ROMANS 13: 1-7. GOVERNING AUTHORITIES
PAUL HAS SHOWN US PREVIOUSLY HOW TO RESPOND TO THE MERCY OF GOD TO OFFER OURSELVES AS LIVING SACRIFICES INN THE CHURCH AND TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER SEEKING TO FAN INTO FLAME THOSE GIFTS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AND TO DEVELOP MORAL TRAITS WHICH ARE CHRIST LIKE TO ONE AND ALL .
IN CHAPTER 13 GOD’S DEMANDS UPON US GO FURTHER; PAUL TURNS HIS ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE CHURCH AND OUR INNER TRAITS TO THE ROLE OF GOVERNING AUTHORITIES AND LIVING OUT OUR LIVES BEFORE THEM.
1. GOVERNING AUTHORITIES ARE GOD GIVEN V1-2
• ESTABLISHED BY GOD V2
• DURING THE OFFICE OF TONY BLAIR, ALISTAIR CAMPBELL HIS PRESS SECRETARY WAS ONCE ASKED ABOUT CHRISTIAN FAITH AND POLITICS AND HIS FAMOUS REPLY WAS, “WE DON’T DO GOD.” WHAT HE SAID WAS IN IGNORANCE BECAUSE GOD’S WORD TELLS US THAT THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES ARE IN THAT POSITION ONLY BECAUSE OF GOD.
ALL GOVERNING AUTHORITIES ARE ESTABLISHED BY GOD FOR THOSE GOVERNMENTS WHO OVER STEP THE MARK IN NOT FULFILLING THEIR PUBLIC OFFICE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE GOD. NATIONS FALL WHEN THEY FORGET THEIR GOD GIVEN OFFICE.
OUR SOCIETY WAS BUILT UPON A CHRISTIAN HERITAGE RIGHT THROUGH THE MONARCHY TO THE HOUSE OF LORDS. OUR MONARCHY AT THE CORONATION VOWS TO SERVE GOD AND COUNTRY - THE HOUSE OF LORDS STILL CONSISTS (SPIRITUAL LORDS CONSISTING OF 26 BISHOPS BRINGING A SPIRITUAL AND MORAL INPUT) – CHRISTIAN MPS ARE NUMEROUS IN PARLIAMENT STILL TODAY. YET WE ARE SEEING AN OUT AND OUT ATTACK AND GRADUAL EROSION OF OUR CHRISTIAN HERITAGE. ALL THIS HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY GOD....... WE SHARE WITH THE USA. BUT ALL GOVERNMENTS ARE ESTABLISHED
• AND THEY ARE GODS SERVANTS V 4
GODS SERVANTS THIS WORD (LEITOURGOS) IS USED IN OLD TESTAMENT FOR THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE TEMPLE (EZRA 7:24) WHEN PAUL SPEAKS OF THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS IN THIS MANNER HE IS BESTOWING GREAT HONOUR UPON THEM AS MINISTERS OF GOD.
SO ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS ARE ACTUALLY ACCOUNTABLE YES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO GOD, WHETHER THEY BELIEVE IT OR NOT. THE SERVICE THEY DISCHARGE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THEM BY GOD AND THUS ARE GODS SERVANTS. (THINK ABOUT IT)
SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT GOVERNING AUTHORITIES ARE ESTABLISHED BY GOD ARE GODS SERVANTS WE ARE NOW GOING TO LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUNCTION OF HUMAN GOVERNMENT WHICH IS INSTITUTED BY GOD, MAY BE SAID TO BE THREEFOLD.
1. GOVERNING AUTHORITIES ARE FOR OUR GOOD V3 - 4.
SO WHAT DO THEY DO?
A) GOVERNMENT ADMINISTER PROTECTION : V3-4
THE MOMENT ADAM SINNED IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT CIVILIZATIONS WOULD NEED SOME FORM OF RESTRAINT AND RULE TO PROTECT CITIZENS FROM THEMSELVES. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS FUNCTION IS SEEN IN ACTS 21:27-37 ROMAN SOLDIERS STEP IN AND SAVE PAUL FROM BEING MURDERED BY HIS OWN ENRAGED COUNTRYMEN IN JERUSALEM.
WE NEED PROTECTION FROM OURSELVES BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROPENSITY TO DO WRONG TO BREAK THE LAWS THAT BE, WHETHER THAT IS TO STEAL, KILL, FIGHT, LIE, DEFRAUD, BULLY, SPEEDING .... YOU NAME IT, WE DO IT! .OUR PRISONS ARE FULL TO OVERCROWDING. WE NEED PROTECTING FROM OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER.
ON 14 FEBRUARY 1989, A FATWA REQUIRING SALMAN RUSHDIE’S EXECUTION WAS PROCLAIMED ON RADIO TEHRAN RUSHDIE AN INDIAN-BRITISH NOVELIST AND ESSAYIST HIS FOURTH NOVEL, THE SATANIC VERSES (1988), WAS AT THE CENTER OF PROTESTS FROM MUSLIMS IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES. SOME OF THE PROTESTS WERE VIOLENT AND RUSHDIE FACED DEATH THREATS AND A FATWÂ (RELIGIOUS EDICT) ISSUED BY AYATOLLAH RUHOLLAH KHOMEINI IN 1989, THEN SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN. ON 7 MARCH 1989, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IRAN BROKE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS OVER THE RUSHDIE CONTROVERSY. A BOUNTY WAS OFFERED FOR RUSHDIE’S DEATH, AND HE WAS THUS FORCED TO LIVE UNDER POLICE PROTECTION FOR YEARS AFTERWARD.
THAT IS A HIGH PROFILE INCIDENT WHERE ONE GOVERNMENT OVERSTEPS THE MARK AND ANOTHER PROTECTS. BUT ALL OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROTECTING ARM OF THE LAW UPON OUR LIVES AT SOME POINT – I AM SURE , THE GOVERNMENT PROTECTS – IF A GOVERNMENT WASN’T THERE OUR NATION WOULD FALL INTO ANARCHY SO GOVERNMENTS PROTECT AND THAT IS FOR OUR GOOD.
B) GOVERNMENTS ADMINISTER PUNISHMENT V3-4
BOTH PAUL AND PETER BRING THIS OUT. PAUL WRITES THAT DULY APPOINTED HUMAN OFFICIALS ARE TO BE REGARDED AS GOD’S SERVANTS TO “BEAR THE SWORD,” THAT IS, TO IMPOSE PUNISHMENT UPON CRIMINALS (VV. 3, 4). PETER TELLS US THAT GOVERNORS ARE “SENT BY HIM FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF EVILDOERS” (1 PET 2:13, 14).
GOVERNMENTS HAVE THE GOD GIVEN MANDATE TO ADMINISTER JUSTICE UPON EVIL AND ALL WRONG DOING. PAUL IS ASSERTING BY THE TERM BEAR THE SWORD THAT GOVERNMENTS MAY ADMINISTER JUST SENTENCES ON CONVICTED CRIMINALS EVEN THE DEATH PENALTY GODS COVENANT WITH NOAH IS STILL IN FORCE TODAY:
GEN 9:6 AND FROM EACH MAN, TOO, I WILL DEMAND AN ACCOUNTING FOR THE LIFE OF HIS FELLOW MAN. 6 "WHOEVER SHEDS THE BLOOD OF MAN, BY MAN SHALL HIS BLOOD BE SHED; FOR IN THE IMAGE OF GOD HAS GOD MADE MAN.
SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THE DEATH PENALTY BE USED AS A DETERRENT TOWARDS OTHERS, BUT TO SAY THAT IN THE LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE IS NOT THE FULL STORY. THE SCRIPTURES DO NOT VIEW THE DEATH PENALTY AS A DETERRENT BUT AS A JUST PUNISHMENT DEMANDED BY THE SUPREME SANCTITY OF LIFE.
THE SCRIPTURES CLEARLY TEACH AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DELIBERATELY MURDERS A FELLOW HUMAN BEING MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, HAS OVER STEPPED THE BOUNDARIES. HUMAN LIFE IS SACRED AND SO IT IS RIGHT AND THE DUTY OF GOVERNMENTS TO ADMINISTER JUSTICE.
(A JUST WAR) GOVERNMENTS ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO TO WAR, NOT FOR ITS OWN GAIN BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE A CONTRADICTION TO GODS MANDATE. BUT IT GOES TO WAR WHEN JUSTICE IS AT STAKE –WHEN EVIL ARISES AND THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETYAMD THE WORLD IS AT STAKE.
IT WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE TO SAY A GOVERNMENT CAN ONLY ADMINISTER JUSTICE IN ITS OWN BORDERS BUT NOT DEFEND ITS OWN BORDERS. OR THAT IT CAN BRING JUSTICE UPON EVIL IN ITS OWN BORDERS BUT NOT IN THE WORLD AT LARGE.
FOR INSTANCE CONSIDER THE NAZI REGIME THAT ATTACKED THESE ISLES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD COUNTRIES WERE RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AND FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AND JUSTICE AND TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS. THE ARMED FORCES ARE THERE FOR OUR PROTECTION AND ADMINISTER PUNISHMENT UPON EVIL.
SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE PACIFISTS – BUT OUR LORDS TEACHING NEVER DENOUNCED THE ROMAN FORCES MARK 12; 17 RENDER ONTO CEASER WHAT IS CAESARS AND UNTO GOD WHAT GODS IS. JESUS NEW THAT THESE TAXES PAID PARTLY WOULD GO TO CAESARS ROMAN ARMED FORCES TO EQUIP AND TO SUPPORT - HE DIDN’T DERIVE IT AS EVIL OR AS A REASON TO NOT PAY BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO WAR. IN FACT THE APOSTLE OFTEN USED THE TERM OF A SOLIDER TO SPEAK OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND THE QUALITIES NEEDED, THEY WOULD HAVE HARDLY DONE THAT IF A MILITARY LIFE WAS SINFUL.
HOW WE NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR SERVICE MEN/WOMEN IN THE ARMED FORCES – SERVING OVERSEAS LAYING DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR GOD- QUEEN – COUNTRY - SO THAT WE CAN LIVE OURS IN PEACE. THEY GET SUCH A BAD PRESS IN THIS COUNTRY FOR THE GREAT JOB THEY DO – IT IS A COMMENDABLE JOB FOR ANY CHRISTIAN TO ENTER INTO. SO GOVERNMENTS CAN ADMINISTER PROTECTION AND PUNISHMENT. THIRDLY
B. GOVERNMENTS ADMINISTER PROMOTION:
THIRDLY HUMAN GOVERNMENT IS TO PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE ITS LAWS ARE IN EFFECT. SO GOVERNMENTS SHOULD ESTABLISH PROGRAMMES FOR THE WELFARE OF ITS COMMUNITY. CONSIDER THE PROMOTION OF OUR WELFARE IN OUR OWN LAND WITH ALL THE PUBLIC SECTORS FROM PUBLIC HEALTH TO EDUCATION, ,POLICE WITH LAW AND ORDER, THE MAGISTRATES AND COURTS ADMINISTERING JUSTICE, THE FIRE AND AMBULANCE SERVICES, OUR COUNCIL OFFICERS, HOUSING, THE ARMED FORCES WE COULD GO ON AND ITS ALL THEIR TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ALL BENEFITED FROM THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES.
SO WE CAN SAY QUITE CONFIDENTLY GOVERNING AUTHORITIES ARE FOR OUR GOOD ORDAINED BY GOD TO ADMINISTER PROTECTION TO ADMINISTER PUNISHMENT AND TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF ITS COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
2. APPLICATION - OUR RESPONSE 5-7.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A BELIEVER TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN AND A BAD CITIZEN AT THE SAME TIME. AS CHILDREN OF GOD OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HUMAN GOVERNMENT IS THREEFOLD:
A. WE ARE CALLED TO SUBMIT TO THEM V1 V5 SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITIES, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE PUNISHMENT BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF CONSCIENCE.
IN SUBMITTING WE ARE PUTTING OURSELVES UNDER THEIR AUTHORITY WE ARE TO RECOGNIZE AND ACCEPT THAT THE POWERS THAT BE ARE ORDAINED BY GOD. “EVERYONE MUST SUBMIT HIMSELF TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES, FOR THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT THAT WHICH GOD HAS ESTABLISHED. THE AUTHORITIES THAT EXIST ARE APPOINTED BY GOD.” (ROM 13:1)
ALSO (1 PET 2:13 TITUS 3:1.) SUBMIT YOURSELF TO EVERY AUTHORITY INSTITUTED AMONG MEN WHETHER TO THE KING , AS THE SUPREME AUTHORITY OR TO GOVERNORS WHO ARE SENT BY HIM TO PUNISH THOSE WHO DO WRONG AND COMMEND THOSE WHO DO RIGHT.
BOTH PAUL AND PETER ARE FOLLOWING THE TEACHING OF JESUS HIMSELF WHO SAID IN REGARD TO PAYING PUBLIC TAXES: MARK 12; 17 RENDER ONTO CAESAR WHAT IS CAESARS AND UNTO GOD WHAT IS GODS. THE APOSTLES ARE PROMOTING A RIGHTEOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIETY BY OBEYING THE AUTHORITIES AROUND US.
B. WE ARE TO BE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS V6-7. WHO PAY TAXES AND DO THAT WHICH IS RIGHT (MATT. 17:24-7; 22:21, ROM. 13:7).
• NICKY GUMBEL TELLS US OF A MAN WE ARE NOT TO BE LIKE WHO SENT A CHECK TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR BACK TAXES WITH A NOTE ATTACHED THAT SAID: “I FELT SO GUILTY FOR CHEATING ON MY TAXES I HAD TO SEND YOU THIS CHECK. IF I DON’T FEEL ANY BETTER, I’LL SEND YOU THE REST.”
IS THERE EVER AN EXCEPTION TO THE RULE?
YES SOMETIMES CAESAR (GOVERNMENTS-STATES) OVERSTEPS THE MARK AND THEN WE CAN NO LONGER SUBMIT TO AUTHORITIES THAT USURP THEIR POWER AND CLEARLY GO AGAINST GODS ORDAINED MANDATE. WE HAVE NT EXAMPLES WHO BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN: ACTS 5:29 “WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN” - EARLIER THEY HAD BEEN TOLD TO STOP PREACHING IN JESUS NAME ACTS 4:17 -19 READ.
YET THEY CONTINUED THEY SUBMITTED TO GOD RATHER THAN THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES. AND OT MANDATE IN DAN 3: 14 -16. WE WILL NOT SERVE YOUR GODS.
IT WILL NEVER BE EASY......REMEMBER BOTH PAUL AND PETER WHO MINISTERED IN THE EARLY 1ST CENTURY UNDER CAESAR NERO (AD 54 -68) , WHO WAS LESS THAN FAVOURABLE TOWARDS CHRISTIANS - OFTEN USED AS STREET LIGHTING AND FODDER IN THE GLADIATOR ARENAS AND IN AD 64 HE USED THE CHRISTIANS AS SCAPEGOATS FOR THE GREAT FIRE THAT DESTROYED ROME.
THE 21ST CENTURY, OUR NATION WE FACE DIFFERENT CONSTRAINTS AND CHALLENGES TO SUBMIT TO GOVERNING AUTHORITIES: YET BY SUBMITTING AND LIVING UPRIGHT LIVES IN SOCIETY WE WILL BE A TRANSFORMING INFLUENCE EVEN WHEN LIKE THE APOSTLES OF OLD WE MAY HAVE TO SAY, “WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN.”
B. WE NEED TO REMIND SECULAR GOVERNMENTS
WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT THEY ARE ‘SERVANTS OF GOD’ WE ARE TO BE A VOICE REMINDING THEM OF THEIR HIGH OFFICE, WHO HOLD THEIR AUTHORITY ‘UNDER GOD’ THAT IS BY HIS PERMISSION. THIS CARRIES WITH ITS HUGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HARD WORK, HONESTY, JUSTICE AND EVEN HANDEDNESS IN ALL AFFAIRS OF GOVERNMENT. GOVERNMENTS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS WE NEED TO REMIND THEM.
C. CHRISTIANS WITH A CALLING TO PUBLIC OFFICE
WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE MORE CHRISTIANS INTO PUBLIC OFFICE WHERE THEY CAN BE A GODLY INFLUENCE. CHRISTIANS WITH A CALLING TO PUBLIC OFFICE IN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES SHOULD CONSIDER PUBLIC OFFICES AS A SERVICE TO GOD FOR THE GOOD OF GOVERNMENT AND HIS WORLD PRIOR TO HIS RETURN.
D. WE ARE TOO CALLED TO PRAY FOR HUMAN GOVERNMENTS.
1TIM2:1-2 I URGE, THEN, FIRST OF ALL, THAT REQUESTS, PRAYERS, INTERCESSION AND THANKSGIVING BE MADE FOR EVERYONE— FOR KINGS AND ALL THOSE IN AUTHORITY, THAT WE MAY LIVE PEACEFUL AND QUIET LIVES IN ALL GODLINESS AND HOLINESS.
LET US CLOSE BY DOING JUST THAT
