The American-Christian Tension

We must obey God rather than human beings!          

—Acts 5:29b

I still love America. Over the past month, many people have either celebrated or condemned the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage. Whether you agree or disagree with the ruling, we can still thank God for and pray for the United States of America.

After being away for a few weekends, I returned to Oakland Church to worship, pray, and celebrate the greatness of our God and His Son, Jesus Christ. I exercised my freedom to worship as I saw fit, and in November, I will exercise my freedom to vote for the candidate of my choice.

After the last Presidential election, Rev. Franklin Graham told many in the Christian community who were unhappy with the results that we only had ourselves to blame. Out of the 80 million evangelical Christian adults eligible to vote, less than half voted.  

The early Church was born into a world ruled by the Roman Empire. Living under an antagonistic government, Christians were urged to be subject to that government and acknowledge its authority. “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1). They lived within the tension of being subjects of two kingdoms: the Kingdom of God and the Roman Empire.

Two passages illustrate this tension of being subject to the governing authorities and being obedient to God. The apostles in the book of Acts were instructed by the Sanhedrin Council not to teach in the name of Jesus, but they continued teaching and preaching in Jesus’ name and were arrested. Upon examination, Peter and the apostles responded, “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29)

In the book of Daniel, a law was passed that no one should pray to any god or man except to King Darius for thirty days. Daniel, the man of God, continued his life of faith and obeyed God rather than human law. “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (6:10).

Daniel was not protesting, criticizing, or fighting against the government. He was an obedient, faithful subject, as much as he could be as a Jewish man exiled in a foreign land. After spending a night in the lions’ den, Daniel responded to King Darius, “My God sent his angel and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty” (6:22).

American Christians, today, live within a similar tension. We are citizens of a country designed to be ruled by its people and also citizens of heaven sojourning in a land on earth that we also love. We have the opportunity and privilege to be faithful citizens of the United States of America to the point it does not contradict our obedience to Jesus Christ. We are urged in Scripture to go the extra mile, pray for our leaders, and remain subject to the governing authorities. We also know we must obey God in all things rather than humans. We live in the tension of being in this world but not of this world. God bless America, but Jesus is Lord!

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church located at 1504 Bedford Street in Johnstown. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandumc.com.