Government is not an institution created by man; rather, it is an institution created by God for the sake of mankind. Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 show us that government was instituted by God and created with a purpose and responsibility: to punish evil and praise those who do good.
It is easy to be cynical when it comes to government, but as Christians, we must remember God gave mankind government as a gift. This gracious gift brings order to a world full of disorder caused by sin. When government does its job well it can be an incredible blessing for the people.
Romans 13 calls government officials “ministers of God”, meaning they are, in effect, servants of the Lord. Just as pastors are ministers of the Church, elected officials are ministers of God in government, and they have a job to do for Him. This should change the way we view our elected officials. This is why the Bible calls us to pray, submit, and honor those in authority. (1 Timothy 2, Romans 13, 1 Peter 2)
The law has never been able to save, and as Christians, we are free from the penalty of sin. But the moral law comes from the character and nature of God, standing as a teacher and shaper of culture. Law is not simply about right and wrong, it is about life and death—protecting people from death and pointing to the way of life. That is why Godly leaders must pass laws that help guide society to see what is right and to protect people from what is wrong.
As Americans, we get to choose our ministers of government. This provides us, as Christians, an opportunity to serve our neighbors by selecting the individuals that most fear the Lord, love righteousness, exemplify competence and will humbly serve the people. “When the righteous flourish the people rejoice and when the wicked rule the people groan.” (Proverbs 29:2)
