ANSWER:
Those who have been called and converted to God’s way of life are ambassadors for Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 5:20). As ambassadors and citizens of the Kingdom of God, Christians are no longer to be involved in man’s systems of government.
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). Since God’s Kingdom is not set up yet, the true Christian’s citizenship is now reserved in heaven (I Peter 1:4, Ephesians 2:19). Christ taught “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My Kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36). This is Satan’s world. Consequently, His servants have no part in, but, rather, are called out of this world (John 18:36, Revelation 18:4).
The Scriptures reveal that it is God who sets up rulers and removes them according to His will (Daniel 4:17). The governments having power to do so only as God allows. While they do, Christians are instructed to be subject to them (Romans 13:1). Jesus taught His disciples to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. Specifically He was referring to taxes. If the government levies taxes, pay them. If, however, there should be a conflict between the laws of God and the laws of man we “ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
Jesus did not enter into this world’s politics. He called His disciples out of this present evil world – out of its customs and philosophies and ways. God called his followers to a life of separation from the world. Jesus said to His followers: “I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:15-16). Jesus’ disciples live in this present evil world as though they were foreigners, here merely as the guests of the nation where they reside, as ambassadors for Christ and His coming Kingdom.
Christ told us to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33), and He also said we cannot give allegiance to and serve two kingdoms at the same time (verse 24).
Jesus Christ said that He will return to set up the Kingdom of God, a world government with righteousness and justice. We are admonished to pray for this Kingdom to come and to be established on the earth (Matthew 6:9-10). Then, and only then, will this world’s problems be solved.
