change, from being those who are antagonistic toward civil government to those who love and “seek the prosperity” of our nations. (Jeremiah 29:7).
In spite of all the evil we see in politics and with our politicians, we must bring to remembrance these three facts about civil government, especially as we go to the ballot in the coming days:
1. All Civil Rulers are appointed by God
Under the earthly government established by God are three institutions; the civil magistrate, the elders or pastors of the local church, and the father who is the head of the home. Christians have wisely observed that all these three branches of earthly government have been given authority at different levels. First, the civil government oversees more people, but its power is limited. In God’s order, the civil magistrate has two responsibilities. Firstly, to maintain law and order by punishing evildoers and rewarding those who do good (1 Peter 2:14, Romans 13:1-7, & 1 Timothy 2:1-3). The civil magistrate is also called by God to protect the weak (Luke 18:1-8, Psalm 82:3-4).
The Lord reigns over all, yet it pleased Him to delegate some level of authority to His chosen men. Many times these civil leaders He gives power to are not saved and do not consciously serve God’s purposes. Again, this is where the church has a unique role. The church has a responsibility to remind rulers that all authority is delegated. All those in authority have a duty before the God of heaven, to whom they will give an account (Romans 13:1-2). Our Lord Jesus Christ was quick to remind Pilate of his role in God’s providential reign of the universe (John 19:10-11). It wasn’t an occasional conviction of our Lord because he was facing death, rather, it was what the timeless Christian view of all human authority should be.
Ministers of the gospel ought to remember and teach their people that the civil magistrate is God’s tool of (civil) authority over his people. “All authority of governments on earth originates from the Sovereignty of God alone — every state-formation, every assertion of the power of the magistrate, every mechanical means of compelling order and of guaranteeing a safe course of life is therefore always something unnatural…”. Just as Christ is the head of the church and directs and rules over all creatures, He is also above all powers, principalities, and authorities in heaven and earth (Colossians 1:16).
As you prepare to vote, regardless of who becomes the next leader, consider the following Christian duties:
a. We are to honour those in authority. (Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:17)
b. We are to obey those in authority (1 Peter 2:13, Titus 3:1, Proverbs 24:21)
c. We are to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-5)
d. We are to evangelise all men, even those in authority (Mark 16:15, Acts 26:29 Matthew 28:29)
2. The God of the Christian Bible is the Supreme Ruler of all
The Christian understanding is that all governing authority that exists in this world is given by God. Hence it follows that Christians not only obey those in authority but also speak prophetically when our rulers contradict God’s word. The church’s prophetic voice must, first of all, come from the conviction that God is the Supreme Ruler of all. Whether it is individual human hearts, governments, leaders of corporate financial institutions, kings or queens, the LORD reigns over them all.
The church only becomes a relevant voice, in every area of life, including in politics, when she accurately speaks for God. Malachi 2:7 reads “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts”. The church has no authority in and of itself to speak authoritatively, only under the authority of the Supreme Ruler. God has commanded her to speak to all men concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Because of the urgency of this mission, the church cannot be silent. She must speak truth to power because the Supreme Ruler of the universe requires it. Because the Supreme Ruler of the world speaks through His church as she faithfully expounds His holy writ.
Between now and when the elections conclude, there will be a lot of conversations among Christian men and women, it will be important for God’s people to channel all conversations about this election toward the scriptures and all that God has said about the civil magistrate.
3. God humbles proud rulers
Sadly, rulers tend to forget this fact, (Haggai 2:21-22). Because of this, God always reminds rulers that He is in charge. In His providence, the God of heaven has a million ways of telling rulers who is the real King. There are countless stories preserved for us in the scriptures to remind earthly rulers that God alone is the true King. Think of Nebuchadnezzar, a great ruler who allowed power and fame to get to his head leading him to forget who the real King was (Daniel 4:34-35). This led to his unprecedented humiliation
Even a pagan king like Nebuchadnezzar, with all his glory and fame, needed a reminder. His humiliation might not have led to his salvation, but he needed to acknowledge God’s rule over all things. The church of Jesus Christ has a real responsibility to the world around it. To remind all people, not only concerning the good news of Jesus Christ but also God’s will and the Kingship of God over all things. The church should point kings and rulers to history; showing how others like them who dared to stand in the way of God shipwrecked their kingdoms.
In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, we read of a certain king and his fate. All he did was exalt himself and proclaim himself to be something he was not. Those who were with him supported him in his idolatry by worshipping him and the result is that king Herod was eaten by worms (Acts 12:21-24). Nations flourish under humble leaders and languish under proud leaders. It is the church’s responsibility to put these things before kings and queens (1 Peter 5:5-6).
God blesses rulers, when they lead their people according to His will, in the same way He humbles. Christian people must uphold both ends of God’s promises to bless and to judge. We have a duty to our political leaders; to remind them that they will one day give an account before the living God. We also have a duty to train future leaders so that they will not abuse their God-given authority. Additionally, we are duty-bound to tell them of the goodness of the Lord and the sweetness of His blessings towards leaders who seek the good of their people in sincerity (Daniel 4:34-36).
If this election does not turn out according to your expectations, remember, the LORD, Yahweh is in charge! You will soon cast a vote, but the outcome is in the Lord’s hands. As Proverbs 16:33 reminds us; “The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD”.