Stanford historian Niall Ferguson hit the nail on the head recently when he suggested that “The Trump presidency seems to re-enact Jekyll and Hyde on a weekly basis”. (I guess you are familiar with Robert Louis Stevenson’s infamous character who struggled with his two personalities: the one friendly and pleasant, the other hideous and evil).

As Ferguson says, one minute you find yourself reacting strongly against Mr Trump” (as Mr Speaker John Bercow did when talking about his proposed state visit) and then you discover he has done something you actually appreciate and approve of (such as nominating the eminently qualified Neil Gorsuch to be a Supreme Court Judge)

If we are honest we have to admit that there seems to be something of the Jeckyll and Hyde in everyone of us, although British historian Tom Holland might well suggest that the first Roman emperors – from Augustus to Nero – can be best understood through the lens of Mr Hyde. As William Dalrymple says in his commendation of Holland’s masterly book “Dynasty”: it is a story of “psychopathic cruelty, incest, paedophilia, matricide, fratricide, assassination and depravity” Need I say more?

I couldn’t help thinking of Holland’s book when reflecting on the way we are called to react to those who govern us, both those we like and those we dislike, and especially those with whom we disagree. And so I went back to the New Testament to see what it says in the light of the fact that it was written when the first Caesars were exercising their not-inconsiderable and often brutal power.

I turned to the letter commonly known as ‘Romans’ and reminded myself that the apostle Paul was only too well aware that emperors like Nero were quite willing to kill their own mothers, and even their pregnant wives. And yet I read that Paul told friends to “submit” to the ruling authorities because they owed their position to God. They are “God’s servant” he added, suggesting in another letter that God wants us to say “Thank you” for them.

Now this can be a pretty tough call at times, but we do well to remember that whatever their faults and failings God expects us treat those who govern us with respect even when we disagree with them.

But we need to be very careful when we say this of course because the New Testament writers were not suggesting that all the Caligulas, Neros, Hitlers and Mao Tse Tungs were personally chosen by God, or that He is responsible for the way they behave.

No, they want us to view them in the way Jesus did when he stood in front of Pontius Pilate and said “You would have no authority over me if it were not given to you from above”. Pilate misused his authority that day and had Jesus executed. He will have to give an account for that one day, just as Donald Trump will for the things he has said and done.

And it does not mean we shouldn’t criticise our rulers. There are times when we have to call our rulers to account just as the Old Testament Nathan prophet did when he confronted King David about his self-centred abuse of power.

And above all we need to recognise that no ruler and no human authority should expect our unconditional obedience. If we are given a choice we have to be willing to obey God not the law, even if that means we have to pay the price of disobedience.

The earliest Christians had to make that choice. There are many parts of the world today where it is no different. Who knows, even we may have to face the same challenge one day.

Rob James is a Baptist Pastor broadcaster and writer who currently operates as a church and media consultant for the Evangelical Alliance Wales. He is available for preaching and teaching throughout Wales and can be contacted at [email protected]