As one ‘rules-based order’ passes, another abides

Events since the beginning of 2026 have suggested the collapse of the “rules-based world order” that has held sway since the end of the Second World War.

US president Donald Trump ordered the seizure of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, threatened Columbia and Iran, and reasserted his determination to take control of Greenland. He has claimed American hegemony in Western Hemisphere, and seems prepared to allow other nations, including China and Russia, to have control over their own geographical spheres of influence. It feels as if the world is returning to the era of competing empires, with great powers forcing their will on smaller vassal nations. Britain feels especially vulnerable to this change because we are no longer the world power we were in 1945.

This new realpolitik assumes the ultimacy of sheer power. Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, said in an interview about Greenland “we live … the real world … that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power. These are the iron laws of the world.” President Trump told The New York Times “I don’t need international law” and that the only constraint on his power is “my own morality”.

'Might makes right'

What are we to make of the new world order in which “might makes right”? In many ways Trump and Miller are stating the obvious. The “rules-based world order” was an attempt to constrain the ability of powerful nations to do as they wished through multinational bodies like the UN. In reality this was never effective. International law is only meaningful if it can be enforced, but even the US was unable to prevent USSR invading Hungary, Czechoslovakia or Afghanistan. The veto enjoyed by the permanent members of the Security Council prevents collective action. President Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu are both indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, yet it is highly unlikely they will ever be arrested and tried. The world has been fortunate that the power enjoyed by the USA for the past 80 years has largely been exercised with moral restraint, but there is understandable fear if the only protection against the coercion of the less powerful is the personal morality of the president.

This changing situation raises questions for Christians about the nature of our world. Is there a “rules-based” order or is power all that matters? Is a sovereign God a moral monster able to do as He wishes, or is conflict and injustice a sign that God either does not exist, or that He lacks the power necessary to do what is right? Is He worthy of our trust and hope?

The Bible assures us that we live in a moral cosmos. Despite appearances, we do not live in a world in which ultimately “might makes right”. The great truth that the Bible declares is rather that “right has might”.

Sovereign power

The creator God of the Bible has absolute sovereign power. No other power can prevent Him from enforcing His will. He is not a dangerous tyrant, because He is perfectly holy, righteous and loving. He is the only person we can truly trust because He can only exercise His power in accordance with His character. His law, which He has revealed as the basis for a rule-based order among His creatures, is a concrete reflection of His character, not something external to Him that is needed to restrain His actions.

It may seem from a human perspective that His divine law is widely ignored and not enforced. However, the Bible assures us that God will hold everyone accountable, and establish His rules-based order for ever in the New Creation. At present He allows sin to play out in the world, deferring most judgement until the end of the age.

This is not a failure on His part, but a central feature of His redemptive plan and a result of His grace. As Jesus taught, He allows the weeds to grow up alongside the wheat until the harvest, so that none is lost and all is gathered into His eternal kingdom (Matt.13v24-30,36-43). As Peter taught, the reason why Jesus has not yet returned to judge is because God does not want any of His elect people to perish (2 Peter 3v9). The kingdom will only come when the full number, a great multitude that cannot be numbered from all nations, have been saved.

As the secular “rules-based order” seems to be ending, we can take great heart that the true “rules-based order” of God’s divine government is utterly secure. We should have a sure and certain hope that He will do perfect justice, and thankful hearts that He has shown us grace in Christ so that we will not face His justice for our sins. We should not be anxious, but rather pray with faith like the persistent widow, crying out to God to grant justice and for the coming of the Lord Jesus (Luke 18v1-8).