Hi DeepThinker...
Of course, this same rationale could be used of EVERYTHING that happens upon the Earth too (good or bad). I do believe that God raises up authorities to disperse justice. Yet, this government in America is one of "consent." The United States is a democratic republic, where individuals are selected by their fellow citizens to be short-term governors (depending upon the term of office) with the notion that they, as good temporary stewards, will "faithfully uphold the laws of the land and the Constitution."
Those same people who vote them into office can also vote them out of office. Likewise, those same individuals are also given an ability to petition their governors and authorities to act on behalf of what they think is right. It is a lot like the story of a persistent widow during Jesus's day who did the same thing with an unrighteous "judge." Perhaps the same God who you say "wooed the people to vote" for a man might also be "wooed" to petition on the side of righteousness?
I agree...but I would add that we are ALSO citizens of the land in which the Lord placed us. We are under the government that God placed us. When asked by a Roman soldier who was about to beat him unlawfully whether he was a Roman citizen, Paul did not claim that his citizenship was solely in heaven. Rather, he cited his natural born Roman citizenship (Acts 22:22-29). He later used his "right" as a Roman citizen to "appeal unto Caesar." Of course, Paul used the Roman legal system, traveling along the Roman roads, that were built using taxes paid to Roman authorities, in order to take the Gospel to Rome...and to Caesar's house.
I do understand what you mean, though. Our allegiance is first and foremost to our Eternal King. Yet, I personally don't see anything in Scripture that forbids believers from petitioning or exerting influence on the people and governments around us. The Old Testament is filled with men like Moses, Joseph, Daniel and others who exerted righteous influence upon secular governments. Likewise, John the Baptist spoke to Herod about matters of righteousness -- and later lost his head for it (Matthew 14:3-5). The persistent widow petitioned an unrighteous "judge." In fact, Paul was compelled to present the Gospel to Caesar himself (Acts 27:24 and Acts 28:19), and it appears that he might have been successful (Philippians 4:22).
Yet, I also agree that we should pray for those who are in authority (regardless of whether they are appointed, voted in, or kings and queens). In addition, we should be examples of Christ who do not hide our light under a bushel of religious sectarianism. Like a city on a hill, we cannot and should not be hidden (Matthew 5:14-16). Our hearts, of course, are set apart as belonging to Christ Jesus even as we live in the world and nation that God has not yet taken us out of.
As for England: I have long had a burden for the people in that nation. I have read so many stories about the things that God has done in the past within that nation. I have spoken with old revival ministers from the nation who recall great things that happened years ago. Today, so many in the nation have turned from God.
I know a professor at Oxford who was going to serve as a faculty mentor for me on a scholarship that I was given during my undergraduate study. This professor is so honest in his hostility to the Gospel and even in regard to the very existence of God! I never accepted the scholarship to study there (due to a conflict with the graduate program that I was beginning). However, I have kept in touch with this particular professor. We have carried on long conversations about his professed atheism and the state of faith in his homeland. He admits that England has experienced a moral degradation in accordance with the decline of significance seen in the Christian faith. Slowly, I see God having an impact on his heart. I sent him a couple of books that I thought might help. He has even allowed me to pray for him via the telephone.
While I believe in petitioning the governments of the land into which God placed us, those are limited to legislative edicts that may or may not govern in what is right. What is vastly more important is the hearts of the people in the land. We need a revival! I don't mean a "revival" that is seen almost as a "mystical" thing. We need a great and sudden awakening of people in and out of the Church who quickly realize the futility of life without knowing the one true Living God! We need a waking up of the souls of men...whose hearts will begin to ache with an unquenchable yearning and thirst to know the Lord! We need a sudden realization in the hearts of men everywhere (starting in the Church) that the fleeting pleasures of this life cannot compare even remotely with just a moment spent in pure intimacy with God. We need such a revival!
