The Government...To Respect or Not Respect?

The last few weeks in my Sunday School class we've been studying the issue of What God's Word Says about Morality and Integrity. Last week the issue of "the government" came up and how we are are to be respectful of those who have rule over us as long as their "rules" don't conflict with God's rules.

So we began talking about the word respect and what that looks like, and when I walked out the classroom door I felt like I had touched on one of the most conflicted areas in society today. So I'm asking you today....what does a Christian look like who shows respect for the government? 

I've given some thought to this since our classroom discussion and I came up with a few things that I think make the list:

1. A Christian does not make jokes that make the government look bad

2. A Christian does not talk about governmental leadership in anger, hostility or violence

3. A Christian prays for the government

4. A Christian encourages good decisions

5. A Christian talks about the good things happening in government

6. A Christian talks about issues that concern them to the people who can do something about it....sometimes that means other citizens and sometimes that means calling your government official. 

7. A Christian talks about these issues with firmness but respect

8. A Christian follows the laws...pays taxes, obeys the speed limit, doesn't steal....as long as they don't conflict with God's Word. His authority is always supreme.

9. A Christian doesn't overreact or throw a temper tantrum when things don't go their way. They find a way to express themselves in a mature and rational way.

10 Above all, we follow God's rules, act godly and do not sacrifice out testimony for the temporary satisfaction of spewing our opinions and feelings out on a world who ultimately needs Jesus...not government. 

How did I come up with my list....well I know what respect looks like when it comes to my family. I know that as a wife I am to build up and not tear down my husband and that I am to show him respect. I can also go to him with disagreements I have and as long as I am godly in my communication, I can still be respectful. I also know what I expect from my kids. I want them to communicate with me in a manner of respect...I don't want them talking bad about me behind my back or throwing tantrums when things don't go their way. There is a right way for us to discuss things and I will listen to their concerns, but ultimately the decisions lie within the parents power, and I expect them to accept that decision with respect...even when they don't agree. 

By no means am I advocating a Christianity that allows the government to walk all over us. I'm advocating a Christianity that follows God's Word, that is representing to a lost, hell bound world the essentials of Christianity ...faith, hope and love and that stands for the things that God stands for....with respect for the governmental authority that God has allowed to be in office....for such a time as this.

So....do you have anything to add to the list? Leave a comment and let me know!

The Word

I'm sitting here late on Saturday night just reviewing the notes for my ladies class tomorrow at church. The lesson was written on Monday and I've been chewing on it all week long. It's all about the Bible. I know...crazy, right? But how many times in one day do I basically just do my own thing without regard to what God has to say about it? Do I even know what His word says about the struggles I face, the decisions I need to make, the issues I deal with on a daily basis. 

What I've been reminded of this week is how stable, unchanging and completely reliable my God is. We can count on Him. The same words that were written thousands of years ago are still relevant and applicable to our lives now. The hard part is that I've got to be disciplined enough to get in the book and find out what it says about life, love and everything in between. It's not enough to own a Bible. You've got to open it up and read it!

So whether I'm struggling with parenting issues, friend issues, spousal issues, diet issues, health issues, money issues or anything else big or little or in between, God's got it covered. The principles found in His Word have 2011 written all over them. I just need to do my part and open the pages.

I'm tremendously grateful that we have a God who doesn't try to hide or tease us with His promises. They're all written down for us all to see....or at least those of us blessed enough with a copy of His Word....And might I add that there are many who don't have one...let alone one in their own language. Read about that situation HERE

So if you have a copy of the Bible, read it. Believe it. Test everything you say and hear against the standard of God's Word, trust it, live it, dive into it, memorize it and above all love it...for it is Jesus. He is the Word.