The political community 4 – Submission to authority 2
By Nadine Bushell 23.09.07
Member of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice
Last week we spoke of God’s requirement that we submit to legitimate authority. There is however an awareness that human authority can at times go contrary to God’s commands and sometimes demand that people submit to them. We have had countless examples of these in world history across every continent.
Do we then submit to this authority? The Social Doctrine of the Church advises that there are times when those of us given authority become laws unto ourselves and want to be treated as Gods. This however is wrong and immoral.
“When human authority goes beyond the limits willed by God, it makes itself a deity and demands absolute submission; it becomes the Beast of the Apocalypse, an image of the power of the imperial persecutor ‘drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus’ (Rev 17:6). The Beast is served by the ‘false prophet’ (Rev 19:20), who, with beguiling signs, induces people to adore it. This vision is a prophetic indication of the snares used by Satan to rule men, stealing his way into their spirit with lies.”
However, the Compendium reminds us: “But Christ is the Victorious Lamb who, down the course of human history, overcomes every power that would make it absolute.” So as Christians Saint John asks us to stand up against these rulers. “Before such a power, Saint John suggests the resistance of the martyrs; in this way, believers bear witness that corrupt and satanic power is defeated, because it no longer has any authority over them.”
Practically, what this means is that when signs of rulers going contrary to God’s laws in their actions we are obligated to take a stand. In today’s world there are legal means of voicing concerns through letters to the editor, petitions, peaceful marches, elections. There are times when admittedly these means may be made illegal or dangerous, as was the case in South Africa during the period of Apartheid for example. As Christians we are still obligated to “bear witness”.
“The Church proclaims that Christ, the conqueror of death, reigns over the universe that he himself has redeemed. His kingdom includes even the present times and will end only when everything is handed over to the Father and human history is brought to completion in the final judgment (cf 1 Cor 15:20-28). Christ reveals to human authority, always tempted by the desire to dominate, its authentic and complete meaning as service.
God is the one Father, and Christ the one Teacher, of all mankind, and all people are brothers and sisters. Sovereignty belongs to God. The Lord, however, ‘has not willed to reserve to himself all exercise of power. He entrusts to every creature the functions it is capable of performing, according to the capacities of its own nature.
This mode of governance ought to be followed in social life. The way God acts in governing the world, which bears witness to such great regard for human freedom, should inspire the wisdom of those who govern human communities. They should behave as ministers of divine providence’.”
The biblical message provides endless inspiration for Christian reflection on political power, recalling that it comes from God and is an integral part of the order that he created. This order is perceived by the human conscience and, in social life, finds its fulfilment in the truth, justice, freedom and solidarity that bring peace.
Next week we move to section II of Chapter 8 “Foundation and Purpose of the Political Community”
Persons interested in purchasing the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church may contact the Justice Desk, Archbishop’s House at 622-6680.
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