Don’t Get Mad at the Government — Trust God

By Steven J. Hogan

Always Been This Way
When we look at the world, we see the sinful ways of humanity and governments, and oftentimes we needlessly worry or get mad. But this is an evil age – what else can we expect?

Isn’t this the way it has always been? Ever since the sin of Adam and Eve, we have been living in this evil age – “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).

The Old Testament chronicles the stories of nations, peoples, and kings who opposed God. In Genesis 6, there’s an entire world in sin; in Genesis 11, there’s the tower of Babel; in Genesis 19, there’s Sodom and Gomorrah; and there are the wicked kingdoms of Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon: “The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let’s tear their shackles apart
and throw their ropes away from us!’” (Psalm 2:2-3).

When Jesus was on Earth, it was the Romans fighting against God and ruling over Israel. When the Church Age began the Roman kingdom continued, and for close to 300 years it greatly persecuted the Church. We are now in the 21st century and we still exist in an evil age, and nations are still raging against God.

Yes, God has established the governing authority to be “a servant of God to you for good” (Rom. 13:4). And sometimes we see countries with fairly good governments, but more often than not, we don’t. The world is covered with sinful countries, sinful leaders, and sinful laws. Bribes, lies, corruption, abuses of power, payoffs, ill-gotten gains, and cruel injustices are commonplace.

Psalm 14:1 says: “They are corrupt, they have committed detestable acts; there is no one who does good.” Isaiah 5:20 talks about “those who call evil good, and good evil.” To see this happening in our own country sickens the soul – and to get righteously angry about all this sin is not wrong, but to focus on it, and feel we need to change it, is not how God wants us to think.

Crucial Truths
As Christians we can easily fret or get angry when leaders and politicians say and do wicked and unethical things. Psalm 6:3 says, “my soul is greatly dismayed.” Psalm 37:1 tells us not to fret “because of evildoers.” Psalm 55:2 says, “I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted because of the voice of the enemy.” Psalm 73:3 says, “For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”

Isn’t it hard for you when it seems the wicked are getting away with their evil deeds, and are not being brought to account? But God doesn’t want you to set your mind on the things of this world, and be anxious and overly concerned about evil leaders, and their political schemes and earthly kingdoms.

Here are some truths to keep in mind as you live in this evil world, one that will get worse and worse until Jesus Christ returns to rapture the Church and judge the world.

1. God is sovereign. Sinful people and rulers can only do what God allows them to do. Remember, their evil words and actions are part of His end-time plans, and will work out for the good of the Church and the glory of God (Acts 2:23-24, 4:27-28; Romans 9:17-18).

2. “Do not get upset because of evildoers … Cease from anger and abandon wrath … Turn from evil” (Psalm 37:1, 8, 27). It doesn’t do any good to get mad or worry and, in fact, it’s bad for you.

3. God will defeat and punish all evildoers. “For evildoers will be eliminated … Yet a little while and the wicked person will be no more … Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken … For the arms of the wicked will be broken … wrongdoers will altogether be destroyed” (Psalm 37:9, 10, 15, 17, 38).

4. Do what God wants you to do. “Trust in the Lord, and do good … Delight yourself in the Lord … Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him … He is ever gracious and lends … The Law of his God is in his heart” (Psalm 37:3, 4, 7, 26, 31).

5. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” We are not to worry and be troubled about matters that relate to this earthly kingdom, but we are to be excitedly and energetically building up the Church, the heavenly kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33, Colossians 3:1-4).

6. Pray for those in authority, for the Church, and for the coming kingdom: “Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” Be thinking about the coming Millennial (1,000-year) Kingdom when Jesus Christ will rule the world with a rod of iron, and there will be perfect and immediate justice (Matthew 6:9-10; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 2:27).

7. Remember the examples of Jesus and Paul. Jesus never talked about the Roman government or the politics of the day, but only said, “pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (Matthew 22:21). Jesus knew that the real enemy was not the Romans but the devil: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The apostle Paul did not get involved in worldly matters, for his purpose was not to win some political debate, but to preach the Gospel and win people to Christ (Acts 20:24).

8. Remember the promise that you will inherit the land (Psalm 37:9, 11, 22, 29, 34). Know that you will inherit the land, the entire Earth. In the coming kingdom age, Earth will be your land and you, and all believers, will reign with Christ, and work with Him in establishing His spiritual and physical kingdom in this world (Psalms 47; 67; 72; Matthew 5:5; Revelation 5:10).

A Spiritual View
The political climate in the United States is hyper-partisan and polarized. We take sides and pick the person or party we like best, but this is not what’s important. As Christians, we must view life as spiritual, not political. Be careful about picking political sides, and remind yourself that you are on God’s side, and that people are either saved or lost.

In the near future, the Antichrist will rule the world, and there will be great tribulation (Matthew 24:21), at which time it will be clearly obvious there are only two sides, Christ’s and the Antichrist’s. There will be no political parties, no debates, no voting, but hopefully on our part, a zeal to obey Christ, to love the lost, preach the Gospel, and make disciples of all the nations.

Yes, we will be hated and, in many cases, hunted down to be killed (Matthew 24:9), but this will be our time, and it “will lead to an opportunity for your testimony” (Luke 21:12-13). And never forget Jesus’ promise to those who are His: “and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Steven J. Hogan has been a pastor-teacher for more than 25 years and at Hope Bible Church of Tampa since 2003.