1689 BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH. ARTICLE 24 CIVIL MAGISTRATES ROM 13:1-7.
IN ROMANS 13 PAUL TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE ROLE OF CIVIL MAGISTRATES AND THE ROLE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIVING OUT THEIR LIVES BEFORE THEM.
1. GOVERNING AUTHORITIES ARE GOD GIVEN V1-2
A) ESTABLISHED BY GOD V2
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 NATION AND CIVIL MAGISTRATES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY GOD, WE HAVE A CHRISTIAN HERITAGE RIGHT THROUGH GOVERMENT LAWS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED WHICH ARE DEEPLY ROOTED IN GODLY PRINCIPLES – GOD WAS ONCE AT THE CENTRE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT. THE MONARCHY AT THE CORONATION VOWS TO SERVE GOD AND COUNTRY – AND BE A DEFENDER OF THE FAITH - THE HOUSE OF LORDS STILL CONSISTS (SPIRITUAL LORDS CONSISTING OF 26 BISHOPS BRINGING A SPIRITUAL AND MORAL INPUT) – CHRISTIAN MPS ARE STILL STANDING FOR JUSTICE AND TRUTH.
SADLY TODAY WE SEE A GRADUAL EROSION OF OUR CHRISTIANS FOUNDATIONS – WHAT GOD HAS ESTABLISHED. BUT THANKS BE TO GOD THEIR ARE CHRISTIANS WITHIN GOVERNMENT & OUTSIDE WHO ARE SPEAKING UP - STEMMING THE TIDE LONE VOICES –IN PLACES OF INFLUENCE.
RECENTLY LADY O’CATHIAN WHO TIRELESSLY WORKED IN PREVENTING THE EQUALITY BILL GOING THROUGH IN ITS PRESENT FORM WHICH WOULD HAVE PUT CHRISTIANS AND CHURCHES UNDER MAJOR RESTRICTIONS GOING AGAINST THEIR CONSCIENCE AND FAITH . SUCH INDIVIDUALS ARE OUR PRESENT DAY DANIELS , SHADRACH MESHACH AND ABEDNEGO STANDING FOR TRUTH – BEFORE HOSTILE GOVERNMENTS LIKE THAT OF THE BABYLONIANS.
• PRV: 14:34: RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION BUT SIN IS A REPROACH.
BE ASSURED ALL KINGDOMS & GOVERNMENTS ARE ESTABLISHED BY GOD (THE GOOD & THE BAD THEY COME AND GO CONSIDER THE BABYLONIANS/ASSYRIAN/PERSIAN MEDES/ GREEK/ ROMAN AND SO ON – THEY WERE ESTABLISHED BY GOD AND THEY WERE REMOVED BY GOD - AND THE SAME CAN BE TRUE FOR US. ONLY ONE KINGDOM WILL STAND FOREVER (THE KINGDOM OF GOD).
B) GODS SERVANTS V 4
PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR ARE OFTEN KNOWN AS CIVIL SERVANTS AS THEY WORK FOR THE GOOD OF SOCIETY AT LARGE - THEY REPRESENT EVERY DAY PEOPLE, THAT IS A GIVEN FACT AS TAX PAYERS WE PAY THEIR SALARIES. YET A CIVIL SERVANT IS FAR MORE THAN SIMPLY A CIVIL SERVANT HE IS GOD’S SERVANT (V4).
GODS SERVANTS THIS WORD ( GREEK - LEITOURGOS) IS USED IN OLD TESTAMENT FOR THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE TEMPLE (EZRA 7:7, 24) WHEN PAUL SPEAKS OF THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS IN THIS MANNER HE IS BESTOWING GREAT HONOUR UPON THEM AS MINISTERS OF GOD.
• SO WHEN ALISTAIR CAMPBELL 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, “DO, DO GOD” WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT THEY ARE GOD’S SERVANTS.
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. SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT GOVERNING AUTHORITIES ARE ESTABLISHED BY GOD AND 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.
2. GOVERNING AUTHORITIES ARE FOR OUR GOOD V3 - 4.
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 THE TEMPLE GROUNDS AT JERUSALEM.
WE NEED PROTECTION FROM OURSELVES AND OTHERS BECAUSE HUMAN BEINGS HAVE A PROPENSITY TO DO WRONG TO BREAK THE LAWS , WHETHER THAT IS TO STEAL, KILL, FIGHT, LIE, DEFRAUD, 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 DECREES PUNISHMENT AND THE OTHER ISSUES PROTECTION. BUT ALL OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROTECTING ARM OF THE LAW UPON OUR LIVES AT SOME POINT – I AM SURE. IF A GOVERNMENT FAILED IN ADMINISTERING PROTECTION OUR NATION WOULD FALL INTO ANARCHY, SO GOVERNMENTS PROTECT AND IT’S 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.
• (GEN 9:6) 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.
• SITUATION RECENTLY WITH RAY GOSLING (TV PRESENTER) OPENLY CONFESSING TO A SO CALLED MERCY KILLING OF HIS YOUNG LOVER WITH AIDS – BUT IN LAW THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MERCY KILLING ITS ACTUALLY CALLED MURDER, SO THE LAW SHOULD BE APPLIED.
SOME PEOPLE MAY QUOTE JESUS IN REFERENCE (MATT 5:38) TO TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK, DO NOT RESIST THE EVIL ONE: JESUS IS SAYING THAT RETALIATION SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED WE SHOULD BE DIFFERENT. WHAT JESUS IS REFERRING TO HERE AS CHRISTIANS WE SHOULD NEVER TAKE THE LAW INTO OUR OWN HANDS - WITH PERSONAL RETALIATION - BUT ALLOW THE CIVIL MAGISTRATES TO ENACT APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT (DEUT 19:20 -21). (1PET2:14).
GOVERMENTS AND WAR PROTECTION AND PUNISHMENT (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 SOCIETY AND THE USURPING OF EVIL IS AT STAKE IN OUR WORLD (CONSTANTLY THERE HAS BEEN WAR).
IT WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE TO SAY A GOVERNMENT CAN ONLY ADMINISTER JUSTICE IN ITS OWN BORDERS AND 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. PRESENT DAY IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN OUR ARMED FORCES ARE THERE FOR OUR PROTECTION AND ADMINISTER PUNISHMENT UPON EVIL AND TO NULLIFY EVIL. THE RISE AGAINST ISLAMIC TERRORISM ON OUR OWN SHORES AND BEYOND
SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE PACIFISTS – JESUS TEACHING NEVER DENOUNCED THE ROMAN FORCES MARK 12; 17 RENDER ONTO CREASER 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.
ALSO IN JHN 3:14 SOLIDERS WERE COMING TO JOHN THE BAPTIST ASKING HIM WHAT THEY SHOULD DO IN KEEPING WITH THE SPIRIT OF REPENTANCE HE EXPLAINED THEY ARE NOT TO QUIT THEIR PROFESSION BUT TO CARRY IT OUT WITH PROPER CONDUCT .
ALSO THE APOSTLES OFTEN USED THE TERM OF A SOLIDER TO SPEAK OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND THE QUALITIES NEEDED, OF PUTTING THE FULL OF ARMOUR OF GOD ON (EPH 6:11), TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH I HAVE FOUGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH (1TIM 6:12, 2TIM 4:7) 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 LIVES IN PEACE AND SECURITY NOT ONLY IN OUR COUNTRY BUT BEYOND IN OUR WORLD TOO.
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. (HOPE FOR THE HEROES)
3. . 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.
1. APPLICATION - OUR RESPONSE 5-7.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A BELIEVER TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN AND A BAD CITIZEN AT THE SAME TIME; IT IS A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS. AS CHILDREN OF GOD WE HAVE A HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY TO CIVIL GOVERNMENTS.
THREEFOLD APPLICATION:
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 RATHER THAN A CONFORMING ONE. 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. WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE & SUPPORT CHRISTIANS IN 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
