The Tension
CCCAG January 18th, 2026
Scriptures: Romans 13:1–4 | Isaiah 1:17 | Leviticus 19:33-34
________________________________________
INTRODUCTION — Protests in Minneapolis
I was originally going to resume our series in the book of 1 Corinthians, but I felt God move me in a different direction.
I’m reminded of quote from theologian Karl Barth.
He said, “The most effective preacher has a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other”
What has been dominating the headlines this last week is the protests that are breaking out in major cities, including the one closest to us- Minneapolis.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement personnel, otherwise known as ICE, has been conducting operations to remove people who are not legally within our country.
This has come with a lot of upheaval. Tragically, it has led the death of a protestor earlier in the week, and another person shot.
What’s becoming very obvious is that much of this upheaval is being fueled by political and media forces on both sides of the political aisle.
Here is the clue to that-
Each side calls you to make a Binary choice. You are either for us or against us, And if you're against us, that makes you automatically evil.
Unfortunately, This is where most of the social media and news media conversation is focused today.
People screaming at each other, throwing verbal grenades over the walls we have built to separate us from the other side, and not listening to each other at all.
However, this morning, I'm not going to comment on who is right and who is wrong.
The reason for that is I want to let the bible speak. My opinion and nickel won’t get you a cup of coffee in heaven,
but reading, obeying, and following the Word of God opens all of heavens blessings.
So we are going to go there this morning.
We are going to look at two different concepts being pushed today.
Because the Bible speaks two clear, powerful commands…
Two commands that, on the surface, feel like they’re pulling us in opposite directions. (Refer to graphic)
On one hand:
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.”
Romans 13:1
Respect for God Given Authority
But, On the other hand the bible also says:
“Seek justice.
Correct oppression.
Defend the fatherless.
Plead the cause of the widow.”
Isaiah 1:17
So the bible gives us two different ideals-
Respect authority.
Confront injustice.
If you read those honestly, if you hold both of those ideals up as equally true, you’re going to feel a tension there.
This tension between these two forces are meant to hold the structure of society in place, but if we focus too much on one and not the other, we have what we see in our nation today.
The premise that I want to make one thing clear this morning-
The Christian faith is not lived on the extremes.
The Christian faith is lived on a narrow road that runs right between two often opposite ideas.
Today, I want to help us walk that road. Lets ask for God’s help in this as HE open our hearts to hear his Word.
Prayer________________________________________
I mentioned a moment ago that there is tension within the bible’s truths regarding how we should look at this situation.
I suspect most of us lean toward the first tension- respect for lawful authority.
Our main scripture for that is found in Romans 13.
POINT 1 — RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY IS RESPECT FOR GOD HIMSELF (Romans 13:1–4) NIV
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. 3 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.
So the first premise- Respect for authority.
This idea is formed in the first chapters of the bible through God’s instructions to Adam- that humanity lives under God’s authority.
What that means- your actions will have consequences, and Paul refines that here in his letter to the church at Rome.
The bible doesn’t leave any grey area here- Romans 13 is strong, clear, unavoidable.
“There is no authority except from God,
and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
Romans 13:1
Before you think, “some ancient guy writing to some ancient church has no bearing on how we live today- their problems were completely different from ours.
Keep in mind, Paul wrote that under the Roman Empire.
Not exactly a constitutional republic. For much of it’s existence, it was an oppressive dictatorship run by evil, craven men whose only goal was more power over more people.
It was violent
It was corrupt
It was particularly evil at the time he wrote this. Nero was emperor, and he used Christians impaled and covered in pitch to light his gardens at night.
With that in mind, Paul says
“If you resist the authority, you resist what God appointed.”
Let that sit for a moment (pause)
That’s a heavy statement.
But here’s what Paul is grounding it in:
Authority structures are one of God’s gifts to a fallen world.
Without authority:
• There is no order
• There is no justice system
• There is no protection for the innocent
• There is nothing to restrain evil
So what that means is- “Law enforcement,” Paul says, “is a minister of God for your good.”
By the way- The word “minister” in Roman’s 13 is diakonos — same root as “deacon” seen in 1 Timothy 3.
What it show us is that government, officers, and justice systems are meant to serve society under God’s design.
I can already hear the objections from some-
Respecting authority does NOT mean believing authority is perfect, particularly when it comes to blind loyalty to a particular political party.
It also does not mean that every law, every leader, every judge, every officer always acts in righteousness.
This system God has set up, is a human system, and will fail sometimes, but regardless of that, The Holy Spirit still put Roman’s 13 in the bible for us to follow.
We need to recognize that human government was instituted by God HIMself.
In other words:
Respect for authority is ultimately respecting God’s chosen order that HE has placed in the world.
Now—let me make this practical.
Because many in this congregation or those listening to the podcast serve or have served in:
• Military
• Law enforcement
• EMS
• Fire service
• Government roles
You understand what Paul means by “bearing the sword.”
You’ve lived it.
You know what it means to stand on a thin line where your decisions affect lives, families, safety, and society.
This is why if you call yourself a Christian, you honor authority.
Not because authority is flawless.
But because God uses authority to restrain chaos in a fallen, chaotic world.
And He commands His people to honor that.
Amen?
Amen.
________________________________________
POINT 2 — BUT THE BIBLE ALSO COMMANDS THE CHURCH TO PURSUE JUSTICE AND RIGHTOUSNESS (Isaiah 1:17)
Now… we visit the other side of this bridge.
Because the same Bible that commands obedience to authority also commands correction of authority when it becomes unjust.
Listen again to Isaiah 1:17
17 Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice.
Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.
Jesus spoke out against injustice.
Let’s see what the bible has to say about the immediate problem: immigration and illegal immigration.
Before I read it, I’ll just say this was a civil law for Israel, not necessarily binding to us today, but while the exact law may not be binding, the principle shows us God’s heart, and that is important for us to see-
Leviticus 19:33-34
“When an alien resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You will regard the alien who resides with you as the native-born among you. You are to love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.
Ok, so if we only look at these verses, it seems we have a counterdiction when it comes to ICE doing their job when immigrants are involved, and so in some people’s minds, justify violence against law enforcement, no matter what title they carry.
It seems like a huge counterdiction.
For some, this portion of scripture will be offensive to you, like a slap across the face to those who want a reason to dislike those who are here illegally.
Let me break this down some more-
What God is commanding his people here is to remember-
God loves all people
Jesus sacrificed HIMself so that whoever would believe would experience eternal life in HIM.
In this case, “Whoever” includes-
7th generation Americans
Those among us who might have a road or coulee named after your family
3rd generation Americans. Both sides of my family came from Norway and Germany in the early 1900s. In fact, I learned my Norwegian Ancestors came from the truly Viking Raider clans.
So don’t get me mad if I’m holding an axe….. (Joke)
Both sides came through Ellis Island, the Norwegians went north into Hayward, and the Germans to Chicago.
All of that is covered in the whoever would believe….
Also covered- 1st generation potential future Americans.
Justice demands that the same door that was opened for our ancestors needs to be opened for them as well.
I know the arguments-
They need to follow the law. Yes. If we are going to be consistent, yes, if you are hear illegally, you are a law breaker, and there are consequences for breaking the law.
That’s the first truth about this-
The second is even darker
Because if we do nothing- if we allow illegal immigrants to stay in the country, in the shadows, we then have a permanent slave community in our country- A people who can’t fall for help, who can’t appeal to the courts, who are forced to live on falsehood and false social security numbers, false ID who can’t speak out about being abused by employers for fear of being deported.
And that is the opposite of justice.
There is also the human trafficking angle to this- 40 million slaves in the world today, and half of them are sex slaves.
That means out of the 10-20 million illegal immigrants here right now…..obviously they are not all slaves, but ICE, FBI, and other government agencies have shown that many that come here, particularly with cartel help, end up as some type of forced laborer…and for the women….How many of them could potentially be used by the cartels as forced sex slaves to pay off their debt to them for smuggling them into the country?
Is that just to let that system continue?
But here is the truth-
Mercy that ignores injustice is not mercy—it becomes participation in oppression
That is why throughout Scripture, God’s people are called to:
• Confront unjust kings
• Speak truth to power
• Protect the vulnerable
• Refuse to participate in evil
• Stand up when the voiceless cannot
Nathan confronted David.
Elijah confronted Ahab.
John the Baptist confronted Herod.
Amos confronted whole systems of oppression.
Even Jesus Himself confronted religious and civil authorities when they distorted God’s justice.
Neither Isaiah’s command, nor Leviticus 19 contradict Romans 13.
They are two guardrails on the same path.
Let me put it this way:
Authority exists to uphold justice.
Christians exist to insist on it.
But here is the rub-
If authority becomes abusive,
if systems become corrupt,
if laws crush the poor,
if practices harm the powerless,
God expects His people to speak up.
(Emphasis!)
Not in fury.
Not in rioting.
Not in chaos.
But with truth, courage, and compassion rooted in Scripture.
So here we stand with two commands:
Honor authority.
Confront injustice.
How do we hold both?
________________________________________
**POINT 3 — THE APPARENT CONTRADICTION:
IS THE BIBLE ASKING THE IMPOSSIBLE?**
If you give this even the smallest thought- you feel tension…
that’s because there is tension.
But it’s not the tension of contradiction.
It’s the tension of maturity.
Romans 13 says:
Submit to authority.
Isaiah 1 says:
Challenge injustice.
Is that impossible?
Not if you understand the kingdom of God.
The world wants force us into a binary choice-
• Blind obedience
• Or total resistance
But God’s kingdom offers a third way.
A narrow road.
Let me give you the sentence that ties the whole sermon together:
Authority without justice becomes oppression.
Justice without authority becomes anarchy.
God calls His people to walk faithfully between both extremes.
Read that again.
That is the Christian ethical framework in a single breath.
If Christians abandon respect for authority,
society descends into chaos.
If Christians abandon pursuit of justice,
society descends into tyranny.
We are called to neither.
We are called to something holier, harder, and far more beautiful.
________________________________________
POINT 4 — JESUS IS THE PERFECT MODEL OF HOLDING BOTH TOGETHER
Let’s look at Jesus, because He navigated this tension flawlessly.
Jesus submitted to authority…
• He paid taxes to Rome
• He obeyed civil requirements
• He respected the office of the high priest
• He submitted to arrest rather than fight
• He told Peter to put away the sword
…yet Jesus also confronted unjust authority boldly.
• He overturned tables in the Temple
• He publicly rebuked the Pharisees for exploiting the poor
• He defended the oppressed
• He condemned hypocrisy in leadership
He lived the perfect balance:
Honor rightful authority.
Challenge unrighteous authority.
When authority aligned with God’s order, He submitted.
When authority violated God’s justice, He confronted.
That is our model.
Jesus didn’t choose sides.
Jesus chose obedience.
________________________________________
POINT 5 — WHAT THIS MEANS IN OUR CURRENT CLIMATE
Let's speak directly into today’s context — immigration raids, protests, political arguments, social unrest, accusations of corruption, accusations of abuse, accusations of lawlessness.
So the question is not:
“Which side should Christians take?”
Instead we should ask-
“How do we reflect Christ in a world that wants us to just pick a side?”
? Christians honor authority by:
• Praying for officers, agents, and leaders
• Speaking respectfully about authority
• Upholding the rule of law
• Rejecting mob behavior
• Supporting the structures that maintain order
? Christians pursue justice by:
• Caring for immigrants and refugees
• Defending the vulnerable
• Calling out mistreatment or abuse
• Advocating for humane, righteous policies
• Refusing to dehumanize those caught in the system
What Christians must absolutely do is refuse the extremes:
• NOT blind obedience
• NOT violent resistance
We walk the road Jesus walked:
Submission where Scripture commands it.
Resistance where Scripture requires it.
This is not easy.
It takes discernment.
It takes prayer.
It takes courage.
But it’s the only way Christians reveal the kingdom in a divided culture.
________________________________________
POINT 6 — THE CHURCH AS PEACEMAKERS, NOT PROVOCATEURS
One of the most powerful instructions God ever gave His people came while they were living in Babylon under pagan rule.
“Seek the peace of the city…
for in its peace you will have peace.”
Jeremiah 29:7
We are not called to amplify the nation’s tensions.
We are called to stabilize them.
We are not called to imitate the anger of the culture.
We are called to transform it.
We are not called to take up the world’s weapons.
We are called to bear the peace of Christ.
Christians should be the calmest people in a stormy nation.
Not because the world is stable — but because Christ is sovereign.
________________________________________
POINT 7 — Application
Whenever you face a political issue, a social conflict, or a moral tension, ask yourself three questions:
1. Does supporting this honor God’s gift of authority?
If it rejects authority, mocks authority, or destabilizes society…
it’s not Christlike.
2. Does supporting this reflect God’s heart for justice?
If it harms the powerless, hardens the heart, or excuses abuse…
it’s not Christlike.
3. Does supporting this reflect how Jesus showed us to live?
Does it’s reflect HIS-
His tone.
His compassion.
His courage.
His refusal to dehumanize anyone.
Because here is the truth of the matter-
If your political position makes you hate people…
you are no longer following Jesus.
You’re following a tribe.
________________________________________
CONCLUSION — THE CALL OF THE NARROW ROAD
Church…
The world will always ask you to pick a side.
BUT
God asks you to pick a cross.
The world wants you to choose between:
• Obedience and activism
• Law and compassion
• Order and justice
But the kingdom says:
“Walk in truth.
Walk in love.
Walk in righteousness.
Walk in humility.”
The extremes are easy. It so easy to scream an emotionally driven profanity at people.
But that’s not the way of the cross.
The world needs Christians who can:
• submit without fear
• confront without hatred
• obey without idolatry
• protest without violence
• love without condition
Because that narrow path is where Jesus walks.
And if we walk with Him—
our nation, our community, and our own hearts will find peace.
Let’s recognize how Jesus did that with closing with communion
Altar Call
