For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 MEV
We began a brief study rightly dividing government and Christianity. There are many traditions and ideas regarding Christians and their relationship with the government. First, we must understand the primary focus and message of the Church. It's Jesus! We are called to be a light in this fallen world, pointing people to the Lord Jesus Christ. So why did Peter and Paul tell us about government?
When Paul and Peter penned their Epistles, Christianity was a minor "religion." They didn't want believers to be labeled as rebellious lawbreakers who would not pay taxes and be troublemakers, cheaters, and dishonest citizens. Their intent was for Christians to live upright in a fallen world, and give honor to whom it is due.
Yet, through the years and the Westernized version of the Faith, we have fashioned traditions and concepts about government that extend the intent of the Word. For generations, religious tradition has preached that Christians are required to honor and obey the government, no matter what. Believers are told to submit without question, citing verses like Romans 13:1-2 and 1 Peter 2:13-17 as proof that we must always honor and obey our rulers.
But does the Bible actually teach this? Are we supposed to honor any government, even one that is corrupt, tyrannical, or blatantly anti-God?
What about when governments pass laws that go against God’s Word? What about regimes that persecute Christians? Did the early church always submit to the governing authorities?
It’s time to rightly divide the Word of Truth and dismantle religious tradition that contradicts Scripture and historical reality.
The idea that Christians must always honor the government is largely a Westernized interpretation of Scripture. Many American and European churches have taught this doctrine in a comfortable, democratic society where laws have generally aligned with Judeo-Christian values.
But what happens when the government becomes corrupt, oppressive, or hostile toward Christianity?
What happens when governments, like those in China, North Korea, or Islamic nations, outlaw the preaching of the Gospel and imprison believers? Are Christians still required to "honor" these rulers?
One of the most misused passages regarding government is Romans 13:1-3.
📖 Romans 13:1-3 (KJV)
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil…"
"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." —Romans 13:1 (NKJV)
🔹 What the Greek and Context Actually Reveal:
The word “appointed” (Greek: tassō, τάσσω) means arranged, set in order.
✔ This does NOT mean every ruler’s actions are God’s will.
✔ God establishes government as an institution—but He does NOT ordain every leader’s wickedness.
✔ If every government were truly God's will, then Hitler, Stalin, and Mao were God’s “chosen instruments.” That is absurd!
🔹 "Subject" (ὑποτασσέσθω - hypotassesthō) – This word means to arrange under but does not imply blind obedience. It is also used in Ephesians 5:21, which tells believers to submit to one another. Does that mean a wife should submit if her husband tells her to sin? No! Submission in the Bible is always within the boundaries of God’s will.
🔹 "Ordained" (τεταγμέναι - tetagmenai) – This word means arranged or set in place. It does not mean that every single government leader is personally chosen by God. Rather, God has established the principle of government, but He does not endorse every ruler or policy.
🔹 "Rulers are not a terror to good works" (Romans 13:3) – If a government is punishing good and rewarding evil, it is acting contrary to God’s intent for government! This passage assumes a just government, not one that persecutes believers.
🔹 Tradition says this means ALL governments are God-ordained, and resisting them is sinful.
🔹 Reality: Paul is talking about just governments that punish evil and promote good.
If Romans 13 applied to ALL governments, that would mean:
✅ God ordained Hitler, Stalin, and Mao to commit mass genocide.
✅ Resisting a government that murders Christians would be a sin.
✅ Corrie Ten Boom and the family of Anne Frank were sinful for hiding Jews during the Holocaust.
✅ Peter and John were in rebellion against God when they refused to stop preaching.
Clearly, this interpretation is nonsense.
Paul’s Actual Point in Romans 13:
🔸 He was speaking to believers in Rome under a corrupt, pagan empire.
🔸 He emphasized that Christians should not be anarchists or violent rebels trying to overthrow the government.
🔸 Submission in context means being lawful citizens—NOT blind obedience to tyranny.
🚨 Paul himself defied government authorities when they opposed God’s law!
✅ He rebuked corrupt leaders (Acts 23:3).
✅ He wrote most of his letters from prison—because he was imprisoned for disobeying government orders!
👉 If Romans 13 meant absolute submission, Paul should have just obeyed Rome and stopped preaching! Clearly, this passage is not teaching blind obedience to evil rulers.
💡 If Romans 13 means Christians must honor and obey all governments, then early believers should have obeyed Nero when he burned Christians alive. They should have renounced their Faith and no longer be Christian. That was the Law and words of Nero.
What About 1 Peter 2:13-14?
📖 1 Peter 2:13-14 (NKJV)
"Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers..."
🔹 Does this mean we submit to ANY law, no matter how wicked?
🔹 No—Peter is speaking of governments that punish evil and reward good.
Peter himself disobeyed the authorities in Acts 5 when they commanded him to stop preaching.
💡 If 1 Peter 2 meant absolute obedience to government, then Peter was a hypocrite for defying the authorities in Acts 5.
Clearly, Peter’s words do not mean blind obedience.
1 Peter 2: Honor the King? What Does That Really Mean?
Another commonly misquoted passage is 1 Peter 2:17:
"Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." —1 Peter 2:17 (NKJV)
🔹 Religious Tradition Says:
👉 "See? The Bible says we must honor government leaders, no matter who they are!"
🔹 What the Greek Actually Says:
The word “honor” (Greek: timaō, τιμάω) means to show proper respect—not to blindly obey or support.
✔ We "honor" rulers by recognizing their position—but that does not mean endorsing their evil.
✔ The same passage says, "Fear God."
✔ If a ruler contradicts God’s law, we obey God first, not them! (Acts 5:29)
🚨 Honoring a leader does not mean obeying their wickedness!
Example:
🚨 In Nazi Germany, should Christians have “honored” Hitler by obeying his laws? Should they have turned over Jews to be exterminated?
🚨 In communist China, should believers “honor” the government by handing over fellow Christians? Should they reveal where the underground churches meet?
The Bible is full of righteous defiance against corrupt government orders:
✅ The Hebrew Midwives (Exodus 1:17-20) – They DISOBEYED Pharaoh’s command to kill Hebrew babies, and God rewarded them.
✅ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:16-18) – They REFUSED to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image, even under threat of death.
✅ Daniel (Daniel 6:10) – He continued PRAYING despite King Darius’ decree.
✅ The Apostles (Acts 5:27-29) – They refused to stop preaching and boldly declared, "We must obey God rather than men!"
✅ The Magi (Matthew 2:12) – They DISOBEYED King Herod and did not report back to him.
🚨 If the concept “Christians must always honor government” were true, then these people would have been in rebellion against God. But the Bible calls them righteous and faithful!
I must note one sensitive topic in highlighting this relationship between Christians and government; the 2020-2021 COVID lockdowns and mandates. Days before the lockdowns ensued I warned fellow church leaders in the church I was a part of that government is not to be trusted to deal justly with the Church. I received push back due to this same religious tradition, I was not honoring the government.
2020 and 2021 exposed how quickly governments overreach their power.
- Pastors were arrested for holding church services while liquor stores, bars and abortion clinics remained open.
- Christians were fined for worshiping, while violent protesters were praised for gathering in massive crowds.
- Believers were mocked for standing for religious freedom, while lawless rioters were called heroes.
Was this "honoring" government?
The Bible never commands us to submit to laws that silence worship or criminalize faith. Peter and John refused to obey government in Acts 5.
📖 Acts 5:29 (NKJV)
"But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’”
When the state commands what God forbids or forbids what God commands, we must peacefully disobey.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, many believers who had once boldly proclaimed God’s promises of protection and healing suddenly found themselves paralyzed by fear. Churches that had long preached faith, healing, and redemption closed their doors without hesitation. Some remained locked down for nearly two years, not because of wisdom, but because fear had taken hold.
Psalm 91—God’s promise of divine protection—had been a source of encouragement for many, yet when the moment of testing came, some who once declared “no plague shall come near my dwelling” (Psalm 91:10 NKJV) were the first to retreat into isolation. Faith took a backseat to government mandates. The church, which is meant to be the light of the world, instead followed the world’s lead, embracing caution over confidence in God’s Word.
This isn’t to suggest that wisdom has no place or that Christians should be reckless. But the reality is, many were quick to submit to the government’s restrictions on worship while turning a blind eye to the blatant double standards. Big box stores, Bars, liquor stores, and abortion clinics remained open while churches were deemed "non-essential." Peaceful Christian gatherings were banned, while riots and protests were permitted without restriction. Yet instead of resisting, many in the church shamed those who dared to gather, labeling them "irresponsible" or "unloving."Believers should have stood together, instead of rebuking their own brethren for "not honoring the government.
Final Verdict: "Christians Must Honor Government" is a False Concept
✅ We honor righteous authority.
✅ We submit where submission does not contradict God's Word.
✅ But we never honor, obey, or submit to evil.
In summation of this brief study, what should we do as Christians?