Submission to Civil Authorities

Christian submission to civil authority is directly related to our identity in Christ which includes being slaves of Jesus. Therefore our submission is always to Christ first and foremost and then extends from there to those He has placed in positions of authority - "for the Lord's sake." We are to maintain a respectful demeanor toward the office of an authority even when the individual may be despicable. When a governmental authority steps away from God's purpose for it in punishing evil doers and praising those who do right, we respectfully do not comply while declaring what God has said about the matter. That was the example of the prophets in dealing with the kings.