A Good and Holy Decision

Respecting God's Call and Public Office

The resignation of Pope Benedict XIII has caught many by surprise.  Given that it has not happened since the late 14th century, we can claim to have witnessed something quite unusual, to say the least.  Our firm view is that it should be the norm. 

We respect Benedict's decision.  To our mind, it was a principled act: he acknowledges that his office was more important than his person.  When his body and mind made it impossible for him to perform his responsibilities and duties appropriately, he resigned. 

This is the way it should always be when it comes to public office, whether in church or state or judiciary or civic life.
  The office, being a public duty, is more important than any one individual holding it at the time.  For the Christian, all offices, callings and duties come from God.  All are mediated through man and church and society but an official position is first of all a calling from God Himself.  Duties of the office must be performed unto God.  Christians believe they will be held account by the King and Lord of the earth, Jesus Christ Himself, for the faithfulness or otherwise of their service. 

Man are called to be fathers by God.  Women are called to be mothers by God.  When God grants a couple children they are called to be parents. The children are called to be children (a calling, incidentally, which lasts as long as our parents live).  All these are official callings from the King.  They are not mediated by man.  They are direct, holy callings from God Himself. 

Public offices, however, have a call from God that is mediated through society.  The reason for this is that public offices involve rule and administration over others and the Scriptures make very clear that those being ruled over must give their consent (by vote, or acclamation, or some other expression of public support) which confirms the call and appointment of God. 

One of the clearest examples of this in Scripture is the appointment of Israel's kings.  David was clearly called by God, via direct divine revelation when Samuel anointed him at God's command.  But David only entered his office and began to rule when all Israel gathered together to enter into a covenant with him, whereby he became their king.  (II Chronicles 11: 1-3)  The same holds true in the Church.  The first post-Ascension congregation in Jerusalem selected a replacement for the apostate Judas to be an apostle through a process which involved the choice of the congregation (Acts 1: 15-26). 

When the first elders (possibly deacons) were appointed in the Church at Jerusalem, the congregation selected the candidates before the apostles laid hands upon them and inducted them into their public duties and office.  (Acts 6: 3-6)  On Paul's first missionary journey, the text says that he and Barnabas appointed elders in every church with prayer and fasting, but the Greek word means at root "to choose by raising hands" (Acts 14: 23).

Because the call is from God but mediated via men, when the duties and responsibilities to men represented in that call are unable to be performed through sickness, debilitation, or some other reason, resignation respects both God and man, and the holiness of the office. 

We believe what Benedict has done is right--but not unusual, nor untypical.  It is the ordinary way God's Kingdom upon earth is to function.