About three weeks ago, I began reading the five volumes of History of the Christian Church by Henry C. Sheldon. One thing that constantly stands out in the medieval period is the unfortunate fights between the government (kings and princes) and the Church (popes and bishops). Each of the two power centers wanted to dominate the other. They failed to recognize the different spheres of authority God had assigned to each, and failed to discern how they were to work with each other.
When elephants fight, the grass suffers. Terrible things resulted from these foolish battles: many innocent people lost their lives; church leaders were often terribly shamed and embarrassed – some were imprisoned, others banished from their territories and some killed. In addition, the Church lost her moral authority to influence people for good because she tried to grab that which did not belong to her. She could not even be the conscience of the State because being the thief that she was, she did not behave like she knew the difference between right and wrong.
It is my opinion that the Church carried the weight of the blame for all these battles. The “salt and light of the world” should have known not to usurp authority that God had given to natural governments. Although the argument for subduing political authority sounded reasonable, it was not biblical. Just because the spiritual realm is more powerful than the natural does not mean that the Church should lord it over the secular and civil leaders. A person is only master within their own jurisdiction (if indeed they have authority from God). In someone else’s sphere of influence, that person can only play an advisory role.
The time for the Church; the bride of Christ, to reign on the earth with political authority has not yet come, but it soon will – in the millennial reign of Christ (Revelation 20:4). Before then, she must acknowledge that political authority rightly belongs not to her but to another entity, which is oftentimes predominated by unbelievers.
Therefore: “Let every soul (all Christians, the Church) be subject to the governing (political, secular) authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever (a Christian who) resists the (political) 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 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 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 practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. (Romans 13:1-5)
The Church should by all means stand for what is right. If the government institutes laws that are clearly against the laws of God, Christians should not obey them. However, usurpation is not the way to go about it. Otherwise, as the Scriptures have said, God will use the government to punish them. Imprisonment, banishment and death were, in the past, instruments of God’s judgment upon usurpers. Those instruments, in their various forms, will be re-employed against those who will not take heed to the great lessons of history.
God bless you.