“Should a Christian take a title such as king or chief?”

Januart 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

QUESTION: In view of the ceremonies, sacrifices and rituals involved, is it good for a Christian to take or accept a traditional title or become a title holder, such as “king” or “chief”?

ANSWER: The Bible indicates that human government began after the flood when God told Noah that whoever sheds man’s blood should be executed. God later gave Israel direction to have six cities of refuge to which a person who killed another person accidentally, without intending to do so, could flee. Both the apostles Peter in 1 Peter 2 and Paul in Romans 13 make it plain that a Christian is to submit to the existing authorities, for all authority is put in place by God. Peter specifically mentioned kings and governors. Paul was tried by several governors and eventually sent to Rome when he appealed the unjust handling of his case to Caesar – the Roman emperor.

While recognizing authority as instituted by God for the good of mankind, Scripture gives absolutely no direction to Christians to seek places of authority for themselves. Authority comes from above, from God, not from election by or consent of those governed. God chose Saul to be Israel’s king when Israel insisted on having a king to lead them like the nations around them. Likewise, God chose David to be Israel’s king after Saul demonstrated his sad disobedience to the expressed commands of God. The methods by which a person becomes king or chief may vary greatly; some are born into a high position, some are appointed, some are elected by popular vote, some obtain their position by corruption, rebellion or even assassination. But a believer is never instructed to seek governmental position or honors for himself.

Those who find themselves in such a position should honor the Lord in it. The Old Testament gives us accounts of the rule of outstandingly God-honoring kings as well as of kings who were just the opposite. In Romans 16:23 Paul passed on greetings to the Roman saints from, among others, Erastus, the treasurer of the city of Corinth, from where he was writing. History mentions many faithful Christian rulers down through the centuries. We can be thankful if a person occupying a position of authority or rule is a godly believer. Sadly, many Christians who have occupied such positions have dishonored the Lord by their conduct. Politics can be defined as the art of compromise, and most Christians in politics today find that to accomplish anything, compromises must often be made on most vital issues. Christians will find to their great disappointment that they cannot rid this world of its sinful violence and corruption.

Now to approach the question before us – a question that has reached us from a reader in Africa. Facing the soon-approaching end under God’s judgment of the kingdom of Judah, Jeremiah was given a special message for Baruch, the scribe who had faithfully written all the words of Jeremiah’s prophecy. The message was: “‘Do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for, behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,’ says the Lord” (Jer. 45:5 NKJV). Today we are rapidly approaching the end of this dispensation of God’s grace. Judgment will soon be here. There is really no point in seeking positions of honor among men of this world. The one who preaches, “Flee from the wrath to come” (Mt. 3:7), will certainly not be seeking a high place in a world that is under judgment.

Furthermore, to be inaugurated into such a position in most African countries generally involves submitting to traditional ceremonies and rituals, and even offering specified sacrifices. Such requirements are associated with traditional African religion, which usually involves some form of ancestor worship and idolatry. Scripture is plain on these issues: “My beloved, flee from idolatry ... The things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons” (1 Cor. 10:14,20-21). “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God ... Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you’” (2 Cor. 6:14-17).

While customs may be different in Western countries, the same principles apply. Victory parties when an election is won are generally alcohol-fueled or worse, and the costly celebrations at inaugural balls usually involve much of the same and more. Millions of dollars are spent for advertising during campaigns, much of it in self-promotion and in attacking and often vilifying one’s opponents – quite the opposite of how the Lord wants His people to act toward others! A Christian may have good intentions and high ideals, but the end does not justify the means.

Daniel is an example of a believer who refused to compromise his godly principles, and the LORD put him into very high positions in heathen governments. Daniel did not seek such positions but did the jobs he was given to do. In fact, his testimony was such that it resulted in his spending a night in a den of lions because his ungodly fellow officials wanted desperately to get rid of this godly person whose character was so different from theirs.

A Christian who inherits or is offered a position of honor and can accept it without submitting to idolatrous or other sinful practices may feel free to accept such a position as a gift from the Lord and an opportunity to serve Him. But how can he expect the Lord’s blessing if accepting such a position would cause him to have to engage in activities that would in any way dishonor the Lord or be contrary to His holy Word?

Answered by Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.