With all of the shock and horror of the San Bernardino killers’ act of terrorism last week, the headlines have been filled with questions, blame-shifting, and the standard solution proposed by some in order to ensure protection from a future attack: more gun control. Some people have given themselves over to fear in the wake of this event and are scrambling for answers about why the attackers were allowed into the US, why they were able to acquire the weapons used, and why they were permitted to carry out such a wicked act without someone being alerted prior. It’s easy to point the finger at the government. In fact, this has been going on a lot these days, not only in the political scene (where it has come to be expected), but on the streets of our cities, as police officers are being deemed incompetent race mongers who can’t wait to brutalize the next minority who flinches.

What often gets drowned out by all the negativity is the heroism of everyday first-responders like Detective Jorge Lozano of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office, who courageously and calmly escorted people out of the building where the shootings were taking place, telling them “Try to relax everyone…I’ll take a bullet before you do…” Or Officer Nicholas Koahou, who was wounded during the shootout with the assailants and yet kept providing cover for his fellow officers until the situation was resolved. Beyond these acts of valor, we have heard little praise of the immediate response and coordination of federal, county, and city police forces to put together a massive manhunt which was successful in tracking down the two highly armed and dangerous suspects and rendering them incapacitated within only hours of the massacre. It is tragic beyond description that 14 people were slaughtered in the attack; it is absolutely commendable that officers were able to subdue such violent perpetrators so quickly with no further casualties, and only one non-lethal injury to an officer.

There is no doubt that our government has serious gaps, inconsistencies, agendas, and corruption, but before Christians jump on the bandwagon of fear and finger pointing, we must not only look at our world objectively, but we must come back to the Bible’s instruction about what government is, what it does, and what our responsibilities are in light of this instruction. The Bible is far from silent in regard to this issue, clearly commanding all men to “be in subjection to the governing authorities” (Rom. 13:1; Tit. 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13). This command has no conditional statements attached to it, for we are told further that it is God Himself who establishes these governing authorities (Rom. 13:1; cf. Dan. 4:17). And just like any command, we are not to merely obey externally, we are to have the proper attitude of honor toward the governing authorities (1 Pet. 2:17). That’s right. Christians, of all people, ought to be known as those who honor and obey those in authority. In addition to these commands, we are told to pray for the salvation of all in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-4). When we do this, we are strengthened to lead the quiet and peaceful lives of godliness to which we have been called, without being carried away by the agendas of either the left or the right.

As noted, these biblical commands are given to us because government was given to humanity as part of God’s common grace. When we talk of God’s grace, we typically think in terms of the sending His Son to die for the sins of men, or of the special empowerment which He provides His children, but God’s grace extends even to the world that is lost in sin. As Jesus reminded us, God “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). As an instrument of God’s common grace, government helps to restrain evil in the world so that it does not become as bad as it could be and so that people have some level of order, justice, and protection upon which they can rely. While it is foolish to expect that all government officials will be Christians, Romans 13:1-7 nonetheless calls them “God’s servants.” As the God whose “sovereignty rules over all” (Ps. 103:19 NASB), He has chosen to maintain order in society through the means of government. We may cast our ballot on election day, but He is the One who ultimately appoints rulers over us. What we must recognize is that government is God’s servant “for our good” because government is “the avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Rom. 13:4b). In fact, God has delegated the authority to government to use the sword – it has the right to take the life of the one who violates the law. On the other hand, government gives approval to those who honor and obey the law (Rom. 13:3b; 1 Pet. 2:14).

While we see politicians on TV and hear them on the radio, the average person is typically at a distance from the lawmakers. But what we do see nearly everyday, are the law enforcers. We must remember that these men and women are not a threat to us if we are committed to obeying the law. For us, police officers are “for our good,” and we should have the highest level of honor, appreciation, and thanksgiving to God for them – and we should pray for their salvation and safety regularly – for they are God’s instrument of restraining evil.

Because of the curse of sin, there are certainly times when the lawmakers will pass laws that are contrary to God’s law or the law enforcers will do things that are immoral or unjust. It is at these times that we are to follow Peter’s example and “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). We must take a stand and be willing to suffer the consequences for doing what is right. We must demand that justice is served for everyone – even those in authority who think they are above the law. Nevertheless, we must do so with the same attitude as Peter had when he said these words. Remember that this is the same Peter who commanded that we “honor the emperor” (1 Pet. 2:17), who at the time of Peter’s writing was Nero, the infamous persecutor of Christians.

When we align our thinking under the clear teaching and commands of Scripture concerning governing authorities, we will have the right perspective of government, and especially police officers. We will be more joyful, and more at peace as we think of the fact that every day our streets are patrolled by those who are committed “to protect and to serve” by God’s sovereign appointment.