Hi @Nancy,Hi Chris,
Even though there are parts in the bible that say that God basically puts into office those over us. It makes me wonder about the "free will" of the people.
“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” (Romans 13:1).
Would this include the family, the workplace as well as government? God is sovereign and can and does what ever He pleases yet, this one is a tough one to decipher. If this is true, then He put Hitler in power, as well as all the other evil leaders of the world. This reminds me of Amadeus's "left hand of God". Elsewhere in the Word it talks about following the laws of the land so as to keep peace such as:
Romans 13:1-7 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ..."
Kind of hard to obey evil leaders and, I would say the huge majority of political "leaders" are pretty evil. Yet, we must obey them. But...if obeying them means breaking fellowship with God then...I would be sinning as, I would always be on the side of God. So, if these leaders are of God's own choosing...why even vote in the first place? He is sovereign and will do as He wills either way. I am just so tired of the voting against rather than for a candidate.
Yes, in our democratic nations we vote our political parties into power. I am not greatly interested in politics, but try to be informed sufficiently to be able to vote. The President or Prime Minister (in our case) represents his political party, and should be their voice, as a corporate entity, as each member of that party was voted in by the parts of the country they represent and should therefore have a part in the decisions that are eventually made, and then made known to the public through their Leader. Yet more and more the Leaders in both our countries, are being given more individual prominence and power than is right, or safe, I feel.
God's will, will be done ( for whatever reason ) and for the most part we get what we deserve whether for good or ill.
Praise His Holy Name.
Thank you.
In Christ Jesus
Chris