As a pastor, I have often been asked, “what role do we as citizens of heaven have in national elections?” As a follower of Jesus, I rest in the biblical fact that God grants authority to all human rulers and is sovereign over who rules the nations. Though some might question this, the prophet Daniel and the Apostle Paul seem to place God sovereignly over those who gain authority over nations or people groups. Daniel in response to the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar who was very angry that Daniel and his three friends were not willing to follow the King’s imposed diet, spoke these words of God’s control over rulers, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. –Daniel 2:21-22 Paul echoed the same thought when encouraging people of faith to respect political leaders as a way to honor the Lord and live rightly in this world, 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. –Romans 13:1-2 Some people of faith have thought that because God is sovereign over all human authority and who gets i.