Does God Choose/Designate Our Leaders?

The Armstrong Churches of God (along with some of the other groups who claim to be Christian) have a tendency to portray God as choosing or setting up our human leaders. Indeed, this was an important part of Herbert Armstrong's rationale for teaching his followers that they shouldn't be voting in secular elections (you didn't want to inadvertently vote against God's choice). As with most of Armstrong's teachings, this one was based on a "prooftext" from an Old Testament prophet.

In the book of Daniel, we read: "The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men." (Daniel 4:17, ESV) So, God chooses or designates human leaders - right? As with most such "prooftexts," the problem arises when the context of the remarks is ignored, and other relevant texts are not consulted.

In this particular instance, the context is the overweening pride of the Babylonian ruler, King Nebuchadnezzar. The book of Daniel focuses on this king as an instrument in God's hands used to punish and correct the Jewish kingdom and its leadership. Unfortunately, in the course of God's use of this Gentile king, he became very impressed with his own success, power, and wealth. As often happens, the king began to imagine that his own talents/abilities had placed him in the position he currently occupied - that it was all about him.

As a consequence of his excessive arrogance and pride, God gave the king a dream which was meant to warn him that God was about to teach him an important lesson in humility, and who was/is ultimately in control (Daniel 4:4-18). Daniel, of course, interpreted the king's dream and advised him to repent of his sins and yield to God's guidance (Daniel 4:19-27). Nevertheless, as with most of us, the king had to learn the hard way. He temporarily lost his sanity and his throne (Daniel 4:28-33). Later, after God had restored his mind and crown, the king learned his lesson and acknowledged God's supremacy.

We read: "At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done?' At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble." (Daniel 4:34-37, ESV)

In other words, the lesson of this narrative is that God reigns supreme, and that NOTHING that happens can impede or thwart "His" will! - NOT that God designates or chooses every single person who rules over humankind! It is a lesson underscoring the folly of hubris, and/or the notion of human authority and control.

Indeed, the Hebrew Scriptures inform us that God viewed the Israelites' request for a human king as rebellion against himself (I Samuel 8:4-9)! Moreover, when God reviewed the sins of the children of Israel through the Prophet Hosea, we read: "The people have appointed kings without my consent, and princes without my approval." (Hosea 8:4, NLT) Likewise, in the Greek New Testament, we read that "the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions." (II Timothy 4:3, ESV) Clearly, the Bible teaches that humans seize power and/or choose people to lead them in the direction(s) which they would like to go!

"What about what Paul wrote to the saints at Rome?" my Armstrongist friends will demand. In that epistle we read: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God [granted by His permission and sanction], and those which exist have been put in place by God. Therefore whoever resists [governmental] authority resists the ordinance of God. And those who have resisted it will bring judgment (civil penalty) on themselves. For [civil] authorities are not a source of fear for [people of] good behavior, but for [those who do] evil. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good and you will receive approval and commendation. For he is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, [you should] be afraid; for he does not carry the [executioner’s] sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an avenger who brings punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject [to civil authorities], not only to escape the punishment [that comes with wrongdoing], but also as a matter of principle [knowing what is right before God]. For this same reason you pay taxes, for civil authorities are God’s servants, devoting themselves to governance.  Pay to all what is due: tax to whom tax is due, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, honor to whom honor." (Romans 13:1-7, Amplified Bible)

Let's take a closer look at what Paul was saying to these people. Clearly, he is talking about civil/secular authority. Paul, recognizing that structure and governance are necessary features of human society which are consistent with God's design, he instructs the Christians at Rome to obey them - to NOT rebel against them or resist their authority. Is he saying that every judge, magistrate, governor, emperor/king was chosen/appointed by God? Is he endorsing all of their activities, decisions, or policies? Obviously NOT! The emphasis of his remarks is on the behavior of the believer towards folks in positions of authority - NOT on their "Divine right to rule!" To be clear, God does NOT endorse bad behaviors. He does NOT endorse cruelty, violence, corruption, or bad decisions. Likewise, God doesn't endorse or appoint people with neuroses or other psychological problems to positions of authority.

Indeed, the entire thrust of Daniel in the Old Testament and the book of Revelation in the New Testament is the ineptitude and wickedness inherent to human governments! Moreover, both books predict that God will someday establish a king and kingdom which will supplant ALL human governments on this earth! Hence, we can see that these so-called "prooftexts" really don't demonstrate what folks have imagined them to suggest - that God has personally chosen/designated all human leaders. Finally, in addition to this Scriptural context, I would think that most of us would have enough good old common sense NOT to make God responsible for folks like Hitler, Stalin, or Pol Pot. Yeah, they might want to rethink this one!