Respecting Authority, Honoring Conscience:
A Christian Response to Lawlessness
Romans 13:1-7
Intro: The Confusion We Face
Brothers and sisters, we gather this morning in troubling times. Many of you have seen the news reports from Minnesota, where protesters have disrupted peaceful church services, claiming to stand for justice while breaking the very laws that protect our freedom to worship. Some of these protesters have even invoked the name of Jesus Christ, comparing their actions to our Lord cleansing the temple.
And I know that many believers are confused. They're asking themselves: How should we as Christians respond to such lawlessness? What does the Bible teach us about respecting authority? And are there times when we must stand against unjust laws? These are not easy questions, beloved. They require us to think carefully and biblically.
This morning, I want to bring some clarity from God's Word. We're going to look at Romans chapter thirteen, verses one through seven, and we're going to discover three important truths: First, God's design for government and our duty to respect it. Second, why the protesters' use of Jesus clearing the temple is a dangerous misapplication of Scripture. And third, how we as believers should respond through prayer, peaceful engagement, and faithful conscience.
My prayer is that you will leave here today not with more confusion, but with biblical clarity and practical wisdom for living as faithful Christians in a world that increasingly rejects Christ and God's order. So, let’s open our Bibles together to Romans chapter thirteen, and we’ll take a look at…
1. God's Design for Government
Rom 13:1-4 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. [2] Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. [3] For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; [4] for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
Now, church, these are strong words. Paul is writing to Christians living in Rome. At the time of this writing, Rome didn’t have a Christian government, it was pagan and would soon become the driving force of persecution of the church. Yet Paul says clearly: Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. Why? Because there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
This is a foundational biblical truth that we must understand: God Himself has ordained human government. After the flood, God established the principle of human government in Genesis 9:6 where He gave mankind the authority to execute justice and restrain evil. Government is not a human invention that arose from some social contract. It is a divine institution, ordained by God for the good of humanity.
Now, why did God establish government? Paul tells us in verse three: For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Government exists to restrain evil and promote good. In verse four, Paul calls the governing authority "minister of God to you for good " and says the ruler "does not bear the sword for nothing." This means God has given government the authority to punish wrongdoers, even to the point of capital punishment.
Think about what this means. When a police officer puts on that badge, when a judge takes the bench, when a governor signs a law—they are acting as ministers of God, whether they know it or not. They are God's servants to maintain order, protect the innocent, and punish evildoers. This is why we must respect law enforcement officers. This is why we must honor our judges and elected officials, even when we disagree with their decisions.
Now, I know what some of you are thinking: "But Terry, what about corrupt officials? What about unjust laws? What about leaders who abuse their power?" These are valid questions, and we'll address them in a moment. But first, we must establish this biblical foundation: God has ordained government, and our default posture as Christians must be submission and respect.
Paul was writing to Christians who would soon face persecution from the very government he told them to obey. Yet he still commanded submission. Why? Because the alternative to government is not freedom—it's chaos. It's anarchy. It's every man doing what is right in his own eyes, which the book of Judges clearly demonstrates for us leads to disaster.
So, our first duty as Christians is to recognize that when we respect governing authorities, we are ultimately respecting God who established them. When we obey just laws, we are honoring God's design for human society. And when we pray for our leaders, as Paul commands in First Timothy chapter two, we are acknowledging that God is sovereign over all earthly powers.
And now I want to…
2. Address the "Jesus Cleared the Temple" Argument
Now, if you’ve been on social media at all, I’m sure you’ve read what some of the protesters in Minnesota (and their computer warriors) have claimed. They have said that their disruption of church services is justified because Jesus Himself cleared the temple with a whip, overturning tables and driving out the money changers. They say, "If Jesus could disrupt religious gatherings, so can we." Brothers and sisters, this is a dangerous and false comparison, and you need to understand why.
First, let's remember who Jesus is. Jhn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus Christ is not merely a good teacher or a social revolutionary. He is God incarnate, the second person of the Trinity, the Creator of heaven and earth. When Jesus cleansed the temple, He was acting with divine authority as the Son of God.
In John chapter two, we read: Jhn 2:13-16 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [14] And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. [15] And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; [16] and to those who were selling the doves He said, "Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a place of business."
Notice what Jesus said: "My Father's house." Jesus had the unique authority as the Son of God to cleanse His Father's house. He was not violating any civil law. He was not disrupting the worship of God's people. He was purifying the temple from corruption that had crept into the religious system itself. The money changers and merchants had turned the court of the Gentiles—the place where non-Jews could come to pray—into a marketplace. They were preventing true worship and exploiting the poor.
Now, contrast this with what happened in Minnesota. Did these protesters have divine authority? No. Were they purifying God's house from corruption? No—they were disrupting the worship of God's people who had gathered peacefully to pray and hear God's Word. Were they acting within the bounds of civil law? No—they were trespassing, disturbing the peace, and preventing the free exercise of religion.
Church, here's the danger of misapplying this text: If anyone can claim the authority of Jesus clearing the temple to justify their own violent or disruptive actions, then there is no limit to what can be justified. Every person who believes their cause is righteous could claim the right to break into buildings, overturn property, and disrupt peaceful gatherings. This is not biblical Christianity—this is chaos masquerading as righteousness.
Jesus had divine authority. These protesters do not. Jesus was cleansing His Father's house. These protesters were violating someone else's house of worship. Jesus was fulfilling His divine mission. These protesters were breaking civil law and preventing others from worshiping God.
The Apostle Paul, writing in Romans, says: Rom 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. We do not have the authority to take justice into our own hands. We do not have the right to disrupt, destroy, or harm others in the name of righteousness. That authority belongs to God alone, and He has delegated limited authority to civil government to maintain order and punish wrongdoing.
So, when someone invokes Jesus clearing the temple to justify lawlessness, they are not following Christ—they are taking His name in vain. They are using Scripture to justify actions that Scripture itself condemns.
3. Our Christian Duties
So, now, let’s see what Paul says our Christian duty is when it comes to these things. Rom 13:5-7 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. [6] For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. [7] Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Paul gives us three specific duties as Christians living under civil authority. First, we must submit not only because we fear punishment, but for conscience’s sake. This means our obedience to civil law is ultimately an act of obedience to God. We don't just follow the law because we're afraid of getting caught. We follow the law because our conscience, informed by Scripture, tells us this is what God requires.
Second, we must pay our taxes. Paul says we pay tribute because government officials are God's ministers, attending continually to the work of governance. Now, I know nobody likes paying taxes. But when we pay our taxes honestly, we are supporting the God-ordained function of government to maintain order, build infrastructure, and provide for the common good.
Third, we must give respect and honor to those in authority. Paul says to render to all what is due them: taxes to whom taxes are due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. This means we speak respectfully about our leaders, even when we disagree with them. We honor the office, even when we question the person holding it.
Now, how do we apply this practically? Let me give you three specific ways we fulfill our Christian duties in relation to civil authority.
First, we pray for those in authority. 1Ti 2:1-2 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, [2] for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Prayer is not a passive activity, beloved. When we pray for our leaders, we are engaging in spiritual warfare. We are asking God to give them wisdom, to restrain evil, and to promote justice. We are acknowledging that God is sovereign over all earthly powers.
Second, we engage peacefully in the political process. We live in a constitutional republic where we have the privilege of voting, contacting our representatives, and advocating for just laws. We can write letters, make phone calls, attend town halls, and participate in peaceful protests that respect the rights of others. That’s very important! Respect the rights of others! We can also work within the system to promote biblical values and oppose unjust policies. This is not only our right as citizens—it is our responsibility as Christians who are called to be salt and light in the world.
Third, we maintain respect even when we disagree. Tit 3:1-2 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, [2] to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
We can disagree with policies without demonizing people. We can oppose unjust laws without showing contempt for those in authority. We can advocate for change without resorting to slander, violence, or lawlessness.
Now, everything I’ve said so far has promoted our biblical obligation to be in submission the ruling authorities and obey the law, but do we always have to obey? Is there any instance when disobedience or rebellion to the law is acceptable to God?
4. When Conscience Requires Faithful Disobedience
Are there ever times when Christians must disobey civil authority? The answer is yes—but these times are rare, and they must meet very specific biblical criteria. Let me give you three examples from Scripture.
First, in Exodus we read about the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah: Exo 1:15-17 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other was named Puah; [16] and he said, "When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live." [17] But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live.
These women disobeyed Pharaoh's direct command to murder innocent babies because they feared God more than man. And God blessed them for it. Today, for us, this has a direct application to working against abortion laws and the murder of the innocent.
Second, in Daniel chapter six, we read that King Darius signed a decree that no one could pray to any god or man except the king for thirty days. But Daniel continued to pray to the Lord three times a day, knowing full well he would be thrown into the lions' den. Daniel disobeyed the king's law because it directly commanded him to stop worshiping the one true God. Friends, we have authorities who say we cannot pray in public anywhere near abortion mills. People are actually being put in jail or prison for praying, but that should never stop Christians from following Christ and praying anywhere and anytime the Holy Spirit moves us.
Third, in the book of Acts, the apostles Peter and John were commanded by the religious authorities to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. But Peter responded: Act 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.” They continued to preach the gospel, even though it meant imprisonment and beatings.
Now, what do these examples have in common? Let me give you three criteria for when civil disobedience is biblically justified.
First, the law must directly command us to sin or forbid us from obeying God. The Hebrew midwives were commanded to murder. Daniel was forbidden to pray. The apostles were forbidden to preach the gospel. In each case, obeying the civil law would have required them to disobey a clear command of God. This is very different from disagreeing with a policy or being inconvenienced by a law we don't like.
Second, we must be willing to accept the consequences peacefully. Daniel didn't fight back when they threw him in the lions' den. The apostles didn't resist arrest. They submitted to the punishment, trusting that God was sovereign and would vindicate them. This is very different from the lawlessness we see today, where people break the law and then claim they shouldn't face any consequences.
Third, we must maintain respect for the authorities even while disobeying them. Notice that Daniel didn't speak evil of King Darius. The apostles didn't mock or insult the Sanhedrin. They simply said, "We must obey God rather than men," and then accepted the consequences with grace and dignity.
Church, these criteria are very narrow. They do not justify the kind of lawlessness we've seen in Minnesota. They do not give us permission to disrupt worship services, destroy property, or harm others in the name of justice. They apply only when we are directly commanded to sin or forbidden from obeying God's clear commands. And even in those rare cases, our disobedience must be peaceful, respectful, and willing to accept the consequences. We are not revolutionaries seeking to overthrow the government. We are faithful witnesses who will obey God even when it costs us dearly.
5. Our Three-Fold Response Today
So, beloved, how should we respond to the lawlessness we see around us? Let me give you three practical applications that flow directly from what we've learned this morning.
First, commit to pray faithfully for those in authority. I'm talking about specific, regular, fervent prayer. Pray for the governor of Minnesota and all state officials dealing with these protests. Pray for local law enforcement officers who are trying to maintain order. Pray for judges who must apply the law fairly. Pray for church leaders whose services have been disrupted. Pray that God would give wisdom to those in authority and that He would restrain evil and promote justice.
And don't just pray when you agree with what they're doing. Pray especially when you disagree. Remember, First Timothy chapter two tells us to pray for all who are in authority so that we may lead peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. Your prayers are more powerful than you realize. God hears the prayers of His people, and He moves in response to them.
Second, engage peacefully and lawfully in the political process. If you're concerned about injustice, write to your representatives. If you disagree with a policy, make your voice heard through proper channels. If you want to protest, do so peacefully and in a way that respects the rights of others. Support candidates who share your biblical values. Vote in every election, from local school boards to national offices. But do all of this with grace and respect.
Remember that we represent Jesus Christ in everything we do. Our goal is not to win arguments or defeat enemies. Our goal is to be faithful witnesses to the truth of the gospel and to promote justice and righteousness in our society. We can advocate strongly for our convictions without resorting to the tactics of the world—slander, violence, or lawlessness.
Third, examine your own conscience before God. Ask yourself: Are there areas where I'm being called to obey God rather than men? Are there times when my faith requires me to take a stand, even if it costs me something? But be very careful here, beloved. Make sure you're not just justifying your own preferences or political opinions. Make sure you're responding to a clear command of Scripture, not just your own sense of what's right.
And if you do find yourself in a situation where you must disobey civil authority to obey God, do so peacefully, respectfully, and with a willingness to accept the consequences. Follow the example of Daniel, the apostles, and countless faithful Christians throughout history who have suffered for their faith with grace and dignity.
Let me close with this assurance: God is sovereign over all earthly authorities. In Proverbs we read that Pro 21:1 The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.
No matter what happens in Minnesota or anywhere else, God is still on His throne. He is working out His purposes, and He will bring justice in His time.
Our calling is not to take justice into our own hands. Our calling is to be faithful—to pray, to engage peacefully, to obey God's commands, and to trust that He is sovereign over all things. When we do this, we honor God, we fulfill our duties as citizens, and we bear witness to a watching world that there is a better way than lawlessness and chaos.
Would you pray with me?
Father, we thank You for Your Word that gives us clarity in confusing times. We thank You for establishing government to restrain evil and promote good. We pray for those in authority in Minnesota and across our nation. Give them wisdom, Lord. Help them to govern justly and to maintain order.
We pray for the church that was disrupted, that You would protect them and give them grace. And we pray for ourselves, that we would be faithful citizens of the kingdom of God who honor You in all we do. Help us to pray, to engage peacefully, and to obey You above all. In Jesus' name, Amen.
