CHURCH AND GOVERNMENT

Church and government are 2 (two) different institutions. Church is an institution which is come from God who handles things that focused on spirituality which then also can touch other thing such as: physical, mental and social. Government is an institution of man whom its existence is allowed by God or could be mentioned as an institution which is exist under the control of God. An ideal government handled things which are focused on common need of people and covering its needs. Government managed, facilitate, guard, supervise, and protect people in general and common. So, the real of church and government is not a kind of institution which is against or as rival one to the other.

Historically, it was happened that sometimes government of a nation or a kingdom did not like Christians. They hate, persecute, and even seems as if willing to destroy church from the surface of this earth. This kind of government of course is not a kind of ideal government but the evil one, corrupted, selfish, injustice, and unwise. Probably the intimidation or harassment which was done by them based on personal or their own group benefit.

The question now, if government in the condition of it’s corrupted, which is as explained before, how the church or the Christians has to be act or position?

Before answering this thing further, let see the life and the model of what had Jesus given. Read the gospels and see His attitude and His action among the government which was the conqueror - Romans. As usual, the nations whom had conquered always experienced that their right reduced and their obligation is added. In that era, the Jews also experience a bankruptcy economically. And, in that hard and tough condition, they are also have to pay taxes to the Caesar.

No wonder, why bible notice about the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees about taxes to Caesar. Pharisees asked: is it right before God if the Jews pay taxes to Caesar? That question which was as others questions was given in order to test Jesus so that they can put and caught Him into their trap of deceitfulness. More than that, when giving those questions, they were witnessed by the Romans soldiers who were ready to caught Jesus and brought Him into the court.

Pharisees did not realize the genius of Jesus and the purity of His heart. It seems, they did not have any view or true concept about how to act and positioning themselves among the government and in the kind of disadvantage situation. Most possibly, the Pharisees were not an honest and obedient taxes payer but great deceitful or liar who escaped from paying their obligations to the government. Same thing like the Zealots, not only felt mocked if has to pay the taxes to Rome, they were also actively and frontally against the government. They fought and confronted physically for the sake of the freedom of the Jewish nation.

So, should Christians act like the Pharisees or the Zealots? Or, become like looser who give up themselves to the situation?

Jesus answered the Pharisees by showing the picture of the Caesar on the valid coin on that time. He said: “Give to the Caesar what you must give to the Caesar and give to God what you must give to Him.” Means, every man has to fulfill their obligations. There is an obligation to the government, there is also an obligation toward God. And the highest is toward God. If the obligation toward God hindered by government, therefore (without any evil or wicked means), Christians of course have to choose God.

Besides fulfilling his obligation, church or Christians has to pray for their government, as the sign or prove of their care and participation. Christians should not fight or in war actively, being anarchy, and full of cruelty. Why? Because that kind of actions is sins and also followed by hatred, extreme dislike, anger, and bitterness.

Christians believe about “spiritual war” which is extremely different compare to “physical war”. Spiritual war is not fighting against man or nations but against evil spirit, the darkness, sins, the will of the flesh, false or fake doctrine (see Ephesians 6:12).


Spiritual war is happened without realized by man in common. It is there behind hatred and bitterness. Behind evil thought and evil willing. Behind deceitfulness and greediness. Behind foolishness and unobidience. Behind sins it is existed. Either in the conflict between nations or internal conflict among the family even between individual always has things that more fundamental and more serious which is the spiritual war behind all those.



Copyright (c) 2009 by Naek http://www.nevermissingqt.blogspot.com/