The Scripture contains valuable insights into the role of Christians as peacemakers. In regard to geopolitics, Christians have a variety of responsibilities, which are all connected to their devotion to God. Firstly, followers of Christ should not regard history as a phenomenon isolated from their faith. Instead, they have to examine geopolitical occurrences under the prism of Christendom as if not to eliminate the role of God.
Even the government is essentially ordained by God, which is why Christians have to respect its decisions (Sproul, 2016). Despite that, another simple truth in regard to geopolitics that Christians ought to accept is that all governments are inherently evil. However, Romans 13 elaborates on this notion and acknowledges that governmental institutions are a necessary evil as they are better at exercising the will of God and protecting the sanctity of life than disorganized followers ever could. Although this idea suggests submission, it is limited to the decisions and actions of authorities, which do not go against what God intends. If the Lord forbids a certain kind of abuse or deviance, Christians have the right to disobey their civil magistrates. When it comes to global conflict, followers of Christ have the responsibility to pressure their government to react in a certain way.
Another important responsibility toward geopolitics Christians have is the obligation to grow spiritually. Some followers live in earthly cities where war, violence, and abuse are inevitable. However, they should not be satisfied with what they have. They must strive to improve themselves as they make themselves worthy of the heavenly city. The notion of internal transformation is one of the key traits of Christianity, which differentiates it from other religions. Christians cannot simply follow outward laws mentioned in the Scripture. Their role in the system of geopolitics starts with individualized self-improvement and inward transformation.
Furthermore, Christians have the responsibility to merge forces in order to ensure there is a unified Christian ethical response to global conflict. In the context of modern-day globalization, it is now easier than ever for followers of Christ from different countries to connect. Nowadays, the borders are slowly disappearing, which makes it even more crucial for Christians to create a coalition acting on behalf of the community in response to international crises. Beckwith (2016) notes that when the efforts of individual members of the Christian community are combined, the effect is tremendous, with the ripples reaching all spheres of social, economic, and political activity. Gbotoe and Kgatla (2017) further note that Christianity plays an exceptionally important role in protecting fragile societal structures.
In conclusion, Christians should not regard the reality of modern-day geopolitics and history as something that does not concern them. In fact, they have sacred obligations to spread the word of God and ensure that society functions in accordance with the values and laws described in the Scripture. Thus, while followers of Christ must accept submission from the civil magistrates governing them, Christian principles have to be prioritized. Christians have an important task of disobeying or pressuring authorities if the state of events or possible projections of what is going to happen stands in opposition to core Christian beliefs. In addition, they have the responsibility to constantly improve themselves and engage in inward transformation, even if they are a part of an earthly city destined for war and violence. Furthermore, Christians ought to unite and offer a unified response once the global community faces a crisis.
References
Beckwith, LaSharnda. “An Empirical Study: How Christians Influence Global Markets.” Journal of Business Studies Quarterly 8, no. 2 (2016): 7-21. Web.
Gbotoe, Eric, & Kgatla, Selaelo T.. “The Role of Christianity in Mending Societal Fragility and Quelling Violence in Liberia.” Verbum et Ecclesia 38, no. 1(2017): 1-10.
Sproul, Robert C. “What Is a Christian’s Responsibility to Government?” Web.