God Himself ordained civil authority as His minister:
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1).
St Peter commandeth: “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (1 Peter 2:13).
Yet this obedience is not blind.
When earthly law contradicteth divine law, we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29), as the apostles and all martyrs before 1200 did.
But where the law is just and tendeth to the common good, to break it is to wound the Body of Christ and to open the door to chaos.
Therefore:
- Pay thy taxes honestly, for even Christ paid the temple tax (Matthew 17:24-27).
- Observe the statutes of the realm that protect life, marriage, and property.
- If thou seest injustice in the law, work lawfully to amend it, not to overthrow order by rebellion.
St Isidore of Seville (†636) taught that laws are to be obeyed not out of fear alone, but for conscience’ sake.
A soul at peace with just authority is a soul free to ascend toward God.
10. Support a Government Ordered for the Common Good and the Glory of God
Earthly kingdoms are but shadows of the eternal Kingdom.
Yet Christ bade us render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s (Matthew 22:21).
- Pray for kings and all in authority, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:2).
- Oppose quietly and lawfully those rulers who persecute the Church or command sin, but never with hatred or violence, for “bless them that curse you” (Matthew 5:44).
- Labour that the state may serve the true ends of man: worship of God, protection of the innocent, and the flourishing of virtue.
St Gregory the Great (†604) counselled emperors and kings, yet reminded them they were servants, not lords, of the people.
A commonwealth ordered toward Godward is the surest earthly path to happiness.
Say “next” to continue.
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