America has me worried.  I think the government is corrupt and society is immoral.  I'm seriously thinking about taking my family and making a community like the Muslims have in some US states.  We'd have our own law and law enforcement.  No one could come in who wasn't a christian.  What should I be looking for to know when to leave?

Signed,
Not In My House

Dear Not In My House,

Christianity has suffered through quite a bit more than America has ever dished out.  As the book of Hebrews says, “You have not yet suffered to the point of bloodshed” (Heb 12:4).  No one would dispute that America’s government is corrupt.  The question is whether a christian should flee a society as soon as it is corrupt.  Biblically speaking, that is not the pattern we see.  Christians didn’t flee Jerusalem until christians began to be killed (Acts 8:1).  Paul wouldn’t leave a city until they forcibly persecuted him or sought his life (Acts 9:24-25).

There will always be corrupt governments, but within those nations are citizens who need the Gospel as much as everyone else.  Christians are supposed to be in the world… but not of this world (Php 2:15).  The answers to our problems do not lay in this life.  In this life, we shall always have troubles, but Christ has overcome the world (Jhn 16:33).  Our hope is in eternal life where God’s law will be the only law and only christians will be allowed in (Tit 3:7).  Until then, we must live within the governments of this world (Rom 13:1-2).

How should Christians view the recent unrest in Iran? I know the Bible says we are supposed to honor those in authority, but does this apply even to rulers who are over another nation? Is it okay to root for the rebels?

Going further, is it okay to take action to aid the protesters in Iran? I've seen some people encouraging others to use the Internet to provide alternate ways for the Iranians to communicate despite the government's censorship efforts. Is this something a Christian can participate in?

Sincerely, Rebel Alliance

Dear Rebel Alliance,

The issue you bring up is one without a clear and easy answer, but in general, yes, it would be okay to root for the rebels and even to aid them. The Bible makes it clear that we must show respect for the government authorities that we are under (1 Pet 2:13-15). 1 Pet 2:17 says that we should “honor the king”, which would imply the king that you are under the authority of, not necessarily every king or ruler. You still need to speak well of rulers and treat them with respect because they are placed in authority by God (Rom 13:1).

The fact is, it would be impossible to be in subjection to every ruler and government because those governments often contradict each other. Soldiers are a perfect example of this. When a soldier fights in a war against another country, he is directly opposing the other government’s authority while upholding his own ruler’s wishes. Therefore, if you are an American on American soil, you aren’t subject to Iran’s ruling powers. The only exception would be if you were to visit Iran (or any country for that matter), you would be subject to its rules and regulations as a visitor of that nation. Until then, feel free to oppose the politics of another country as long as your own nation allows it.