THE CHRISTIAN’S RESPONSE TO AUTHORITY
Romans 13:1-7
The
teachings of Paul regarding governmental authority were not given in a
vacuum. The world of the first century
was characterized by:
• Slavery. This was not a black versus white issue, but
rather a brutal fact that slavery had been an established way of life for
thousands of years.
• Dictatorship. The
• Taxation
without representation. The Romans
believed that everyone should pay taxes except for Romans. Thus, those who were citizens of
• Religious
persecution. Within just a few years the
Roman Emperor Nero would be coming to the throne of
This
was the world of the first century. What
had Jesus said to the people living under these conditions? “Render unto Caesar the things which are
Caesar’s” (Matthew 22:21). This sets
forth a principle of submission.
THE
PRINCIPLE OF SUBJECTION
Let
every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except God, and
those which exist are established by God. (Romans 13:1).
Paul
begins this section with a command.
There are no qualifications, no limits, and no conditions. It applies to everyone – literally to “every
soul.” All are to be in subjection. To whom are we to be in subjection? The governing authorities. It does not say to be in subjection only to
those governing authorities who are godly.
That was not the case in the situation to which Paul writes.
I
said a moment ago that there were no limits to this command. It is true that none are given here. But I do think that one is given elsewhere in
the Scriptures. It is found in Acts
4:19-20 when Peter and John answered the command that they cease and desist
from preaching Jesus and they answer, “Whether it is right in the sight of
God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen
and heard.”
This
is the exception to the rule. It is when
God’s people are commanded to perform an act that would be in disobedience to
the Lord. In this situation, they are
called to disobey IN THAT SINGLE AREA.
|
Romans 12 |
Romans 13 |
|
Personal
responsibility. |
Government
responsibility. |
|
Offer your
bodies as a living sacrifice (12:1-2). |
Be in
subjection to the governing authorities (13:1). |
|
Never pay back
evil for evil (12:17). “Vengeance is
Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord (12:19). |
Government does
not bear the sword for nothing; it is a minister of God, an avenger who
brings wrath upon the one who practices evil (13:4). |
|
Do not be
overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (12:21). |
Rulers are not
a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil (13:3). |
In
the last chapter, we saw that vengeance belongs to the Lord and that we are to
give up our desire for vengeance against those who do wrong against us. How are we to do this? One part of this is by being subject to the
governing authorities whose duty it is to be an avenger against the evil-doer.
THE
PROBLEM OF RESISTANCE TO AUTHORITY
Therefore
he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have
opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves (13:2).
We
have already seen that governmental authority is ordained by God. This means that resisting governmental
authority constitutes rebellion against God.
This
was a difficult teaching to accept it Paul’s day. Indeed, the Jews were noted for their past
rebellions against authority. They had
revolved against Nebuchadnezzar and they would soon be revolting against the
What
was true in those Old Testament times was also true in Paul’s day and is also
true today. The one who resists
authority effectively sets himself up in opposition to the ordinance of God.
|
Resisting Authority |
= |
Resisting God |
THE
PRINCIPLE OF FEAR AND AUTHORITY
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 upon the one who practices
evil (13:3-4).
The
second reason we ought to obey governmental authorities is because they have
the power to punish the one who disobeys.
We are not called to live in fear and, when it comes to dealing with
legitimate authority, one of the ways you can avoid fear is by doing what is
mandated by that authority.
Generally
speaking, it is true that one who is being obedient to God and to the
government has nothing to fear from that government. When you are driving on the highway and you
see a police car behind you, there is no fear if you know that you are driving
within the speed limit and that your car and license and insurance are all
according to the laws of the land. When
you are living obediently to authority, there is no reason to fear that
authority.
|
No Fear of Authority |
Fear of Authority |
|
Do what is good |
If you do what is evil |
|
You will have praise from
the same |
Be afraid |
|
Authority is a minister of
God to you for good |
Authority is a minister of
God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil |
In
verse 4, Paul says that government is given as a “minister.” The Greek word used here is the same word
that is normally translated as “deacon.”
Deacons are given in a church to serve and government is given to people
for the same reason.
Notice
that there are two attitudes one can normally have toward government. The first is to have an attitude of
security. This is the kind of attitude
of which Paul speaks when he asks, “Do you want to have no fear of
authority?” Government is given so
that people will not have to fear for their own well-being.
The
other attitude one can have regarding government is that of fearfulness. You can legitimately fear government and
authority if you are living in disobedience to that government and
authority. For example, when you exceed
the speed limit, you should legitimately fear being pulled over and being
forced to pay a traffic citation.
Those
who disobey authority are supposed to be fearful because it does not bear
the sword for nothing. Authority is
given by God and the sword which it wields is also authorized by God.
The
reference to the sword brings up the question of war. Is there ever a time when war is the right
thing? Theologians have wrestled with
this question and have come up with a number of ideas that educate us as to
when a country should or should not go to war.
This is a significant question for us today who live in a democratic
republic because we have a say and a voice in the running of our country and in
whether our country is involved in the pursuit of war.
1. A Just Cause: This would involve defending either your own
country or coming to the defense of someone else who was being attacked. Thus there must be a wrong that is suffered
in order for a war to take place.
2. A Right Intention: The desire for peace should be the
ultimate goal of war. Furthermore, the
peace that is established after the war ought to be better than the peace that
would have prevailed had the war not been fought.
3. A Reasonable Chance of Success: It is considered to be wrong
to go to war when the result will be certain catastrophe. Jesus alluded to this in Luke 14:31‑32
when he described a king preparing to meet another king in battle sits down and
asks whether he is strong enough to win the battle.
4. The End is Proportional to the Means used to achieve it: You
don’t use a bazooka to swat a fly.
5. A Last Resort: War should only be used when all other means
have been exhausted. We are to pursue
peace will all men (Romans 14:19; Hebrews 12:14).
6. A Legitimate Authority: I don’t have the option to decide to
go to war with another person or a race or nation. I am not a legitimate authority. That authority has been given to leaders of
nations.
7. A Distinction between Combatants versus non-combatants. Effort is to be taken to avoid killing
civilians. Their death is justified only
if they are unavoidable victims rather than deliberate targets.
THE
PLACE OF CONSCIENCE AND AUTHORITY
Wherefore
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 (13:5-6).
The
third reason we ought to be obedient and submissive to governing authorities is
for the sake of personal peace of conscience.
Perhaps you’ve heard of the story of the letter that was received by the
IRS. It read, “Dear sirs, I’ve been
unable to sleep lately because I cheated on the last three years of my income
tax. Enclosed you will find a check for
$500. If I still cannot sleep, I will
send the rest of the money.”
One
of the reasons you are to pay your taxes is that you understand they are
ordained of God and therefore you can keep a clear conscience and not have to
worry about having brought offense to both God and man.
THE
PATTERN OF PROPRIETY IN AUTHORITY
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 (13:7).
|
The Greek phrase translated “custom to whom custom”
is tw to teloV to teloV and
points to the tax that would be taken at the end of a toll road. |
We
are to pay our debts. One of the debts
that we incur by living in a country is tax debt. In the same way, if a certain honor is due to
someone, then we are to show it. When we go into a courtroom where it is
customary to address the judge as, “Your honor,” we are to use that appropriate
address. We are to show respect when a
person’s position calls for that sort of respect.
Jesus
said in Matthew 23:8 that we are not to seek to be called by such titles as
“rabbi” or “teacher” or “leader.” We are
not to put on airs. But He never said
that we cannot use such titles of others. [1]
This
brings up the question. What about when
government is evil? This is no obscure
hypothesis. There was much about the
Roman government in the days of Paul that was characterized by evil and
anti-Christian. Yet Paul gives these
instructions in his own day. We can
summarize the Bible’s teaching to this question.
• Obey
the laws that do not specifically contradict God’s law.
• Speak
out against injustice.
• Do
righteousness — do what we can to influence that government for righteousness.
Do
you remember the actions of the apostles when they were specifically commanded
to do that which was contrary to the command of God? There are several such instances to be found
in the Scriptures, but one is particularly striking.
18 And
when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all
in the name of Jesus. 19 But
Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the
sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and
heard." (Acts 4:18‑20).
The
apostles were specifically forbidden to speak or to teach in the name of
Jesus. This was a command they could not
obey. They had been commanded by God to preach
the gospel. For them to obey the
governing authorities in this matter would be to disobey the express command of
God. They could do nothing but disobey. A similar example to this is seen in the case
of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego who refused to bow down and worship a
Babylonian idol (Daniel 3).
I
am authorized in the Bible to disobey the government only when it orders me to
do something that is contrary to the commands of God and then I am only
authorized to disobey in that one area.
Furthermore, I am to be ready to suffer the consequences of that
authorized disobedience.
In
closing, we must admit that this sort of submission to governing authorities is
no easy task. How then are we to
accomplish it? It is by looking to the
One who divested Himself of all heavenly prerogatives to take the role of a
submissive servant and who humbled Himself, learning the obedience of the
cross. Jesus is both our motivation as
well as our pattern for submission.
Because He submitted Himself, He calls us to do the same that we might
be made like Him in all things.
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[1] Jesus
gave one interesting exception when He said, “Do not call anyone on earth your
father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven” ( Matthew 23:9).