God’s Authorities and God’s People
Read Romans 13: 1-7.
Those who receive God’s mercy respond by devoting their whole lives to Him. This devotion is practically expressed in our relationships with other Christians and with those who are not Christians. Here we see how Christians live under the rule of those who may not share our beliefs.
• What sorts of governing authorities do you think Paul had in mind? (Verse 1) What sort of government would Paul have had not expectation of?
• How does verse 1 help us cross the historic divide between the experiences of the early Christians and our present situation?
• Why do you think Paul finds it necessary to stress that all authorities are instituted by God? (Verse 1)
• What is the purpose for which rulers are installed? (Verses 3-4)
• Paul is not advocating the benefit of one type of rule against another here. What do governments bring to society?
• When should we be in fear of our rulers? (Verse 4)
• The moral quality of ancient rulers is no worse than that of modern ones. What are we actually called to be subject to? (Verses 2, 5)
• Verse 5 indicates that we have two motivations to obey our rulers. What are they?
• If we cheat on our taxes, who are we cheating? (Verses 5-6)
• If our rulers seek to prevent us from obeying God, what should we do? (Acts 4:18)
Some comments.
Modern parliamentary democracy with universal suffrage would not have been envisioned by Paul when he wrote these comments. That is not to say that God is surprised. The culture of the time had monarchies, emperor worship and totalitarian regime.
Every ruler, in whatever age, has been put there by God. These comments are apt for any time.
Rulers are meant to bring order. This is not about the form of order, as such, but the contrast between order and anarchy. A bad ruler is better than no ruler at all. That does not mean that a bad ruler is a good thing, though.
Rulers are meant to bring order that promotes right conduct and brings sanction against those who break or fail to keep law.
The only time we should fear our rulers is when we have done the wrong thing.
Rulers have the sword. Note well that Paul contrasts this role of governers with the Christians who do not have the sword. The kingdom of God is not militaristic.
Civil order benefits the free spread of the Gospel.
Absent from the New Testament is any teaching that Christians tolerate their leaders and then replace them.
Obedience is not contingent on the morality or competence of the leader either. Ancient leaders (at least in biblical narrative) demonstrate great personal failings and even evil.
Our obedience demonstrates our recognition of God’s sovereignty over the world and over us. Disobedience of rulers not only incurs a penalty or punishment, but represents a violation of conscience in rejecting God’s rule.
We are actually blessed with freedom (responsibility) to participate in the policy formulation of our rulers and have the opportunity to change them by election.
Those who step outside of legal means to challenge rulers are terrorists/anarchists. Overthrowing a ruler by illegal means with a view to reinstituting orderly rule simply invites others to do the same. Consider Fiji.
Paying taxes is a concrete symbol of accepting God’s authority. It is not contingent on liking the tax-collecter or that upon which the taxes are spent.
If our rulers try to prevent us from obeying God, then we obey God, but accept the consequences. If we are able we have the freedom to leave the place where such rulers reign.
That’s your lot.
mgpcpastor's blog 