Reigning With Christ: Our Responsibility Before God

I believe Christians need to give serious thought to what it means to belong to the kingdom of God. We speak of Jesus as our King. We confess that He has all power in heaven and earth. We believe we have been delivered from darkness and brought into His kingdom. But what responsibility comes with that relationship?

If we participate in Christ’s reign now, then we have a present responsibility to carry out His commands. We cannot claim the privileges of His kingdom while neglecting the duties of His kingdom.

Paul tells us that God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13, KJV). This describes something God has already done for His people. We belong to Christ’s kingdom today.

And our King is reigning today.

“For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:25).

Christ’s authority does not depend upon the approval of governments, armies, or religious institutions. He is Lord whether the world acknowledges Him or opposes Him.

Seated With the Reigning Christ

Paul writes that God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).

Notice the words “hath raised” and “made us sit.” Paul describes a present spiritual reality grounded in our union with Jesus Christ. We belong to the One who has overcome death and is seated at the Father’s right hand.

I understand this to mean that we already participate in Christ’s reign. Christians differ over the timing and meaning of some passages about reigning with Him, and the fullness of our inheritance is still ahead. Nevertheless, our membership in His kingdom and our commission to serve Him are present realities.

We do not possess an independent throne. We do not have authority to substitute our ambitions for God’s will. Whatever authority we exercise comes from Christ and remains subject to Him.

Paul says, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). An ambassador has a responsibility to represent the one who sent him faithfully. We represent Jesus through our words, our choices, and our treatment of other people.

That brings us to a searching question: Are we representing the character of our King?

The King Commands Us to Defend the Weak

Psalm 82 reveals God’s concern about the abuse and neglect of those who need protection:

“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:3–4).

Whether one understands those addressed in this psalm as heavenly rulers or human judges, the standard God declares is unmistakable. He requires justice. He condemns partiality toward the wicked. He demands that the weak receive protection.

Those who exercise authority are accountable to God for how they use it.

Surely those of us who belong to Christ’s kingdom should reflect that same concern. We cannot read these commands, acknowledge their righteousness, and then decide that the suffering around us is none of our business.

The fatherless need care. The afflicted need help. The poor need fair treatment. Those being harmed need someone willing to stand beside them.

James makes this responsibility personal:

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

Our faith must reach into the circumstances of people who are hurting. A visit may lead to a meal, a ride to an appointment, help with a bill, or steady companionship. Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is a willingness to remain involved after everyone else has gone home.

Obedience Must Become Action

There is a danger in becoming satisfied with saying the right things. We can speak about mercy without showing mercy. We can condemn injustice in general while overlooking it when confronting it would cost us something.

John asks:

“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” (1 John 3:17).

Then he gives the answer in the form of a command:

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

I cannot meet every need in the world. Neither can you. But we can respond to the people God places within our reach. We can use what we have. We can join with others when the need is greater than our individual ability.

The Good Samaritan did not solve every problem along that road. He cared for the wounded man he encountered. He stopped, drew near, tended the wounds, and arranged for continued care.

Jesus ended that account with these words: “Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:37).

That command still speaks to us.

We Must Speak Truth to Those With Power

Caring for the weak also means challenging the actions that harm them.

Proverbs commands, “Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9).

There are times when obedience requires us to speak. We may need to report abuse, question a public policy, confront mistreatment, or ask a church leader why someone’s suffering has been ignored.

We must do so honestly. Before repeating an accusation, we should establish the facts. We must distinguish between a verified wrong and a suspicion. Our concern for justice does not excuse careless words or false witness.

But neither should we use uncertainty about some details as a permanent excuse to ignore clear suffering.

Our loyalty to Christ must govern our judgment. A political party, a government, or a religious leader cannot make cruelty righteous. Friendship cannot turn dishonesty into truth. A Christian label cannot excuse conduct contrary to the commands of Jesus.

The same standard must apply to ourselves. We should welcome correction, examine our motives, and repent when we have treated someone unfairly.

Christ Shows Us How to Exercise Authority

Jesus taught His disciples that greatness in His kingdom involves service:

“Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister” (Matthew 20:26).

Then He pointed to His own example:

“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

Our participation in His reign must take its character from Him. It calls for humility, courage, sacrifice, and love. It gives us no permission to dominate others or compel them to believe.

We overcome evil by remaining faithful to Christ. We pray, speak truth, offer help, resist temptation, and refuse to participate in wrongdoing. We love our enemies while holding them accountable for their actions.

That kind of obedience may bring opposition. Scripture says, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:12). Our present service looks toward the fullness of that promise. Until then, faithfulness may require us to bear a cost.

What Will We Do Today?

I believe we share in Christ’s reign now through our union with Him. That belief should make us more attentive to the responsibilities He has given us.

We ought to ask ourselves: Is there a child who needs support? A widow who needs companionship? A struggling family who needs help? Someone being mistreated who needs an advocate? Is there an injustice I have overlooked because speaking would be uncomfortable?

Jesus asks a question that reaches beneath every claim we make:

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

That is a question for this country preacher as much as for anyone reading these words.

Our King has spoken. He commands us to love, serve, defend, and obey. May our conduct show that we belong to His kingdom, and may the weak and suffering find help through our faithfulness to Him.

The Spiritual War We Cannot Afford to Ignore

 After many years in ministry, I remain concerned about how easily we can confess faith in Jesus Christ while allowing our loyalties to lead us away from His teachings. We recognize evil when it comes from someone we oppose. It becomes harder to recognize when it comes from someone we admire.

That is one reason we must take spiritual warfare seriously. Deception works by persuading us to accept something false as true and something sinful as necessary or righteous.

Paul warns us:

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” — Ephesians 6:11

He then explains:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” — Ephesians 6:12

There is a spiritual conflict behind the struggles we see in human life. Its influence can become visible through lies, hatred, exploitation, injustice, and the corruption of authority. Human beings remain responsible for their choices, but Paul tells us that the struggle reaches beyond human beings.

We must understand both the seriousness of the enemy and the responsibility of the believer.

I understand Psalm 82 as describing spiritual beings held accountable by God for their failure to uphold justice. On that reading, their rebellion had consequences for people on earth. God’s charge against them concerns the wicked they favored and the vulnerable they failed to defend:

“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” — Psalm 82:3–4

Consider what that means. God judges these powers for abandoning people who needed protection. Their failure concerns the poor, the fatherless, the afflicted, and the needy.

If these are the very failures God condemns, Christians should be deeply troubled when we find ourselves excusing them.

How can we claim to oppose spiritual darkness while defending its works? How can we speak of righteousness while overlooking cruelty? How can we pray for God’s blessing while refusing to hear the cries of those suffering under injustice?

Our allegiance to Christ must govern every other allegiance.

John tells us that the spirit of antichrist was already in the world in his day. I understand this as an ongoing spiritual opposition to Christ, His truth, and His authority. John gives specific warnings about denying who Jesus is. He also makes clear that a profession of faith must be accompanied by obedience:

“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” — 1 John 2:4

Jesus Himself asks:

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” — Luke 6:46

Those words should cause every one of us to examine our lives.

Calling ourselves Christians carries a responsibility. We bear the name of the Lord before our families, our neighbors, and the world. When we knowingly use His name to defend conduct He condemns, we dishonor that name. In that sense, we bear it in vain.

There is a difference between a believer who falls into sin and repents, and a person who insists that sin should be accepted and defended. John acknowledges our need for confession and forgiveness. Faithfulness includes receiving correction, admitting wrongdoing, and returning to obedience.

The danger comes when we stop allowing Scripture to correct us.

We may begin by excusing one lie because it helps our cause. Then we overlook cruelty because we believe it serves a necessary purpose. Eventually, we may find ourselves defending behavior we once recognized as sinful.

Spiritual deception can work through those small concessions.

Paul gives us a responsibility toward the works of darkness:

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” — Ephesians 5:11

We must expose wrongdoing truthfully. We must refuse to participate in it. We must defend those who are harmed and call those responsible to account.

That requires care. Before repeating an accusation, we should establish whether it is true. We must apply the same standard to our friends that we apply to our opponents. Exposing sin does not give us permission to spread rumors, judge hidden motives, or treat people with contempt.

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. People are accountable for their actions, but they are also people for whom we should pray and whose repentance we should desire.

There are times when speaking requires courage. There are also times when we need to listen, learn, and determine how best to help. Yet persistent silence in the face of known injustice can leave the suffering abandoned and the wrongdoer unchallenged.

We should ask ourselves: Am I silent because I lack the facts, or because the truth would make me uncomfortable? Am I protecting someone who is vulnerable, or protecting my place among people whose approval I want?

The armour of God prepares us to answer those questions faithfully.

We must be girded with truth. We need honesty in what we believe, what we say, and what we share. A convenient falsehood still serves deception. We must allow God’s Word to examine our assumptions.

We must wear the breastplate of righteousness. Our own conduct matters. We cannot effectively call others to integrity while deliberately harboring dishonesty, bitterness, or cruelty in our lives.

Our feet must be prepared with the gospel of peace. We carry the message of reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. Even when confronting wrongdoing, we must seek the protection of the vulnerable and the repentance of the offender. Hatred must not determine our steps.

We must take the shield of faith. Fear can tempt us to compromise. We may fear rejection, loss, or the disapproval of people we respect. Faith enables us to trust the Lord enough to obey Him when obedience is costly.

We must wear the helmet of salvation. Our hope rests in Christ. Remembering whose we are helps guard our minds against despair and against promises that demand we surrender our conscience for the sake of security.

We must take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Scripture must govern our judgment. We need to read it faithfully and receive its correction, rather than search for a verse to excuse what we have already decided to support.

And we must pray:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” — Ephesians 6:18

We need prayer for discernment, courage, humility, and endurance. We need to pray for those who suffer, for those in authority, for our fellow believers, and for those who oppose us. We also need to pray that the Lord will expose deception in our own hearts.

This armour is for daily living. We wear it in our conversations, our decisions, our treatment of others, and our response to the news. Faithfulness is expressed when we refuse a lie, confess a wrong, help a neighbor, defend someone mistreated, or choose mercy when resentment would be easier.

We should take the spiritual war seriously without becoming consumed by fear. Christ has triumphed over the powers, and our confidence rests in Him. We do not need to discover the name of every spiritual being to obey the commands God has already given us.

We know we are called to truth. We know we are called to righteousness. We know we are called to love our neighbors, show mercy, and defend the weak.

Each morning, we would do well to pray: “Lord, help me recognize deception, beginning with any deception I have accepted myself. Give me courage to expose wrongdoing, compassion for those who suffer, and humility to receive correction. Clothe me with Thy armour, and help me follow Thee today.”

The seriousness of this war calls for daily faithfulness. May the name we bear be honored by the lives we live.

When Leaders Fail the Weak, Christians Must Speak

“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” — Psalm 82:3–4, KJV

Psalm 82 brings us into a courtroom where God Himself is the Judge. He asks those who hold authority, “How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?” That question ought to trouble anyone entrusted with power. It ought to trouble the church, too, whenever we excuse injustice because we approve of the leader who commits it.

God does not tell the authorities merely to express sympathy for the afflicted. He tells them to defend, do justice, and deliver. The poor, the fatherless, and the needy must not be left at the mercy of those who can harm them. A government has a solemn duty to protect people who cannot protect themselves. When its leaders instead favor the powerful, neglect the suffering, or use their authority to injure the innocent, they must be held accountable.

That responsibility belongs to Christians as well. Proverbs 31:8–9 says, “Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” There are times when speaking up is part of obedience to God.

I know that people will disagree about a government’s policies or about the facts of a particular event. That is why we must seek reliable evidence and speak honestly. But uncertainty about one claim must not become an excuse to ignore suffering that is plainly before us. We can ask hard questions. We can call for independent investigation. We can insist that civilians be protected, that the hungry be fed, and that officials answer for unlawful actions. Those are responsibilities, not acts of disloyalty.

Christians must be especially careful when a leader says the things we want to hear. A promise to defend our faith, our country, or our interests does not give anyone permission to violate God’s commands. The LORD does not change His standard of justice to suit our party or our preferred government. We cannot bless cruelty with religious language and expect God to bless us for it.

Some may say, “We must stand with our leaders.” I believe we should pray for them, as Scripture teaches in 1 Timothy 2:1–2. We should also tell them the truth. Praying for a leader does not require defending every action that leader takes. Loyalty to Christ must come before loyalty to any officeholder. If we stand with evil actions because the person committing them is on our side, we are no longer following the way of our Lord. We are yielding to the devil’s work of deception, cruelty, and division.

Jesus told us to love our enemies. That command does not mean overlooking what they do, and it does not mean withholding concern from their victims. It means we seek justice without hatred. We do not blame a whole people for the deeds of their rulers. We do not spread rumors or wish harm upon anyone. We speak truthfully, defend those in danger, and leave final judgment in the hands of God.

This is no small matter for the church. What will our witness mean if we preach that every person is precious to God, then turn away when the weak are harmed? What will it mean if we call for righteousness in private lives but excuse injustice in public office?

Psalm 82 ends with a prayer: “Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.” No government owns the nations. No leader sits above the LORD’s judgment. That truth gives us courage to speak, humility to examine our own loyalties, and hope that injustice will not have the final word.

May we pray for our leaders. May we help those who suffer. May we hold power accountable with truthful words and peaceful action. And may we never mistake standing beside a powerful person for standing with God.