A government surveyor brought his surveying equipment to a farm to do some work for the state and county by which he was employed. He knocked on the farmhouse door and asked the farmer for permission to go into one of his fields and take some readings. The farmer had no hospitality for any state or county officials so he refused to give the man permission to work in any of his fields. He thought that maybe the government was going to take some of his land for a public project. “I will not give you permission to go onto my land!” said the farmer. The surveyor then produced an official government document that authorized him to do the survey. “I have the authority,” he said, “to enter any field in the entire country to do my work.” Faced with the authority of the county, state, and federal government the farmer unwillingly opened the gate and allowed the surveyor to enter one of his fields. The farmer then went to the far end of the field and opened another gate, through which one of his fiercest bulls came charging. Seeing the bull, the surveyor dropped his equipment and began to run for his life. The farmer shouted after him, “Show him that paper, show him your authority.”
I didn’t tell you that story just to get a laugh. I want you to consider your attitude toward the government. Don’t we have a lot of that farmer in us? In everything from driving the speed limit to paying our taxes our sinful nature resists the government’s control and claim on us. In the word of God for our sermon this morning the Apostle Paul presents us with a different attitude. He describes the God pleasing way followers of Christ will interact with the governing authorities. Instead of rebelling and resisting he says that we will obey and submit to the government. This morning the Holy Spirit will work a change of attitude and action in us through these words. The commands of God are set before us to show us where we have failed and to call us to repentance. The good news from God, full and free salvation in Jesus Christ, will then supply the motivation for us to:
SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES
I. Because they have been established by God
II. Because they bring blessings from God
III. By meeting your obligation to them
In the chapter before these verses the Apostle encouraged his readers to offer themselves as “living sacrifices to God.” God had chosen them to receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ. He brought them to faith through the work of the Holy Spirit in the Word and sacraments. God’s grace was now their motivation for living a new life of service to God and others.
Even in light of those wonderful facts these words must have come as a shock to the Christians in Rome. They were living in the capital city of one of the most wicked and cruel empires ever to rule a large part of the world. The emperor at that time was Nero. He took pleasure in killing Christians. In fact, historians say that he burned many Christians as torches to light up his garden parties. Yet, in spite of its cruelty, immorality, and persecution of Christians, Paul said to submit to the government in Rome. He offered his readers reasons for obeying the government and also specific ways to show that obedience.
These inspired words still speak to Christians. Although we live under the government of the United States and not the government of Rome, and we have a president instead of an emperor, the command to submit to the governing authorities remains the same. We do that because God is still the one who establishes governments. God still uses the governing authorities to bring blessings to his people. For those reasons the children of God also continue to meet their obligations to the government.
I.
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Three times in two verses Paul states the fact that God has established all government authority. If we take a look back into history, which remember is “His-story,” we see how true this is. When God wanted to take his people out of Egypt he broke the will of a hardhearted Pharaoh with ten plagues. In God’s dealings with his people he used the governments of the world to bring blessing or punishment as needed. He used the Assyrians to destroy Israel, those were the ten tribes in the northern part of Palestine. Later he used Nebuchadnezzar to take his people into captivity in Babylon as punishment for their disobedience. There they repented and returned to the Lord. Then he did away with the Babylonian empire and brought in Cyrus, king of the Medes and Persians to set his people free and place them back in the Promised Land. In our Old Testament lesson we heard how the Lord blessed all people through Cyrus.
In the New Testament God’s pulling the strings of kings and governments continued. Was it just chance that at the time God’s Son was to enter the world Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world? Of course it wasn’t. God put Caesar Augustus in place and also Quirinius who was governor of Syria at that time. Was it just chance that the good news about Jesus’ victory over sin was sent out at time when the world had the best roads in history, an efficient postal service, safe travel, and law and order? No, again those circumstances came about through the plan of the one who establishes all authority.
But what about the wicked governments? Was God responsible for the power of the communists who tried to stamp out the gospel? What about Adolf Hitler? What about Saddam Hussein and others? Yes, God established the authority of those leaders. The fact that they as sinful humans took that power and authority and abused it is their responsibility. It is not God’s fault. Or how about those immoral, corrupt, and crooked politicians that are at times found in our own government? Is God responsible for their power? Yes, God gives the authority to them also.
So whether a government is good or bad, whether our candidate is elected or not, whether we agree with the government or not, we submit to the governing authorities because they have been established by God.
When Jesus was on trial before Pontius Pilate he corrected Pilate’s false understanding of government authority. Remember that Pilate said, “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus responded, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” (John 19:11) One of the biggest hurdles for us to cross in order to have the attitude that Paul described in these verses from Romans chapter 13 is to first see the governing authorities as being established by God. When the Holy Spirit works that conviction in us through the law and the gospel then we will want to submit to the governing authorities. Just a glance at history, a look at God’s Word and his commandments, will convince us that God establishes all authority. Then through the attitude changing, life transforming, power of the gospel we submit ourselves to the governing authorities.
II.
In verse three of chapter 13 Paul goes on to give us an additional reason for obeying the government under which we live. Not only is all authority established by God but the governing authorities are meant to bring blessings from God, “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 he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” Paul takes us another step with these verses. Those in authority are God’s servants to do us good. They bring us blessings from God.
I think I can guess your initial reaction to that thought. “Blessings? What do you mean by blessings? The government just takes my money and doesn’t do a thing for me!” But take a moment and think about what the government does for us. We have state and federal highways. It is the government that provides libraries, schools, and universities. Those in authority provide law and order through police departments and the justice system. We have fire protection. We have freedom to worship and practice our religion. The government ensures free trade and fair business practices. Those in authority maintain an army to protect our borders from invasion. We submit to the governing authorities because God blesses us through them.
Although we may not like everything the government does the fact remains that God uses the authorities he establishes to bless us. Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.” (Ephesians 1:22) Christ is King of all the kings of the earth and Lord of the lords who have authority over people. He uses the governments of the world for the good of his Church.
Paul also points out the other side of the picture. The government can also bring punishment to those who don’t obey. “But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” When we break the speed limit or traffic laws we get fined. If we abuse our privileges as citizens the government may take them away from us for our own safety and the safety of others. Prisons and even the death penalty are tools of the government by which God brings blessings to the citizens of the United States.
The Lord promises blessing to any person who lives according to his Word. In a similar way he also says he will use governing authorities, whether they are good or evil, to bless his people. He uses the authority of the government to maintain peace and foster prosperity. Even if a government persecutes Christians God will still use their authority to bless believers.
III.
After setting out reasons for submitting to the governing authorities Paul goes on to tell us how to submit to those authorities, “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” The attitude Paul sets out here is much different from that of the farmer who sent his bull after the surveyor. This attitude toward the governing authorities and these God pleasing actions toward the governing authorities can only be produced in us through the work of the Holy Spirit. With a Christ-like attitude we will meet our obligations to the governing authorities.
What each of us owes the government from the list that Paul gives in these verses will very from person to person. Some may owe very little. Others may owe a great deal in taxes or service, or revenue.
The first thing that God asks us to do for the governing authorities is to pray for them. Again it doesn’t matter if we like the president, or the governor, or the mayor of our city. We pray that the Lord would bless them and move them to act wisely.
From there the most obvious thing we Americans owe to our government is taxes. We may owe federal and state income taxes, property tax, sales tax, and many other fees. I want to make it clear that I am not debating whether or not taxes are too high or unfair. We have the right to vote to change the tax system. But we are reminded that what the law says we owe the government in taxes is what we owe. We are not to “cook the books” or “fudge” the numbers. For those who are self-employed or own their own business there is always the temptation to do “cash” sales. Then the person can pocket the money with no record of the transaction for the IRS to find. When we file our income taxes there are many places where we may be tempted to stretch the laws. As followers of Christ we want to submit to the governing authorities by paying what we owe. We pray for the conviction and strength to do what is right in this area.
The other area where we may struggle to give what we owe to the government is in the area of respect. I know I am as guilty as anyone in telling jokes about the President and the things he has done. Everyone seems to be doing it. When there is a news story about any of our government officials we tend to think the worst about the person. We are called to respect them as we would respect the One from whom they receive their authority. In very precise ways we are told how to submit to the governing authorities. By giving what we owe. “Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”
We can sympathize with the farmer who used a bull to chase the surveyor off his land. The government can seem unfair and repressive at times. In these verses from Romans chapter 13 Paul brings our thinking about the government in line with God’s will. He lets us see the governing authorities as being established by God and bringing blessings from God. That encouragement leads us to meet our obligation to the government. May these commands of God move us to repentance and may the grace of God lead us to new obedience. So we submit to the governing authorities. Amen.
