We Americans are a curious lot. We wave flags and hail our liberty, while many understand neither the nature of our government nor its encroachment into our lives. “Ignorance is bliss,” and most Americans seem to be happy.

Scripture exhorts, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you then want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who does evil”  (Rom. 13:1-4).

The biblical charge is clear, but the application is puzzling. Which government are we to honor? The government of the United States Constitution or the government as it exists in fact today? Let’s dispel some popular myths:

1) It was never the intention of our founding fathers to create a government that would “take care” of people. The intention was to create a system that would guarantee our individual liberties, so that we might take care of ourselves! Government’s “care” of citizens is the guise under which we’re being moved closer to socialism and government dependency.

2) We do not live in a democracy. Our forbears established a republic. The difference is this: in a true democracy, each citizen votes on each issue. Sounds okay, but the downside is that the actions of  true  democracies  have historically become little more than mob rule. Instead, wise men established a republic, a form of government in which citizens are represented by elected officials charged with defending the public interest. The notion of living in a democracy is advanced for the purpose of pressuring elected officials into bowing to popular opinion, often shaped by a liberal media, rather than standing on principle. It’s been an effective ruse.

3) Our Constitution gives us no rights at all. The premise of those who framed our government was that human rights emanate from the Creator, not man. The Constitution does not create rights, but rather, limits the extent to which government may infringe on those liberties given to us by God. (It should be noted that this principle is not based on scripture, but on 18th century political philosophy.) In recent years the trend has been to remove God from the picture and portray government as the giver and arbiter of freedom.

Believe it or not, my comments aren’t meant to be political, but historical. Even a mediocre student of history can see that our government today is but a mere shadow of its original design. All governments evolve with the changing winds of popular thought. So to which government do we owe our loyalty: the original or the evolved version?

Our nation was built on the belief that God rules in the affairs of men. Today our public schools distribute contraceptives, but will no longer allow the Gideons to distribute Bibles. The Bill of Rights prohibits government from taking our goods without “due process,” but today we have a punitive tax system that requires us to work five months of every year just to meet our tax liability. And while our tax system is technically a “voluntary” proposition, just try volunteering not to pay. The constitution limits government’s ability to intrude on our private affairs, but bureaucracies such as the IRS, EPA, and OSHA are “omnipotent” agencies answerable to no one but themselves.

I love what America once was, but I’m not much impressed with what it is becoming. Nevertheless, I am not relieved of my God-given obligation to live under its jurisdiction. The apostle Paul’s charge in Romans 13 is timeless. Each disciple of Christ is responsible to respect the authority of his government, whether he likes it or not, whether it’s fair or not, and whether its present manifestation is consistent with its original intent or not.

God’s plan is that we should live as honorable citizens. Certainly within the parameters of law we may exercise ourselves politically. But we must not get so preoccupied with government that we forget the real “powers-that-be.” Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). We belong to a kingdom which cannot be shaken (Heb. 12:28). And although our nation seems at odds with its original design, we must never lose sight of our mission, our destiny, our God.

- Steve