Romans 13:1-7
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For 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 on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
We talked last week about living together in peace and that it is our responsibility as Christians to do whatever we can to accomplish this, as long as it is within our control. We also talked about that there will be times when evil pushes us to a point were it is no longer within our control to be peaceful and at that point we must take a stand to defeat this evil.
Not doing whatever we can to defeat the evil, is allowing evil to overcome good. That is something that as Christians we can not allow.
Paul here in these verses is telling us that our sovereign God has put governing authorities in our lives and that we must obey them.
Now I would say that this doesn’t mean that we can’t change the people who are in authority or the laws that are on our books if needed, just that we must abide by it while it is in effect.
Now keep in mind also this, at this time in Roman history Christians had been put under tremendous persecution at times. Knowing this Paul still tells them that they must adhere to the authority because there is no one in authority that God has not put there.
These authorities we are talking about are legitimate authorities and include our government, law enforcement, school teachers, bosses etc.
So the question is, is it ever ok not to submit to these authorities? Yes. If the authorities are requiring us to do things that are not biblical?
There will be times when this may happen. This is when it is important for us as we are studying the bible to take it in its entirety and not just pull out a few verses and say, whatever the authorities tell us, we must do.
It is easy to misinterpret the Bible if we do not look at the Bible in its entirety. We need to understand that the Bible does not contradict itself. If we think it does that only means that we have not put enough time in to reading, studying and praying on it.
It is important to understand that there are many things such as in the Old Testament that do not even pertain to us today. There are also many things that do. So it can get confusing at times knowing what does and what doesn’t.
We know that whatever we read in the New Testament, when put in to the proper context with the rest of the New Testament, is for sure for us today. We are safe there. I would even say that the New Testament itself would be sufficient for us today if that was all that we had.
Now in 2 Timothy 3:16 we read “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” and this is a fact, but if we are to use the Old Testament properly then we must know what is historical and may not apply to us today and what is still applicable and expected to be used today. I think what you will find is anything that you find in the Old Testament that does still apply, you will find in some form or another in the New Testament as well.
Back to the Question - What do we do if the authorities are requiring us to do things that are not biblical?
Example
Acts 4:18-19 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.
When authorities put themselves in the place of God or above God by legislating moral or spiritual positions which are contrary to the revealed positions of God, resistance is warranted.
How do we resist?
By doing what we have to in order to get the law changed
Refuse to comply
We are obligated as Christians, that if we know of laws or rules that are being imposed on us by our government, boss or teacher, and they are telling us to do something that is against what God has said, then we must stand up against it or we are in sin ourselves.
For the most part
Know this is not the case for the most part and we are told in verse 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
If we do not follow the laws and the authority that God has put in to place we are sinning against God and we must repent from that. We must correct ourselves and conform.
We should keep this in the proper perspective; God is always above all things including any earthly authority, we are always to side with the revealed word of God (The Bible) over human law or instruction.
Two critical areas that we must always go with God:
Evangelism
We cannot comply with any authority when it says that we can not spread the gospel message about Jesus Christ (Schools, jobs, and street corners). (If done in a proper manner)
Christians have a God given duty to evangelize
Mark 16:15 - Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation
Matthew 28:19 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In some instances disciples had been arrested and when released went right back out and started evangelizing again.
At times not only were they arrested, but they were beaten and even killed for their faith in preaching about Christ.
Christians must not submit to immorality
If any authority gives a command to be immoral or condones acts of immorality as Christians we must not submit to it but create change.
Abortions
Pornography
Being told to lie at your job
Schools instructing children that they can not have prayer groups or evangelize
God has given the power of authority over us and He has also given the power of punishment to that same authority
4But 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 on the wrongdoer.
This authority will make you comply and it will punish you for your misdeeds. The sword is powerful, it can incarcerate you, and it can put you to death if you commit such evil that it warrants it.
Some Christians do not feel that God wants us to put such evil people to death, but the purpose for a sword is to either make you surrender to authority or if necessary the sword will relieve you from any further ability to rebel against that authority.
Leviticus 24:17 “If anyone takes the life of a human being, he must be put to death.”
The death sentence is something that is clearly in the Bible. There are times when evil is so great that it must be extinguished.
But we need to be careful in its application. The sword must not be used in a casual manner.
5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
This conscience that Paul is talking about here is the Holy Spirit convicting you of your rebellion, your sin. Submit to authorities not only because you may be punished but because you are sinning against God also.
6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
I have to tell you, I don’t like to pay taxes. We have income tax, sales tax, property tax, fuel tax, we are taxed over and over again and I am not happy about it. But I do pay every one of them.
Now I do take full advantage of the law to pay as little taxes as I can. I vote people of authority in office in hopes of lowering my taxes more.
Change is OK! We have to abide by these authorities while they are in place but that doesn’t mean we can’t change them.
