Father, help us to follow your teachings
I have to admit but politics is probably my least favourite subject. Not only is it a complete waste of time, but people arguing that black is white seems to be a major human failing. What one party says as the opposition tends to get reversed once they get into power. My definition of politics has always been 'professional lying'!
But what has the Bible to say on the subject?
Politics per se was not much of an issue. The rulers were absolute and didn't have the childish mumbles from the back bench that we hear at the House of Commons. They did what they thought was right (or in some cases, just what they wanted). But the Bible is full of teachings that we should follow the laws laid down by the rulers of our country, even if sometimes they are stupid.
Romans chapter 13 starts with “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.”
Jesus especially has one of the best answers to this subject. When people were trying to trap him about paying taxes to Caesar he replies “Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that are God's.” and Paul, when he was arrested and brought before the council in Jerusalem says "for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people."
God has appointed rulers to govern the lands, some we may not think too much about or think they're doing a poor job of it, but God works in ways we can't imagine. Hitler was a perfect example. Without him there probably wouldn't be a state of Israel. He didn't intent his actions to have that effect, but God did.
So that brings us around to what happens if the laws are bad. The simple thing is that we don't belong to any terrestrial country. Now that might seems a bit trite and a cop out but we have to take it both ways. It does mean that we should obey the laws of the country we live in or simply move to a different country. It puts our faith into perspective - are we comfortable like Lot, who chose Sodom and are we willing to leave if the going gets worse? We have to remember Lot's wife.
Some rulers are good, some are bad. But we look forward to that perfect ruler. One who will rule the nations with a rod of iron. He will be the most powerful dictator that the world has ever known, yet at the same time the most perfect ruler. One who will restore peace and prosperity to all who want to follow God, but there will still be those who don't. They will, simply, be destroyed.
Gone will be the freedom to do evil, to terrorise, to kill or steal. Instead it will be replaced with a freedom to do good, to live in peace.
We don't have absolute freedom. We never have. All our actions are constrained by the society we live in. The laws of the land reinforce this issue. But laws are only a concern for those who are likely to break them. Paul's letter the Romans sums this up perfectly in chapter 8: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.