A few minutes ago, I read through the headlines at brisbanetimes.com.au. Here’s a few of them:
- The gloves are off as the tussle for the top begins
- Gillard’s plan to crush Rudd
- Ministers line up to pour on the venom
It’s quite a time in Australian politics with the current leadership crisis. Many people are sharing their views on the Gillard versus Rudd issue – taking sides, and the accompanying abuse, distrust, accusation and slander. It has gotten pretty nasty. As I’ve been watching / reading about this, I’ve thought: what should we think as Christians about what is happening? What should we be doing as Christians?
I don’t have all the answers. But in thinking about these questions, my mind immediately went to God’s message to us in 1 Peter 2:13-17
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
The above verses came to my mind because last year, Winston and I met regularly to catch up, pray and read through 1 Peter together. When we got to the above verses, I was rebuked. The reason being: I am like many Australians – quick to find fault with our leaders, explaining away any good things the government does, always being negative, and even stooping so low as to make fun of our Prime Minister’s accent. Yes, in all honesty, I do disagree with a number of the government’s policies. And I think this is OK - especially when I feel they contradict the Bible’s teachings. But that night at Winston’s place, God spoke through 1 Peter 2 and told me that I am to honour my leaders. And I need to repent of my mentality towards them.
Honouring my leaders means that I’m not to tell jokes about them; I’m not to enjoy seeing them make policy mistakes (which might hurt Australians), just because I want to see the government fall. I’m to speak kindly about them, even when I disagree. I’m to be thankful that I have a say in government affairs through my local member of parliament, and can make my voice heard there and with my vote in the next election. I can also pray to the Sovereign God, asking Him to be at work to bring wisdom, justice and mercy in and through the leaders of our country.
Just to reiterate His message in 1 Peter 2, God says a very similar thing to us in Romans 13:
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
God has taught me some hard but good lessons about honouring our leaders. In the time of this Australian Government leadership crisis, it is my prayer that you might do the same - giving respect to whom respect is owed, honour to whom honour is owed, as an act of obedience to our good God who rules over all.
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