Be Subject To Governing Authorities?

God established human government for the good of all, to maintain order and justice; and when we resist the law, we are ultimately resisting the God who made the institution and its structured offices. Paul tells us that we are to be “subject” to the governing authorities; but according to commentator Dale Moody, in The Broadman Bible Commentary, written in 1970, being “subject” is not a servile attitude. He says that the term “subjection” is often used by Paul in his letters in regard to mutual respect and submission to brothers (1 Corinthians 16:16). So, when we apply this understanding, it means that we must show respect to a government and its authorities; but that government must, in turn, show respect to its subjects. Moody says that Christians who are loyal subjects of the state are those who find a place in the organic whole that is consistent with their commitment to Christ.(5)

Kenneth Wuest says that our duty to the government, as Christians, is to obey in all matters lawful. “But . . . if the civil power commands us to violate the law of God,” he says, “we must obey God before man. If it commands us to disobey the common laws of humanity, or the sacred institutions of our country, our obedience is due to the higher and more general law, rather than the lower and particular.”(6) In the book of Acts, we see an example of obeying the higher law over the lower, or the law of God over the law of a particular man. When Peter and the apostles were brought before the high priest and commanded not to preach Christ, the Scripture says, “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

So, according to Wuest, our duty to the government, as Christians, is to obey in all matters lawful. He continues to add, “To obtain, by lawful means, the removal or alteration of an unjust or unreasonable law, is another part of this duty: for all powers among men must be in accord with the highest power . . . But even where law is hard and unreasonable, not disobedience, but reasonable protest, is the duty of the Christian.”(7) So, when a law, or numerous laws, conflict with the law of God, we can and should “appeal in court” and “protest.”

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution says the same. It states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

In verse 2, we read, “Whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” This verse is not talking about spiritual judgment. It’s not like we are going to be sentenced to hell for breaking the law of man. The word “judgement” is the Greek word krima, which is a judicial type of judgement, or a judicial sentence from the magistrate. However, even though it is an earthly type of judgement, it is still seen as God being at work; as He is working through the hand of the civil power.(8)