What should my Biblical response be to heavy bureaucracy?
Bureaucracy - Oppressive and inflexible adminstration.
1. Ask the Lord for the grace to comply with stated regulations and procedures. Paul writes, "Do you want to be free from fear ofthe one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment tot he wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. (Rom.14:3-5)
2. Fulfill the essential responsibilities required by those who are over you. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Rom. 14:6,7)
3. Remember that the human authorities have selfish and limited perspectives. Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name of Jesus," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!" (Acts 5:29) Do what you can to live in harmony with the bureaucrats. Paul writes, "As far as it is possible, be at peace with all men." (Rom. 12: 18)
4. Seek mediators that can intercede on your behalf to the authorities.
5. Ask the Lord for wisdom in deciding on what is essential and what is non-essential to do in the bureaucratic system. Paul writes, "Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. (I Cor. 10:23,24)
6. Learn your rights and stand up for them. Be honest, but only provide information on a need to know basis. Moses wrote, "In all your transactions you must use accurate scales and honest measurements, so that you will have a long, good life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. All who cheat with unjust weights and measurements are detestable to the Lord your God." (Deut. 25: 13 - 15)
7. Ask the Lord to put Godly leaders in places of authority. Samuel wrote, "When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth. (2 Sam. 23:3,4) Seek to elect people who will do justice, act kindly and walk humbly with God. Job wrote, "If I have denied justice to my men servants and women servants (employees) when they had a grievance against me, what will I do when God confronts me? What will I answer when called to account?" (Job 31: 13)
8. Remind people in authority of their responsibilities to facilitate good services. Solomon wrote, "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act." (Prov. 3 :27)
9. Remind people in authority to not use their office for selfish advantage. Solomon wrote, "People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell. (Prov. 11:26)
10. The Lord demands fairness in every business deal. He established this principle. (Prov. 16: 11)
11. Ask the Lord for the ability to work with proactive builders rather than maintenance oriented leaders. Solomon wrote, "Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts. (Prov. 24:3,4)
12. Develop your business first before building your house. (Prov. 24:27) Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or any passer-by. (Prov. 26:10)
13. Ask the Lord for help to be able to work with people of good understanding, knowledge and wisdom. Solomon wrote, "A man of understanding and knowledge maintains order. A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life. (Prov. 28:2,16)
14. Remind bureaucrats of the warnings God gives to leaders who stifle progress. Isaiah wrote, "You stop oppressing those who work for you and treat them fairly and give them what they earn. (Isa. 58:6) 14. Remind your boss that everyone is entitled to earn rewards for their labors. Jesus said, "The worker is worth his wages." (Matt. 10: 14) Paul said, "Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation." (Rom. 4:4)
15. Remind your authorities that they too will some day have to give an account to their own Boss. Paul writes, "Masters (employers), provide your slaves (employees) with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven." (Col. 4: 1)
