Christians in government positions

Christian ethics question: when what God says conflicts with federal marriage laws and abortion laws, would it be OK that a Christian taking the oath of office just lie and say he will uphold those laws that conflict with what he knows God says? Or, should he not seek offices where he will be expected to disregard what God says when it conflicts with laws of the United States?

Lying under oath is not an option. When we use God as our witness to assure people we are telling the truth but lie instead, we break God’s second commandment (Exodus 20:5). (See also Leviticus 19:12.)

When it comes to Christians serving in government positions, we want to keep in mind that Christians live in two kingdoms: the church and the state. While God’s word directs life in the church, natural law and human reason direct life in the state. Sometimes the state enacts laws that are contrary to natural law and human reason. What then? Is the state, the government, still God’s servant (Romans 13)? Yes, but not a very faithful servant. Christians who want to serve in the state can do so—even when laws run contrary to God’s word—by recognizing that the state operates on different principles than the church.

Moses recognized that. As the leader of the church, he penned under inspiration of the Holy Spirit the establishment of marriage as a lifelong union between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:20-24). As the leader of the state, he wrote certificates of divorce (Matthew 19:3-9) that served to preserve order among Israelite society. A Christian judge might find himself in a similar situation: being in full agreement with the Bible’s teachings of marriage and divorce (perhaps even taking part in a congregational vote on excommunication related to an unscriptural divorce), yet granting an unscriptural divorce in his court. Such actions on his part are not hypocritical; they reflect his involvement as a member of the two kingdoms of church and state that operate with different guiding principles.

If a Christian cannot in good conscience serve in a governmental position because the laws of the land conflict with God’s word, that person will want to seek a different vocation, as you suggested.

Christians will prayerfully seek to determine how they can best serve and honor God as citizens of both kingdoms, recognizing the principles that guide each kingdom and applying them as faithfully as they can to their situations.