Sermon for 11/12/23: Twenty-Third Sunday After Trinity

CLICK HERE for the sermon audio.

CLICK HERE for the sermon video.

Christians and Authority

Proverbs 8:11-22

 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Christians have always been of different minds when it comes to how they should relate to civil governance. If we took a poll, no doubt we would hear a number of different views. Jesus sanctions government in today’s Gospel, but almost as if it is something we just have to put up with. Lutherans have lived and confessed their faith under both democracy and tyranny. The Bible does not mandate any particular governance. But as our elected officials try to violate religious freedom, perhaps we ought to be paying more attention to what our government is doing.

Lutherans actually have a doctrinal and confessional position on the role of civil government. In the Augsburg Confession which, together with the Small Catechism, serves as the foundation of our Lutheran understanding of Holy Scripture, we confess, “Our churches teach that lawful civil regulations are good works of God. They teach that it is right for Christians to hold political office, to serve as judges, to judge matters by imperial laws or other existing laws, to impose just punishments, to engage in just wars, to serve as soldiers, to make legal contracts, to hold property, to take oaths when required by the magistrates, for a man to marry a wife, or a woman to be given in marriage... Therefore, it is necessary for Christians to be obedient to their rulers and laws. The only exception is when they are commanded to sin. Then they ought to obey God rather than men.”

Through Solomon the Lord says, “By Me kings reign...” And Solomon surely knew if anyone did, being a king himself. This is first and fundamental in any proper Christian understanding of the role of civil governance. Those who govern have their office from God and are responsible to Him. What does this mean? According to Solomon, fear of the Lord is fundamental to all of this. And what is fear of the Lord? Solomon says that it is hatred of evil. It is the hatred of pride, arrogance, and evil and perverse speech. It is the desire for justice and truth. How does our national government measure up to these divine standards? Do we get the truth from them? Do we have honest public servants? Are they really working for the good of the nation? These are certainly questions for which all citizens should be concerned.

But perhaps of even greater importance, what is the condition of our culture? Can we really expect a government that is any better than the people? As a nation, how do we treat the defenseless—the unborn and the elderly? As a people, how do we feel about such societal foundation stones as marriage and family, and their corruption by sexual promiscuity and perversion? What do we think about our communities and our neighbors? Is American life characterized by decency and kindness, or have we been overcome by coarseness and cruelty? How these questions are answered matters. Can we really expect more from those who govern us than we are prepared to be ourselves?

Christians cannot stand aside and watch as if what the government does and does not do is no concern to them. Luther said that Christians don’t depend on civil government, but our neighbor does depend on it. Our neighbor needs the protection government provides from the evil designs of those who would hurt them. So we take an interest in these things out of love for our neighbor. It is because we are concerned about our neighbor that Christians seek government that is honest and humble before God, that seeks to serve the citizenry and not themselves. Christians should stay informed, let their voices be heard, and exercise the privilege they have been given to elect our leaders.

But we Christians can do more. St. Paul tells us, “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” This is something we Christians know that others don’t. We have God’s ear. We have access to the throne of eternal grace. We are to pray for all who are in positions of authority—even and especially those we may feel are hostile to the Christian faith. And a justified concern is that government will interfere with the preaching of the Gospel by making the Church’s life more difficult and dangerous. It is a real threat. We may be drawing perilously close to that time when, in spite of the potential consequences, we must obey God rather than men.

Jesus says, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” As Christians we have no desire to interfere with the government, so long as they are doing what God has given them to do. But that means they will leave the Church free to do what she has been given to do, and that is to appeal to the lives and souls of men with that great good news of life and salvation which is only in Jesus Christ.

Government and its leaders are responsible to God. We, too, are responsible to God to pray for, respect, and obey governing authorities insofar as we can do so in faithfulness to the Word of God. Pray for our president, that he will responsibly carry out his office. Pray for those elected to work with him. Pray that ours will be a moral nation, characterized by integrity and honor. And, above all, pray for the opportunity to continue freely giving witness to the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins and salvation in Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

        The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.