Australia heads to the voting booths Saturday 21st August to elect the Australian Government

By the time you read this article, the results of the federal election will have been confirmed. Whatever the outcome is, I wonder if it is worth reminding ourselves of what God thinks of governments? In Romans 13:1-7 we read:

  • Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. (v1)
  • For he [the government] is God’s servant to do you good. (v4)
  • He [the government] is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (v4)

This passage informs how we are to live out our Christian faith as faithful subjects of the state and citizens of heaven. As subjects of the state, we are to recognise the authority of earthly governments as established by God himself. Remember that the government which is being referred to in the above passage was that of the Roman emperor – a pagan who saw himself as a god! We should pay our taxes, give due honour to our politicians, and pray for them and their policies. Such governments should defend what is right in this age but should never think they will trump the kingdom to come.

The kingdom to come is what the citizens of heaven truly await. In this Kingdom it is the risen Lord Jesus Christ who is the Prime Minister of prime ministers, President of presidents, King of kings and Lord of all:

…whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. (Col 1:16)

As Christians we are to point to the future kingdom of Christ, and to the way that this kingdom impacts the present.

Scott Goode,
Assistant Pastor