Rulers ordained by God?

[justineAnne]

(Sorry if this has been discussed, I could not find it. I am very frequently on this site as a guest, just now created an account for this question)

Hi!

I was talking to someone this past week who was describing to me how all the world leaders are ordained by God. He says that because God ordains all the worlds’ leaders, it is pointless to vote in elections or be interested in politics… but I don’t fully understand how this can be the case. I was always under the impression that most modern rulers, unless it is like a monarchy, became leaders through their own free will and that of his constituents. God allows it to happen and it is His will, but how can He ordain something such as a democratic leader without taking away a part of our free will?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Linusthe2nd]

(Sorry if this has been discussed, I could not find it. I am very frequently on this site as a guest, just now created an account for this question)

Hi!

I was talking to someone this past week who was describing to me how all the world leaders are ordained by God. He says that because God ordains all the worlds’ leaders, it is pointless to vote in elections or be interested in politics… but I don’t fully understand how this can be the case. I was always under the impression that most modern rulers, unless it is like a monarchy, became leaders through their own free will and that of his constituents. God allows it to happen and it is His will, but how can He ordain something such as a democratic leader without taking away a part of our free will?

Thanks in advance!

You have to view this in the perspective that nothing happens in the universe unless God either causes it or allows it. So in a very broad sence every authority is from God. But of course most rulers do not live up to their vocations, their call by God. Remember in the Old Testament when God said he had called Cyrus the Persan King to work God’s vengance on the Israelites and later to release them after forty years. Read it, it is quite interesting. But it is just silly not to vote because it is certainly God’s will that we vote, especially these days when so much is at stake.

Pax
Linus2nd

 

[Beryllos]

I wonder if your friend was interpreting and maybe overextending the first reading of last Sunday’s Mass (Isaiah 45:1,4-6):
Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus,
whose right hand I grasp,
subduing nations before him,
and making kings run in his service,
opening doors before him
and leaving the gates unbarred:
For the sake of Jacob, my servant,
of Israel, my chosen one,
I have called you by your name,
giving you a title, though you knew me not.
I am the LORD and there is no other,
there is no God besides me.
It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun
people may know that there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, there is no other.
According to Isaiah, Cyrus the Great, the king of Persia and a non-believer, was anointed and favored by God. He certainly was a friend to the Hebrews as he conquered Babylon, repatriated the Hebrews who had been exiled there, and did other good works. It goes to show that God can perform great works through anyone He chooses. However, I would not conclude that all rulers are anointed and doing God’s work. Look at rulers around the world. What do you think?