Title: The Christian and Government
Text: Romans 13:1- 7
Date: 5-18-08.am
Introduction: Dr. John MacArthur points out, Christianity is a total life experience. It touches every aspect of life--our thoughts, words, deeds, and relationships. Nothing is left unaffected by the transformation that Jesus Christ brings about in a life. Christian faith cannot be isolated from any part of life. The New Testament clearly reveals that the Spirit of God is involved in the totality of the Christian experience. In Ephesians 5 and 6, as well as Colossians 3 we see every relationship is touched by the Spirit of God, husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, and servants. Every relationship is impacted by the power of Christ.
As we have seen in the past several sermons Paul has also addressed Christian relationships in Romans. In Romans 12, as a result of our new relationship to God through Christ, we are instructed to present ourselves to Him as living sacrifices. Beginning in verse 3, Paul wrote about our relationship to other believers. Then our relationship to nonbelievers. We are to bless and not curse those who persecute us (v. 14). Verse 21 says that we are to repay evil with good. We are not to seek personal vengeance on anyone (v. 19).
I. The establishment of Authority and our subjection to it.
1. We, as believers, have a duty to submit to government v. 1
Now, in Romans 13 Paul addresses the issue of how our faith in Christ affects our relationship to those in authority over us specifically to the government and its designated authorities on both a local and national level. He gives us some very clear direction on how we are to relate to the government.
Ro 13:1 Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities.
Our relationship to the government and those who are in authority over us is impacted by our salvation. The summation of what Paul tell us about our relationship to the state is that as believers we are to practice good citizenship. We are called to live as model citizens in whatever society we are in. That’s obvious from the first sentence. As Christian citizens we are not to engage in lawlessness and anarchy. In a nut shell that means we are to obey the law, and pay our taxes.
2. Why are we to submit to governing authorities? v.v. 1-2
Let every person 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 he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. NASB
A. Because the authority to govern comes from God
First Paul says, “For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” That’s sounds at first like a bizarre statement. Remember, Paul is writing to people who are under the rule of a Roman government headed by Emperor Nero that was pretty harsh on those who disagreed with it and under whom Christians are going to have some pretty severe persecution.
Paul here is not addressing a particular form of government or the divine right of kings to rule as they see fit, or a particular ruler. He is talking about government as an institution. God is a God of order and ordains the rule of law as opposed to the rule of lawlessness and anarchy.
There are three divine institutions established by God: The family, the state and the church. The family is instituted by God in Gen . Mentioned first in the creation of man and women in 1:27 further explained in 2:18-25. The principles for the establishment of government can be traced to Gen 9 in God’s covenant with Noah and the we find the church established in the New Testament.
Paul in validating the authority of government is affirming Jesus words in Matt 22:17-21 When he was questioned about the paying of tax to Caesar, he picked up a coin and asked whose picture was on the coin then said render unto Caesar that which is Caesars and His words to Pilate in Jn 19:10-11 When Pilate asked Him: Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?" 11 Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; NASB
So we are to submit because the authority to rule comes from the authority of God.
B. To avoid the condemnation of God
The second reason Paul gives is found in verse 2 Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. NASB To rebel against authority is to rebel against God. But again remember Paul is talking about avoiding lawlessness. Living as good citizens of whatever culture or society we are part of. Christians in China are to live as good citizens of a communist government as far as they can, the same applies to Christians in Muslim countries.
It should be fairly easy for us to accept in this country. While we may disagree about some things the government does and how it does them for the most part I don't think we would want to change it for any other in the world. And it is fairly easy for us to accept governmental authority in our lives. However, the duty to submit is not absolute.
C. For conscience sake v. 5
Our obligation to government is not absolute. “Subjection is not to be confused with blind, unthinking conformity.” We saw a good example of this when I brought the message at Good News church a couple of weeks ago from Daniel. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, even though they were taken as hostages to Babylon submitted to the government of Nebuchadnezzar and in fact held prominent positions in the government even though it was a pagan government. However, their submission wasn't absolute. When it came to submitting to the government or God their higher duty was submission to God so they would not deny God and bow to Nebuchadnezzar's statue. Daniel did the same thing in chapter 6 to the decree of King Darius about praying to other gods.
The Hebrew midwives followed this principle in Egypt when Pharaoh ordered them to kill the new born Hebrew boys. Ex 1:17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. NASB
We see this again in the New Testament book of Acts beginning in chapter 4 Peter and John are brought before the Sanhedrin and in Ac 4:19 sate this truth in the form of a question "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; NASB
They are released and go back to preaching and again in chapter 5 they are brought back to the council and make a more declarative statement in Ac 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, "We must obey God rather than men. NASB
We have an obligation to adhere to civil authority until the place where it conflicts with our adherence to rule of God. We find in the New Testament the apostles including Paul, never advocate an overthrow of the government, they never advocate violence or civil disobedience against the government. They continue to follow God and submit to government authority and when the two conflict with one another they follow God and face the consequences of their actions, just as Jesus submitted to the authority of Pilate to have him crucified.
In our society I don't think this principle of submission excludes legal protests and redress that is permitted by law. I think it encourages our active participation in the governing process where we have the right to vote and petition the state to address our grievances and even seek and hold public office and make decisions based on a Christian world view.
Dr Everett Harrison says this does open the door to the possibility, as citizens of the a nation, of revolution in cases where rights are denied and liberties are taken away but not as a function of the body of Christ. I think it speaks against a Liberation Theology, particularly form which sprang up in Cental and South America in the late 50's and 60's which advocates armed violence as a means of addressing social issues. It clearly means that Christians are not to be involved in terrorism and illegal activities to bring about change the kinds of things many of the liberation groups have used. As Christians we need to be concerned with social issues and social justice, but we need to work within the framework of government as much as possible to address and correct those issues.
That leads to the question what about bad, corrupt, and evil government?
2. The duty of Government v. 4-7
IN verses 4-7 Paul addresses the God ordained duty of government. We know not all government is good as a matter of fact some government is very bad. I mentioned several weeks ago some of the more notorious rulers of modern history such as Hitler, Stalin, Chairman Mao, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge of Cambodia who were responsible for the deaths of thousands of their own citizens and Hitler plunged the entire world into a second world war. We are aware of the atrocities committed by Saddam Hussain during his rule of Iraq and we certainly wouldn't consider the current rulers in Myanmar as being good in contributing to the suffering of their people by blocking aid and relief efforts and that's been seen in other places as well.
When Paul says that the authority to rule comes from God, he is not saying that God has appointed these men or others like them as rulers nor that God condones despotism or tyranny.
13:4 for it [government] 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. 5 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. 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. NASB
Paul lists three broad god ordained functions of government in these verses.
A. Is the for the common good and well being of its citizens - Government should provides justice, protection and services for it’s citizens. I’m not a political scientist what all that entails in bringing about well being you can judge for yourselves and when does government do too much for us?
One thing I often hear when Christians speak out on moral issues is you can’t legislate morality. In a certain sense that is true, however, all laws legislate morality in one or another. What is more important to me is that government not legislate immorality.
2. To provide punishment for those who do evil - vengeance or retribution out of the hand of the individual. It takes chaos out of society so there is a semblance of order and peace. Government rather than individuals and empowered to punish wrong doers. In verse 4 Paul wrote 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. Paul used the word sword in 8:35 to indicate death It’s used in Acts 12:2 in reference to execution and in Rev 13:10 as an instrument of death. Higher officials often carried the sword as part of their “official” uniform or it was carried before them to symbolize their power of life and death as Pilate indicated to Jesus I have the authority to set you free or crucify you. If we look at what God said in Gen 9:6 about the value of human life created in His image and what Paul says here it seems to be an obvious reference to the authority of the state to carry our capital punishment. In the 6th commandment in Ex 20:13 the word often translated kill is the Hebrew that means murder so the 6th commandment is a prohibition against murder. Christians come down on both sides of the death penalty issue I think the Bible gives that authority to the state but you must let your conscience decide that issue. What I will say is justice and punishment are not the prerogative of the individual but the function of government.
The role of the government is to promote the positive well being of its citizens and punish those who do wrong..
3. Taxes are a means by which government can provide services v. 6-7
The third thing may not technically be a function of government but an explanation of how government can carry out it’s two primary functions. 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.
We expect services and we must pay for services. The more we expect government to provide the more it will cost. We just expect government to be good stewards as well as well as good government. And in providing these things Paul says three times that government is the minister or servant of God.
So how do we bring all this together? We are to be law abiding people who practice good citizenship as long as it does not violate our duty to God. Those who are justified by faith in Christ are to be good citizens and our relationship to those who govern should:
1. Give no just cause to reject our faith.
2. Give them no just cause to persecute us for our faith.
3. Enable us to become salt and light in our culture and our world.
Do you have that kind of relationship with the Lord Jesus this morning? If not I invite you to surrender all to Him this morning.