“Politics have caused a vast divide in our country. Some Christians want to think that a president being elected by a suspicious or even illegal method means they need not recognize or honor him,” wrote Illinois gospel preacher David Diestelkamp in an article entitled #NotMyCaesar.
“Some conclude,” David continued, “that a president who is immoral, accepts the killing of babies (abortion), or condones the sexually deviant, is not ‘their president.’ And some are judging the validity of a presidency based on their perspective on law, rights, taxes, foreign policy, or free trade.”
David correctly reminds us that “the first-century Roman emperors failed in all these areas.”
Imagine being a Christian in New Testament times. Paganism was widely practiced. The Governors were corrupt. Most of the Roman Emperors were homosexuals and even pedophiles. The Roman historian Suetonius wrote that the Emperor, Tiberius, who reigned from 14-37 A.D. and was in power during Jesus’ day, retired to the island of Capri to engage in “wanton sexual pleasure” with young boys and girls.
Yet, when asked whether or not it was right to pay taxes to the corrupt Roman Empire, Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” (Matt 22:21).
Caligula (37-41) and Claudius (41-54) and Nero (54-68) succeeded Tiberius and were not any better. Maybe worse.
Caligula is “described as a noble and moderate emperor during the first six months of his rule. After this, the {historical} sources focus upon his cruelty, sadism, extravagance, and sexual perversion, presenting him as an insane tyrant.” He is infamously remembered for his promise to “make his horse Incitatus, a consul, and actually appointed him a priest.”
While under Claudius’ reign the Empire underwent expansion and gave rise to many public works projects. His personal life, according to various historians, was characterized by bribes, murder, and dominated by sexually illicit relationships. “Aquila and Priscilla got to experience firsthand the emperor’s ire when Claudius tried to solve his problems by expelling all Jews from the city of Rome (Ac. 18:2). Comply with a megalomaniac emperor’s unreasonable edicts?” The answer? Yes.
The apostle Peter exhorted Christians living at that time to “submit yourselves to every ordinance and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God…” (I Pet. 2:13-17).
Nero, the Emperor during Paul’s ministry, was a fornicator, adulterer, and pedophile. The sexual pervert once married a 12-year-old boy, Sporus, and paraded him through the streets of Rome. Described as a “brutal psychopath,” historians record his many barbarous acts against Christians as they were arrested and viciously executed by “being thrown to the beasts, crucified, and being burned alive.”
However, Paul commanded Christians to pray “for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (I Tim. 2:2). He further commanded, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.” And he added when we refuse, “we resist the ordinance of God” (Rom. 13:1-7).
Tomorrow, Joseph R. Biden, Jr will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. So, what responsibility do Christians have toward him and his administration?
Succinctly stated…
1. Pray for President Biden and all other governmental leaders.
2. Respect authority.
3. Obey the law.
4. Pay your taxes.
5. Do NOT speak evil of rulers.
6. Do NOT use your liberty as a cover-up for evil.
7. Be an influence for good, giving glory the God, as a reflector of the light and love of Christ.
As David correctly asserted, “#NotMyCaesar was not an option that Scripture gave to Christians.” And neither is #NotMyPresident.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 
Great article! 6 & 7 may need to be edited.
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Did you inadvertently omit a “not” from #6?
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I wholeheartedly agree with all those points, I teach them, and try to practice them. I would add, however, that we do not live under the reign of Caesar. We live in a constitutional republic in which government is designed to be “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” We possess the right to protest and object, even vehemently (but with respect), to policies introduced or enacted by our government. I’m not suggesting there is anything in the article which implies otherwise but I think the point needs to be made.
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Thank you!
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Well thought out and well stated … thank you.
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EXCEPT when the president’s law goes against God’s law, right?
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If the USA law or any law that goes against the Lord’s law, I wouldn’t follow that law, but do so respectfully. If our government tells us that we can no longer Worship and have a relationship with our Heavenly Father, would you stop and turn your back on our God??? I would say no! Jesus says the worldly ways are wrong and the things on earth will perish, but God’s word, God’s way is true and right, and that it will never change! He offers a lifetime relationship that never fails! And I for one will never turn my back on God, just because our government tells us to! So many people around the world are not allowed to have a relationship with the Lord, but still do! However, they still love their country!
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I guess I’m having problems with this….I would never leave my God. And/but I don’t see that I have to respect the president. Love his soul, of course, but how can you respect someone who so goes against God’s commandments?
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Thanks for reading my blog and thanks for your question.
Certainly ask Acts 5:29would tell us that we should not obey civil Authority in defiance
of God‘s law
With regard to the issue of respect it is possible to respect authority, which is actually what point 2 said, and respect the position and the office of a person who is not respectable.
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I understand that. However, Christ calls us to love others as He loves us. (Including our soon to be president.) Jesus loved the people who tortured and killed Him! He also loves Biden, even when he does the things that he does. We need to pray for him and his time as president.
The Pharisees and priests didn’t follow God’s way, but God still loved them. It’s hard to respect someone who does things that are wrong, but we need to be a light of Christ as we are called to be!
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But that would play in to what you are saying, wouldn’t it?
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Thank you for your replies….my husband and I are both going to have to work at this and pray for a more loving heart.
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I enjoyed the article but I think that putting Biden in the same picture as Caligula is unnecessarily inflammatory. Just as if you had put President Trump in a row of pictures with Hitler, there will be some would will be offended that you put President Biden in a row with Caligula.
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Pingback: Weekly Recap: January 17-22 | ThePreachersWord
Reblogged this on ThePreachersWord and commented:
We are down to the final three days of our holiday blogging break, counting down the top 10 posts of 2021 based on reader views. This January post came in at #3. After almost a year of the Biden Presidency, I would suggest we all need to read this again. Then apply it.
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A lot to think about in this read from the past and where we are heading in the future. Scarey times are certainly ahead. Respect is always appreciated by everyone and all sides, but wrongs are ugly and wrong and good is beautiful and great. The first and great commandment is to Love the Lord with all thy heart and with all they soul and with all thy mind, and the second is to Love they neighbor as thyself. Resist the devil and he will flee.
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