Governments Accountable

Yesterday afternoon I was sitting in the House of Commons gallery watching the Prime Minister answer questions from MPs regarding the Chilcot Report. This document, three times the length of the Bible, was Sir John Chilcot's attempt to analyse and understand why Britain went to war against Iraq in 2003. Although the war removed a brutal thug from power, it empowered many worse. In the House was Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Opposition, and other MPs seeking answers.  

At tonight's Bible Study, we discussed the text from 1 Peter 2 that requires all Christians to obey and submit to those in government. We contrasted it to what Peter told the Sanhedrin in Acts 5:29 in which he states that he would rather obey God than men, having been forbidden to preach Christ.
 
We had a good discussion about whether Christians should passively obey and endorse every governmental command, or should use opportunities to object and protest. We talked about conscientious objection, the poll tax, abortion and gay wedding cakes.
 
Sometimes governments get it wrong, even though they are God's agents for restraining the wicked. They embark upon dangerous wars and ungodly legislation. So although we Christians are called to obey and submit, may we also remind our leaders that they are to be held accountable for theirs and their nation's conduct in the great 'day of visitation'. Tony Blair, on the other hand, may not have to wait so long.