SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITIES
ROMANS 13:1-8
HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT THERE IS AN ADVERSE REACTION TO PEOPLE WITH AUTHORITY. IT WOULD SEEM THAT ORDERS ALWAYS COME FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM, WHILE REACTION TO THE ORDERS FROM BOTTOM TO TOP.
THIS BEGINS AT A VERY EARLY AGE AND CAN CONTINUE ALL THROUGH OUR LIVES. IT CAN BE SEEN IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
I REMEMBER HOW INDEPENDENT MY LITTLE NIECE WAS AS A CHILD. WHEN SHE WAS TRYING TO DO ANYTHING SHE WOULD SAY, “I CAN DO IT ALL MY BYSELF”. IN SHORT SHE WAS SAYING I DON’T WANT ANY HELP. SHE NOW HAS A GIRL OF HER OWN WHO IS JUST THE SAME WAY.
JUST AS THE DESIRE TO ATTAIN INDEPENDENCE FOSTERS THIS NEGATIVITY TOWARDS AUTHORITY FIGURES WHEN YOUNG, THE DESIRE TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE CAN FOSTER ANIMOSITY TO THOSE IN AUTHORITY WHEN WE ARE OLDER. THINGS WE COULD DO WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO NOW WITHOUT ASSISTANCE, AND IT FOSTERS THE IDEA OF LOSING SELF-WORTH. MANY TIMES I HAVE HEARD IN VISITS TO NURSING HOMES RESIDENTS WHO FEEL “I’M SUCH A BURDEN TO PEOPLE NOW.”
NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TO THOSE IN AUTHORITY START WITH THE SIMPLEST OF COMMANDS. “CLEAN UP YOUR ROOM”, “YOU DON’T LEAVE THIS TABLE UNTIL YOUR VEGETABLES ARE GONE. YES THAT INCLUDES YOUR TURNIP.” “GET YOUR HOMEWORK DONE.”
THERE IS NEGATIVITY TOWARDS TEACHERS, THOSE IN OTHER PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONS, LINEUPS AT CHECKOUTS, DOWN TO ENTERTAINMENT. WHEREVER WE LOOK, THERE IS AN ANIMOUSITY TO THOSE IN AUTHORITY OVER US.
IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT WE WANT TO BE THE PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY. WE WANT TO BE THE ONES GIVING THE ORDERS, MAKING DECISIONS. WE WANT TO BE THE ONES PEOPLE LOOK UP TO AND WE ARE SO SURE THAT WE CAN DO A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN THE ONE WHO WAS THERE BEFORE US SO THAT THE ANIMOSITY ISN’T THERE WITH THOSE WHO WORK FOR US, AS IT WAS IN THE PAST. ON OCCASION THIS MAY BE THE CASE, BUT NOT AS A RULE.
EVEN THE DISCIPLES WANTED TO BE IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY. JAMES AND JOHN MADE THE REQUEST TO BE JESUS’ AUTHORITY FIGURES WHEN HE SETUP HIS KINGDOM. MATTHEW RECORDS THAT THEY SENT THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE FIGURE IN THE WORLD, THEN AND NOW, TO MAKE THE REQUEST OF HIM. THAT’S RIGHT THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE PERSON IN THE WORLD. THEY SENT THEIR MOTHER. I TELL YOU WHEN MY MOTHER TOLD ME TO JUMP, I WOULD ASK HOW HIGH ON THE WAY UP?
MATTHEW 20:20-22: 20 THEN THE MOTHER OF ZEBEDEE’S SONS CAME TO JESUS WITH HER SONS AND, KNEELING DOWN, ASKED A FAVOR OF HIM. 21 “WHAT IS IT YOU WANT?” HE ASKED. SHE SAID, “GRANT THAT ONE OF THESE TWO SONS OF MINE MAY SIT AT YOUR RIGHT AND THE OTHER AT YOUR LEFT IN YOUR KINGDOM.
JESUS WAS REALLY UNDER PRESSURE. JESUS DEALS WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS, PHARISEES, AND SADUCEES ALL THE TIME, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SAYING NO TO A MOTHER, WHAT IS THE SAYING, HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE THAT OF A MOTHER DENIED.”
JESUS ALSO IN HIS ANSWER GAVE THE COST OF AUTHORITY WHEN HE SAID:
MATTHEW 20: 24-28:
WHEN THE TEN HEARD ABOUT THIS, THEY WERE INDIGNANT WITH THE TWO BROTHERS. 25 JESUS CALLED THEM TOGETHER AND SAID, “YOU KNOW THAT THE RULERS OF THE GENTILES LORD IT OVER THEM, AND THEIR HIGH OFFICIALS EXERCISE AUTHORITY OVER THEM. 26 NOT SO WITH YOU. INSTEAD, WHOEVER WANTS TO BECOME GREAT AMONG YOU MUST BE YOUR SERVANT, 27 AND WHOEVER WANTS TO BE FIRST MUST BE YOUR SLAVE—28 JUST AS THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY.”
JESUS ANSWER HERE IS THE KEY COMPONENT IN SUBMITTING TO THE AUTHORITY OF OTHERS. JESUS DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE AND IF WE ARE TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST, AS PAUL TEACHES IN ROMANS 8, THEN WE HAVE TO PRACTICE THIS AS WELL, AS MUCH AS BIBLICALLY POSSIBLE. THE BIBLE WILL DETERMINE WHAT WE ARE TO SUBMIT TO.
IT IS EASY TO GET SIDETRACKED WHEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE. WE ARE TEMPTED TO APPLY PAUL’S TEACHING TO VARIOUS SPECIFIC SITUATIONS, AND EACH OF THESE HAS ELEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE DEALT WITH AND THEY CAN LEAD US FURTHER FROM PAUL’S REAL PURPOSE. PAUL’S PURPOSE WAS ONE THEACHING THAT WE CAN APPLY TO ANY SITUATION.
LETS LOOK AT THE PASSAGE NOW.
ROMANS 13:1-2:
LET EVERYONE BE SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES, FOR THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT THAT WHICH GOD HAS ESTABLISHED. THE AUTHORITIES THAT EXIST HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY GOD. 2 CONSEQUENTLY, WHOEVER REBELS AGAINST THE AUTHORITY IS REBELLING AGAINST WHAT GOD HAS INSTITUTED, AND THOSE WHO DO SO WILL BRING JUDGMENT ON THEMSELVES.
PAUL WANTS US TO REALIZE THAT, IF WE ARE TRULY LOOKING FOR GOD’S WILL IN SITUATIONS OF AUTHORITY, THEN THE OUTCOME WILL BE THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD. IF AS CHRISTIANS WE TRULY LOOK TO GOD FOR LEADING IN CHOOSING AN AUTHORITY FIGURE, IF WE HAVE PRAYED AND STUDIED THE SITUATION FROM A BIBLICAL STANDPOINT, THEN WE SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM SUBMITTING TO THAT AUTHORITY, AS THEY ARE PLACED THERE BY THE WILL OF GOD.
NOW IN VERSE 2 HE POINTS TO SOMETHING THAT YOU AND I DO NOT CARE ABOUT SO MUCH. WHAT IF THE PERSON OR GROUP IN AUTHORITY WAS NOT OF YOUR CHOOSING, OR DID SOMETHING THAT WAS AGAINST WHAT YOU BELIEVED. SURELY YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO SUMBIT IN SUCH A SITUATION AS THAT.
THE ANSWER TO THIS THOUGH IS YES YOU SHOULD. IF WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE SOUGHT GOD’S LEADING IN THE CHOOSING OF AN AUTHORITY, THAN TO REBEL AGAINST THAT AUTHORITY IS TO REBEL AGAINST GOD’S SOVEREIGN PLAN. YOU ARE IN EFFECT SAYING THAT GOD MADE A MISTAKE. MOST CASES OF REBELLION AGAINST LEADERS DO NOT END WELL. IT IS AN EFFECTIVE WEAPON SATAN USES TO DESTROY THE GOOD WORK OF MANY PEOPLE IN SOCIETY AND CHURCHES.
LOOK AT WHAT THE PASSAGE SAYS NEXT:
ROMANS 13:3-4:
FOR 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 YOU WILL BE COMMENDED. 4 FOR THE ONE IN AUTHORITY IS GOD’S SERVANT FOR YOUR GOOD. BUT IF YOU DO WRONG, BE AFRAID, FOR RULERS DO NOT BEAR THE SWORD FOR NO REASON. THEY ARE GOD’S SERVANTS, AGENTS OF WRATH TO BRING PUNISHMENT ON THE WRONGDOER.
WHEN WE ARE LIVING SEEKING THE WILL OF GOD, WE NEED NOT FEAR THOSE WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY. DO I FEAR THE POLICE, ONLY WHEN I AM DOING SOMETHING WRONG, AND IT’S MY FAULT BECAUSE I KNOW I’VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG. IF I PULL UP TO A CHECKPOINT AND I HAVE EVERYTHING IN ORDER, THEN THE POLICEMEN WILL USUALLY THANK ME FOR MY PATIENCE AND ALLOW ME TO MOVE ON.
THE POLICE HAVE THE CHECKPOINT SETUP FOR OUR OWN GOOD. THEY ENFORCE THE LAWS FOR OUR OWN GOOD. IF WE ARE OBEYING THE LAWS THEN WE NEED NOT FEAR FOR THEY ARE DOING JUST WHAT WE ASK THEM TO DO, ENFORCE THE LAW. THE ONLY TIME WE NEED TO FEAR THEN, IS WHEN WE ARE DISOBEYING THE LAW.
CONSIDER THE CONCLUSION OF THIS PASSAGE:
ROMANS 13:5-8:
THEREFORE, IT IS NECESSARY TO SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITIES, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE PUNISHMENT BUT ALSO AS A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE. 6 THIS IS ALSO WHY YOU PAY TAXES, FOR THE AUTHORITIES ARE GOD’S SERVANTS, WHO GIVE THEIR FULL TIME TO GOVERNING. 7 GIVE TO EVERYONE WHAT YOU OWE THEM: IF YOU OWE TAXES, PAY TAXES; IF REVENUE, THEN REVENUE; IF RESPECT, THEN RESPECT; IF HONOR, THEN HONOR
IT IS THEREFORE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SUBMIT TO PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY OVER US, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALLOWED BY GOD TO BE IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY AT THIS TIME IN OUR LIVES. WE MAY DEBATE THE ISSUES, BUT ONCE A DECISION IS MADE BY THOSE IN AUTHORITY, THEN, AS LONG AS IT DOEN NOT CONFLICT WITH THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE WE MUST SUBMIT TO IT. IT WORKS IN SOCIETY, AND IN THE CHURCH.
WHAT DID JESUS TEACH ABOUT SUBMISSION?
MARK 12:13-17:
LATER THEY SENT SOME OF THE PHARISEES AND HERODIANS TO JESUS TO CATCH HIM IN HIS WORDS. 14 THEY CAME TO HIM AND SAID, “TEACHER, WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE A MAN OF INTEGRITY. YOU AREN’T SWAYED BY OTHERS, BECAUSE YOU PAY NO ATTENTION TO WHO THEY ARE; BUT YOU TEACH THE WAY OF GOD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TRUTH. IS IT RIGHT TO PAY THE IMPERIAL TAX TO CAESAR OR NOT? 15 SHOULD WE PAY OR SHOULDN’T WE?” BUT JESUS KNEW THEIR HYPOCRISY. “WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO TRAP ME?” HE ASKED. “BRING ME A DENARIUS AND LET ME LOOK AT IT.” 16 THEY BROUGHT THE COIN, AND HE ASKED THEM, “WHOSE IMAGE IS THIS? AND WHOSE INSCRIPTION?” “CAESAR’S,” THEY REPLIED. 17 THEN JESUS SAID TO THEM, “GIVE BACK TO CAESAR WHAT IS CAESAR’S AND TO GOD WHAT IS GOD’S.” AND THEY WERE AMAZED AT HIM.
THE PHARISEES WERE HOPING THAT JESUS WOULD GET CAUGHT IN THE TRAP THAT SO MANY OF US DO. THEY WERE HOPING THAT JESUS WOULD LEAD OTHERS TO REBEL AGAINST TAXES OWED TO CAESAR. IF HE DID THIS HIS MINISTRY WOULD HAVE BEEN FINISHED. TO REBEL WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACT OF PRIDE. JESUS WOULD HAVE BEEN SAYING “FOLLOW ME, I KNOW BETTER.”
JESUS TOLD HIS PEOPLE TO SUBMIT TO THE EMPEROR ON THINGS OF THIS WORLD, BUT TO GIVE GOD THE HONOR AND GLORY DUE TO HIM.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO AGREE WITH SOMEONE TO SHOW RESPECT FOR THAT PERSON. I REMEMBER PIERRE TRUDEAU BRINGING A YOUNG JUSTIN TO PARLIAMENT ONE DAY. THEY WERE IN THE CAFETERIA AND JUSTIN STARTED TO LAUGH AT A GENTLEMAN SITTING BY HIMSELF HAVING LUNCH. HE LOOKED AT HIS FATHER AND SAID “LOOK AT PINNOCHIO. HE’S FUNNY”
PIERRE DID NOT SEE THE HUMOR IN HIS BOYS STATEMENT. HE SAID THE PERSON DESERVED GREAT RESPECT FOR WANTING TO SERVE IN PUBLIC OFFICE. HE TOOK JUSTIN OVER AND INTRODUCED HIM TO THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION JOE CLARK.
TAXES WHEN TAXES ARE OWED, RESPECT WHEN RESPECT IS OWED, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY WHO GOD HAS ALLOWED TO BE THERE, AND IN SEEKING THE WILL OF GOD, YOU HAVE ALLOWED TO BE THERE AS WELL. THEREFORE AS SCRIPTURE SAYS:
PSALM 105:15: DO NOT TOUCH MY ANOINTED ONES; DO MY PROPHETS NO HARM.”
IF WE APPLY THIS TEACHING TO ALL SITUATIONS WE FACE IN LIFE AND IN THE CHURCH, WE WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH SUBMITTING TO THE WILL OF AUTHORITIES.
