3. Respect for the Governing Authorities

World Scripture

Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.
Mark 12.17

Pray for the welfare of the empire, because were it not for the fear it inspires, every man would swallow his neighbor alive.¹²
Mishnah, Avot 3.2 (Judaism)

The sultan is God’s shade on earth to which each one of his servants who is wronged repairs. When he is just he will have a reward, and it is the duty of the common people to be grateful; but when he acts tyrannically the burden rests on him, and it is the duty of the common people to show endurance.
Hadith of Baihaqi (Islam)

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Romans 13.1-7

Hearing and obeying [those in government] are the duty of a Muslim both regarding what he likes and what he dislikes, as long as he is not commanded to perform an act of disobedience to God, in which case he must neither hear nor obey.
Hadith of Bukhari and Muslim (Islam)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

Although each of us as an individual is as precious as heaven and earth put together, we should serve our family. Then, just as we place our family above ourselves, we should place the community above our family and the nation above the community.
(10:328, November 27, 1960)

Serve the president of your nation as you would attend your parents and teachers, serve your parents as you would attend your teachers and the president of your nation, and serve your teachers as you would attend your parents and the president of your nation. This is the teaching of the Three Subjects Thought.¹³ Its central focus is true love.
(212:28, January 1, 1991)

When I speak to American young people about patriotism, they blink their eyes in perplexity and retort, “How should I love my country?” The problem is: no one has properly educated them about love. They see that their parents’ relationship is entirely carnal, and they experience relationships with their siblings and friends that are entirely carnal. They see everyone practicing animalistic love—love below the level of animals.
People say, “What do you mean, love my country? I express my patriotism by paying my taxes.” With that attitude, how can they learn love of country? Love of country starts from love taught in the family. How do parents teach patriotism? They teach their children how to love their siblings and how to love their parents. At the same time, they tell them, “We love our nation just as we love you, so you should love our nation too.” When children are taught like that, they understand right away from experience what patriotism is about. That is the best education. If people were raised with that tradition, instead of wondering, “What is American patriotism?” they would understand immediately and bow their heads in respect. No other explanation would be needed…
Patriots regard the words of the President as superior to their father’s words. Therefore, parents should educate their children that love of country is higher than filial love. They should teach, “You and I must be loyal to our country when it is in peril, and even offer our lives for our country.” That is the tradition thoughtful people should pass on to the next generation; it will correct the course of our nation’s history.
(95:51-52, October 23, 1977)