Government and Attitude
(Romans 13:1-7)
1. Modern governments have an awful lot of responsibility.
2. One person writes: “For several years, my dad worked as an inspector for the state transportation department, traveling the state to make sure roads were properly maintained.
On one of his trips, my dad got into a minor accident on a city street and was charged with running a stop sign. His boss was, naturally, extremely upset with my dad, until my dad presented his dashcam footage; the stop sign my dad had run was completely blocked by a bush.
Our state has a law that all road signs must be clearly visible from a certain distance, and this stop sign was in violation of that law. My dad’s boss sent another employee to the city for an inspection. That employee found several other instances where road signs were obstructed from view, and my dad’s boss had a field day issuing the citations to the city.
When my dad went back to the city for his court appearance, he told the judge what he did for a living and what role he had played in the entire thing. The judge waived all charges and invited my dad to spend some time in town and “make sure the city engineering office had cleared everything up to his satisfaction.”
3. It is easy to be negative about authority and government.
4. John Piper, said this: “One of the crucial issues before the Church in America today is: Shall we be American with a pinch of religious flavoring? Or: Shall we be Christ’s people with a pinch of American flavoring?”
3. Sometimes we confuse the cross and the flag. Although many times the two are in harmony, sometimes such may not be the case.
4. We are citizens of Two Kingdoms, and our heavenly kingdom is the most important of the two. Biblical Christianity is about convictions and character; politics compromise.
5. But that does not mean we isolate ourselves from our society, nor does that mean we should be anti-government. Nor does it mean Christians should not be involved in politics. But church should be bound together by our common faith.
6. I am not going to address the hot issues of our day, like mask mandates, vaccines, or whether Facebook has the right to suspend accounts for what they consider inappropriate postings. This is about principles you must apply & arrive at your own conclusions.
Main Idea: God calls His children to be especially respectful of governing authorities.
I. God ESTABLISHED the Concept of Government (1-2).
A. God established government in Genesis 9:6, as part of the Covenant of NOAH.
1. Marriage, church, and government are the three institutions God founded…
2. When those three are healthy, a nation is at its best.
3. Not all governments are set up the same: king, legislature, authority limits, etc.
B. God sets up and weakens kingdoms, but He doesn’t necessarily APPROVE of them.
Daniel 2:21, He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding… Daniel 4:32b, “…the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."
John 19:8-11 Pilate … said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
C. Christians should not be characterized by a REBELLIOUS attitude (2).
1. In our country, we have no king; governing authority is vested in the legislature and executive offices, with the courts coming into play; there is on one individual over all; but the president and governors have some unique executive authority.
2. “Buy-in” cooperation is going along with what seems reasonable. Submission is only tested when you do not agree with an authority.
3. Government and corruption generally go together; it is a matter of degree.
Eccl. 5:8, If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.
4. We need government, like it or not. Not man’s idea, but God’s. We should try to be positive toward government and encourage it to live up to its God’s given mandates.
5. Paul wrote this under Roman rule. Roman tax money even helped pay for the crucifixion of Jesus, yet Paul urged believers to pay their taxes to Rome.
II. Government’s Job is To PUNISH Evil Doers and REWARD Those Who Do Good (3-5).
A. The fear of justice and authority reduces WRONG- doing (3a).
B. Recognizing community service ENCOURAGES kind and helpful acts (3b)
C. Government functions on God’s BEHALF as an avenger and agent of wrath (4)
1. Note: the issue here is not so much reforming criminals as justice.
2. Two motivations fear of punishment and the desire for a clear conscience.
3. We disobey government if we are forced to do something that violates what God demands of us or if forced to be a party to wrong-doing, not just things with which we disagree.
Acts 5:29, “Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!”
Exodus 1:17, “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.”
Daniel 3: 13-18 document Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down to an idol and were then thrown into the fiery furnace…” Same thing with Daniel (6 )& prayer.
John Stott offers this comment: “In each case it purpose was to demonstrate their submissiveness to God, not their defiance of government.”
III. Christians Are to SUPPORT the Government and Try to COOPERATE (6-7).
A. This includes PAYING TAXES.
B. This means HONORING those in authority.
1. American ethics say, “Honor authority from your party and villainize others.”
2. We respect the office, not necessarily the occupants of the office.
3. Example of Congressman visiting our Coffee House.
Jude 1:9-10a, But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand…
C. It also means CONTRIBUTING toward governance.
1. Voting and jury duty.
2. Keeping up with local and world news (read, not watch, please).
3. Cooperating with law enforcement…
D. Paul elsewhere encourages us to PRAY for our government LEADERS.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (I Timothy 2:1-3)
We need government, like it or not. It is not man’s idea, but God’s. We should try to be positive toward government and encourage it to live up to its God’s given mandates.
CONCLUSION
1. Remember, we call government officials “Public Servants.”
2. Some of them are a disgrace and sad sacks.
3. But many are wanting to do a good job and are out to serve, but may have a different agenda from ours.
4. Jeremiah 29:7, “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
