To Respond or Not to Respond

Federal employees are in a bit of a bind as a result of mixed messages from their chain of command. Over the weekend, employees of agencies across the federal government were instructed by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to report by email what they had accomplished last week, or else be terminated. However, employees in many agencies were then instructed by their agency chain of command to refrain from responding (FBI Director Kash Patel and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard directly instructed employees of their respective agencies to await further direction). Musk responded that while employees would be given another chance, failure to respond to a second request would indeed result in termination.

Analysis and eternal perspective: The clash between DOGE and newly confirmed cabinet officials comes against the backdrop of widespread layoffs across the Federal Government. While most of the layoffs to this point have been intentional reductions in programs and personnel, the current tactic is producing uncertainty for employees across all levels at every agency. 

You may or may not be a federal employee, but as a Jesus follower, you are quite likely to face situations that present a somewhat similar challenge in your life. While scripture clearly instructs us to honor (and even pray for) the authorities over us (1 Tim. 2:1-2), it is just as clear that our ultimate allegiance must be only to the one true God (Deut. 6:13).

You live in a world where these two authority structures are bound to come into conflict from time to time. You are to make every effort to honor earthly authority when those moments come, and to be at peace with all men (Rom. 12:18). But if the conflict in commands from the authority structures remain, so too must your prioritization of God’s ultimate authority.

It is perhaps less straightforward for federal employees this week. We as The Equipped community should pray for wisdom for those employees who seek to honor the authorities placed over them. We should pray also that those who are exercising that authority would do so wisely and in a fashion that guides rather than frustrates those within their charge (Pr. 11:14).

The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.