Rev Dr Rabi Pame
Nagaland is Christian dominated land. We are considered as God fearing nation by the world. I want to share my view regarding the present issues in the light of God’s words which we Christians believe to obey in all matters of our faith and practices.
The Bible says in Romans 13: 1-7, that we are to summit ourselves to the governing authority. All the governments, whether God fearing or non God fearing government are ordained and appointed by God. There is no authority under the sun which is not appointed by God. With a purpose God has placed them in Power.
“Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities. For there is no authority but of God; the authorities that exist are ordained by God.
So that the one resisting the authority resists the ordinance of God; and the ones who resist will receive judgment to themselves.
For the rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the bad. And do you desire to be not afraid of the authority? Do the good and you shall have praise from it.
For it is a servant of God to you for good. For if you practice evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword in vain; for it is a servant of God, a revenger for wrath on him who does evil.
Therefore you must be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes. For they are God's servants, always giving attention to this very thing. Therefore give to all their dues; to the one due tax, the tax; tribute to whom tribute is due, fear to whom fear is due, and honour to whom honour is due.” (MKJV).
As the Bible says, anyone who opposes God ordained Government opposes the authority of God, and they will receive the judgment on themselves. Apostle Paul himself knew perfectly that Roman Government is doing so much harm to himself and his Gospel ministry as well as the church of God by torturing and persecuting the Christians, but knowingly, he exhorted the Christians in Rome to summit themselves to the Roman’s Government because it was ordained and appointed by God.
The Bible says in Psalms 75:6-7, “For lifting up comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge; He puts down one and sets up another.” (MKJV).
The Rulers, political parties who is in power or Government in the past and present, whether good or bad, strong or weak are all installed and appointed by God. Let us therefore, accept and submit to the God ordained authority.
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers - This is a very strong saying, and most solemnly introduced; and we must consider the apostle as speaking, not from his own private judgment, or teaching a doctrine of present expediency, but declaring the mind of God on a subject of the utmost importance to the peace of the world; a doctrine which does not exclusively belong to any class of people, order of the community, or official situations, but to every soul; and, on the principles which the apostle lays down, to every soul in all possible varieties of situation, and on all occasions. And what is this solemn doctrine? It is this: Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. Let every man be obedient to the civil government under which the providence of God has cast his lot.
For there is no power but of God - As God is the origin of power, and the supreme Governor of the universe, he delegates authority to whomsoever he will; and though in many cases the governor himself may not be of God, yet civil government is of him; for without this there could be no society, no security, no private property; all would be confusion and anarchy, and the habitable world would soon be depopulated. In ancient times, God, in an especial manner, on many occasions appointed the individual who was to govern; and he accordingly governed by a Divine right, as in the case of Moses, Joshua, the Hebrew judges, and several of the Israelites kings. In after times, and to the present day, he does that by a general superintending providence which he did before by especial designation. In all nations of the earth there is what may be called a constitution - a plan by which a particular country or state is governed; and this constitution is less or more calculated to promote the interests of the community. The civil governor, whether he be elected or hereditary, agrees to govern according to that constitution. Thus we may consider that there is a compact and consent between the governor and the governed, and in such a case, the potentate may be considered as coming to the supreme authority in the direct way of God’s providence; and as civil government is of God, who is the fountain of law, order, and regularity, the civil governor, who administers the laws of a state according to its constitution, is the minister of God.
It is therefore, always good and right to obey the law of the land. We Christians must be a responsible and law abiding citizens as the salt and the light of the earth.(Mat.5:13-16) Believers of Jesus Christ who is the giver of all authorities and governments on earth, we have to support, cooperate and pray for our governing authorities, unless the authority that introduces someone or something to worship or serve in place of the Almighty God like in the case of Jewish boys Shadrach,Meshack and Abed-Nego (Daniel 3:8-18) or something that is so harmful to our Christian faith. Here the Bible says in 1Peter 2:13-17
“For the sake of the Lord submit yourselves to every human authority: to the Emperor, who is the supreme authority, and to the governors, who have been appointed by him to punish the evildoers and to praise those who do good.
For God wants you to silence the ignorant talk of foolish people by the good things you do. Live as free people; do not, however, use your freedom to cover up any evil, but live as God's slaves. Respect everyone, love other believers, honor God, and respect the Emperor.” (GNB)
God will bless us as we follow and obey God’s desire which he has instructed for His children. Let us be a good and responsible citizen of the land and community God has placed us.
