47 terms that are not at odds with our other Christian obligations. If being a good citizen requires me to worship the state, for example, I cannot do that. If being a good citizen prevents me from loving my neighbor as myself, I cannot do that. But if being a citizen places other expectations upon me, ones that I can square with God’s call on my life, I should endeavor to be a good citizen. There is, however, one additional factor at work. Recall, from above, how God gives government concrete responsibilities. The Bible seems to indicate that when governments fail those obligations, God holds them accountable in some fashion. In our form of government, a republic that operates on popular consent, we, the people, are the supreme human authority. We elect those who make choices and then we hold them responsible, ideally, for those choices. We are the ultimate corrective when government misbehaves, and we are the ultimate engine of change when change is necessary. Though we do not wield the sword of justice, we help dictate which hands wield the sword. We are responsible for holding government responsible. What does this mean? It means that we bear a double burden in a republic. We are burdened, by Scripture, to treat government as we are commanded to treat it, but we are also burdened to steer government toward just outcomes. We are citizens, to be sure, but our citizenship requires more than deference. It requires leadership, accountability, and influence. In some ways, we, the people, are both the governed and the government. This is why, I believe, that we, as Christians, should not simply sit aside and allow our government to do as it wishes. There is evil in the world. That evil lurks in all places for it inhabits the human heart. Government is one method by which that evil is checked and limited. However, our government, which relies on popular consent, has many co-pilots. If we, as Christians, refuse to play a role in that process, we are refusing an opportunity to steer our government toward better destinations. We should at least try. While we may fail, for there is no guarantee that our actions will matter, there will be glory in our efforts. We can rest with an easy conscience. If we do not act, and we watch American drift toward that evil, we will, at least in some way, be responsible. Mark Caleb Smith is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Political Studies at Cedarville. He received his Ph.D. in political science from The University of Georgia.
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