Supporting Your Leaders – Rom 13:1

Supporting ungodly leaders

Should Christians really support all leaders whether they are godly or not? Leaders could be at any level; Presidents, CEOs, Ministers or even a father in his a household? I know such questions have been of great concern, particularly with national leaders.

Before I answer that question, let me emphasize the fact that I do have serious disagreements with many of popular leaders today. In fact, my dissagrements arese from contradictions in the leader’s behaviour that is contrary to the Word of God. Surely given a chance, like anybody would, the leaders would justify their deeds and possibly base it on the same Word of God, The Holy Bible. It becomes tricky when such offenses are obviously contrary like worshiping other gods, embezzling  company funds, promiscuity, etc.

The question reamins, ‘Should we support such leaders or not? The answer is ‘Yes we must’. Just as Pastors openly pray for our leaders to support them, we all must do that. Even if the leader does not show signs of repentance but we must remain loyal and support them. Here’s what the apostle Paul said, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Rom 13:1). That’s a foundational principle, and we should underscore that principle in our minds.

We should submit to and support political leaders with whom we strongly disagree; unless of course they command us to do specifically what God forbids. If he’s asking us to do something that God forbids, or if he’s preventing us from doing something that God demands, obviously we can’t accept that and there is biblical precedent for that. It follows that supporting your leader does not mean participating or helping them do the ungodly deeds but doing what is expected of you as a subordinate or follower. Let me make an example. You are expected tithe even though you know that the pastor abuses the money. Your part is tithing and that is it.

We have an opportunity to be good followers.  We may disagree and that does not stop us from having our disagreements heard, but we can make a difference by serving our leaders but still voice our disagreements. Doing so, according to Paul, would make us live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (1Timothy 2: 1-2). It is therefore expected for Christians and everybody else to be involved in political debates, education, and the arts, etc. but not anything else that God forbids.

Learn from the Apostles that were commanded by the Jewish ruling regime not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. What did Peter and John do? They said, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). Of course what did they see and hear? The key to supporting your leader is obeying God before all other things. The only way to complete obedience to God is studying the Word of God, which is the Bible, and practice what it says.

Yes, the answer is; support your leader at all times.

This article has been inspired by the post in equip.org when addressing the topic ‘Supporting a President You Disagree with’. It has been altered to suit a neutral audience without specifically the Americans. You may want to view it here: http://www.equip.org/audio/supporting-a-president-you-disagree-with/