The cry of “No kings” sounds like freedom, but when you listen closely to their protest, you see it for what it is: rebellion. Scripture teaches that authority is not man’s invention but God’s design. From Eden to now, every attempt to cast off rule is an attempt to cast off God Himself.
When Adam followed Eve instead of obeying God, chaos entered the world. When Israel cried, “We have no king but Caesar,” they were rejecting Christ. And when modern men chant “No kings,” they are not rejecting tyranny as they claim. They are displaying their heart by rejecting the King of kings.
Every law reveals a god. The question is never whether we will have a ruler but which ruler we will have. Authority isn’t the problem. Sin is. The Lord established rule to reflect His justice, to restrain evil, and to bless righteousness. The destruction of authority is the destruction of order itself.
“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us’” (Psalm 2:2–3).
Romans 13 says that governing authorities are “ministers of God,” appointed to reward good and punish evil. Law and order are mercies from God. The breakdown of justice in the streets, in the home, or in the church is God’s judgment.
“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).
Christ reigns now. Revelation 1:5 calls Him “the ruler of the kings of the earth.” His authority is not waiting to begin. It is ignored at our peril. True freedom is found only in submission to His rule, where law and mercy meet.
Semper Reformanda
Objection: “We don’t want kings or theocrats; we just want freedom.”
Response: True freedom comes only under God’s law. Lawless freedom is slavery to sin. God’s law is righteous. To reject His rule is to choose bondage to sin.
Objection: “Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world.”
Response: His kingdom is not from this world in origin, but it is very much in this world in scope. He has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). His rule spreads across the earth like leaven through a lump of dough.
Objection: “We need secular neutrality.”
Response: Neutrality is a myth. Every law and every ruler serves a god. Psalm 2 commands the kings of the earth to “serve the LORD with fear” and “kiss the Son.” Justice that ignores Christ is rebellion and must be rejected.
Truth That Withstands
The world does not need fewer kings. It needs righteous rulers who bow to Christ.
The rebellion against authority is a rebellion against God.
Every kingdom will fall except those ruled by the Son.
Christ reigns now. Obey Him, love His law, and uphold His order.
Shortlink: reformlet.com/nokings