For the past eight years, liberals have ridiculed and maligned America’s president. Now, many who call themselves conservative are eager to dish some of that punishment back.

That would be a mistake. It wasn’t right before—it wouldn’t be right now.

Perhaps it seems un-American to make such a statement. One of this nation’s founding principles was that people should be critical of the government. The ability to disparage the authorities is viewed as a benchmark of a nation’s freedom.

Did you ever look the subject up in the Bible? Does God encourage us to disparage the government under which we live?

No—in fact, God demands that every American citizen respect the office of our new president, Barack Hussein Obama.

“You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people” (Exodus 22:28, Revised Standard Version). Why would God link reviling Him—that is, esteeming Him lightly, making jokes about Him or treating Him with dishonor—with cursing a “ruler,” or public official? Because cursing government officials reflects derision toward government and authority in general—and that can certainly infect our attitude toward God, the ultimate authority. For evidence, we only need consider how our society resounds with reviling and cursing of both the government and God.

The command in Ecclesiastes 10:20 goes even further: “Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber ….” So God is concerned not only with what comes out of our mouths, but also what goes on in our minds, regarding our rulers. (See also Job 34:18.)

Cursing rulers, speaking ill of the government, even disparaging rich business leaders—these are hallmarks of American democracy. Our media are filled with buffoonish caricatures, smart-alecky skits and crass jokes, all relished as signs of healthy public discussion about our leaders. On top of that, any mistake the president or other public official makes, the press and public attack with piranha-like ferocity.

The biblical view regarding proper treatment of governing officials is founded on the truth contained in Romans 13:1: “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.” Accomplishing His will through a variety of physical means, God ordains people into worldly offices. All power comes from Him. (See also Daniel 4:17.)

The passage in Romans 13 shows that God judges those who resist the leader He has installed (verse 2). A Bible-believer’s duty, then, is to submit to authorities and respect their physical offices. It is a form of submitting to and respecting God Himself. One who follows the Bible should be a model citizen. (If a human command conflicts with God’s law, however, we must obey God—and then submit to the punishment; Acts 5:29.)

In 1964, reflecting on the events surrounding John F. Kennedy’s recent assassination, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote, “God’s Word teaches us to have respect for authority. There can be no power, except as God allows. The Bible does not teach that this world’s governments are righteous, or representing God. But, so long as God allows them to wield an authority He established—even though they wield it contrary to His laws—to disrespect the government is to disrespect God.”

Yes, politicians can abuse their authority, enact misguided policy, and serve themselves or some evil purpose. Still, the office is ordained of God! Thus, we should honor that office. Though God despises abuses and corruption in leaders, it is He who will judge those leaders, not you or me.

It is true that godly men and women throughout history have had to criticize governing officials, to tell them their sins—even on commission from God. But even that, to be in keeping with the divine law, should be done with respect for the office. In the Trumpet, you will certainly read criticism of the government’s policies, but we endeavor never to take cheap shots or show personal disrespect for those filling those governing posts. You will never see demeaning caricatures in our publications.

Instead of undignified comments, here is what the Apostle Paul said we should say of our leaders: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Of course, that doesn’t say we are to pray for President Obama’s success in enacting policies that are contrary to God’s law. It says we are to pray for him that we may live a quiet and peaceable life.

Joseph Farah, in an article this week called “Pray Obama Fails,” called this approach “soft-minded” and “misguided.” “I do not hesitate today in calling on godly Americans to pray that Barack Hussein Obama fail in his efforts to change our country from one anchored on self-governance and constitutional republicanism to one based on the raw and unlimited power of the central state,” he wrote. “I want Obama to fail because his agenda is 100 percent at odds with God’s. Pretending it is not simply makes a mockery of God’s straightforward commandments.”

Will God answer those prayers? If God intended to protect America from the damaging policies of which Farah speaks, wouldn’t it have been easier for God to prevent Mr. Obama from winning the presidency in the first place? An honest look at what is happening in and to this country—economically, militarily, morally, socially, spiritually—shows that we are suffering curses for our sins. Frankly, those curses are bound to intensify under an administration with more respect for its own self-made ideals than for the authority of Scripture. We should have no illusions about that—and you should expect to read plenty about those curses on this website in the time ahead.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that 1 Timothy 2 tells us to offer prayers and thanks for—not against—all those in authority, and it doesn’t contain the provision, “as long as their agenda matches God’s.”

What is God trying to teach us by telling us to respect the office and submit to and pray for our president and whoever else rules over us?

1 Peter 2:13 tells us to “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake.” For whose sake? The Lord’s.

Why? So we learn to submit to government. It will be much easier to submit to a loving God if we learn to submit to a hard boss. We all must learn the lesson of submitting to government even if it is not being applied correctly.

Look at Christ’s example. He put Himself totally in His Father’s hands, knowing God was in control of everything. When He came before Pilate, He didn’t revile—He submitted Himself to that authority. He knew that Pilate had no power but what God gave him, and that everything occurs in accordance with God’s ultimate purpose (verses 22-23; John 19:10-11).

If we can learn this lesson of submitting to whomever God puts over us in this world, it will tremendously help us in our relationship with our heavenly Father. It will, in fact, prepare us for the Kingdom of God. •