A few days ago someone asked if we were to obey the president when he or she is truly an employee of the people. He is not king, nor is he a ruler that was placed at the head of a nation directly by a divine entity. So should we obey our president?

First of all, looking for a loophole to directly violate the laws of this nation and to praise not participating in the rights which are allowed to us in a free country is highly unethical. It’s situational morality, and it makes no sense for that purpose. If you are going to argue that the president of the United States is merely an employee of the people to claim that the Constitution is the governing authority of the land, you must acknowledge that the Constitution is a document of the people, and the beliefs expressed in that document are by the people.

Secondly, Romans 13 deals with this subject as a matter of Christianity. The chapter opens with the words, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” And while this is not saying that our two candidates have been in direct contact with God for permission to run for office, they are the choices, and as citizens of this country we have the ability to choose the candidate whose ideals line up most perfectly with God’s ideals for His people. If we have been given that choice, we should exercise that choice and do what we can for the Kingdom.

Besides the fact that one may believe that Christians maybe should not vote because whatever happens is by the hand of God, then one should do his best to be respectful of the leaders and pray for them and work in ways that would glorify God. Romans 13 also deals with this: “Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience” (Romans 13:5 ESV).

Lastly, not only is this notion biblical, it is also philosophical, as per Jean-Jacques Rousseau in On the Social Contract. Rousseau, in the portion about the right of the strongest, simply states, “Obey the powers that be” (4), as long as they are in compliance with what is right. He acknowledges that force does not create right, and in that sense, America has been blessed by being able to choose a leader ever four years, but we are to obey the “legitimate powers” (4). To obey the legitimate powers, exercise your right to elect a legitimate power.

In conclusion, if one wants a certain leader to be in power, or another certain candidate to not be in power for the sake of the rights and privileges one hold dear, then one should vote. That is our first line of defense, and that is how we can make an impact in society for the sake of Christian values.