ATTITUDES TOWARD GOVERNMENT
Hardly anyone, including religious people, really likes government. People may appreciate the various services government provides, but for most people government is in the category of a necessary evil. There is no aspect of government that is spared verbal criticism.
This general disdain for government appears in the readiness to denounce government, especially at the state and federal levels, with complaints and curses that lump all government leaders and workers together as misfits and crooks. Comedians and political commentators are perhaps the most visible critics of government. There is plenty of raw materiel for them to criticize and it is easy to attract a following of disgruntled citizens who welcome their rancor and tirades about politicians and civil servants.
Of course, such statements are gross generalizations that do not apply to everyone. They do seem to apply, however, to religious people across the spectrum of religious denominations and political persuasions. Even religious leaders are known to join in the chorus of vigorous criticism of government and politicians in the ongoing debate about the separation of church and state. Either they are ignorant of the fact that they offend God in their grumbling, or they are pandering to disgruntled followers who listen to them and praise them for their clever, insightful and vicious attacks on authorities established by God.
The problem with bashing government and its leaders is that such behavior is contrary to what God expects. Consider the following scriptures:
1 Peter 2:11-19: Beloved, I beseech you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against your soul. 12 Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in case they speak against you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 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 wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing right you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God. 17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to the kind and gentle but also to the overbearing. 19 For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering unjustly.
Titus 3:1-2 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for any honest work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all men.
It is clear enough to us that these scriptures warn us that we should always honor and obey government in all its various manifestations. And It is just as clear that these scriptures warn us that we should always honor elected and appointed government officials. It is curious, then, that religious leaders, lay persons and commentators should so arrogantly engage in public criticism of government, it policies and its leaders. They do this in direct contradiction of what God has said.