In order to transform from worldview people to being like God, we need to learn to submit. This daily devotional looks at our submitting to secular authority.
Nuggets
- God has a purpose for secular governments, so we should honor our leaders.
- Disciples should not fear government leaders if they are following God’s laws and commandments.
- Disciples are to pay the taxes they owe in order to support the government.
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Devotions in the Transformed to Perfection series
Devotions in the Submitting to Transformation series
Paul told his readers in several places that we should submit to governmental authority. “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work” (Ti. 3: 1 ESV).
This admonition also occurred in Romans. It is in Romans Part II, the part where we are transforming to be like God.
In a way, that seems strange. God is telling us to submit to someone else???? That seems a little out of character.
The Homiletic Monthly contended that our transformation to perfection needs to be connected to our obedience to the government. Let’s dig into what Paul said.
Let's Put It into Context
Here is a running list of what we’ve discussed previously.
Following Our Secular Leaders
“Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves” (Rom. 13: 1-2 CSB)
God has a purpose for secular governments, so we should honor our leaders.
Every nation has its rulers. In the Scriptures, according to Beveridge, those rulers had specific purposes.
- To ensure that God is worshiped properly.
- To maintain peace.
- To impose judgment.
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Paul said this is a directive to everyone. He doesn’t say only submit to good leaders. He doesn’t qualify that we have to believe what the leader’s agenda is in order to submit. He doesn’t limit it by ethnicity, race, or religious affiliation.
In other words, God doesn’t give His people — or any of His creation — a pass from submitting to leaders.
Glossary
Lyth did make the statement that this “requires submission in all matters not affecting conscience.” Our submission to God supersedes our submission to leaders only when they are breaking God’s laws and commandments.
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What, though, are we submitting to authority? The Homiletic Monthly said that it was our intellect, not a degraded submission.
This is combining society with the national government. Tyson wrote that this organization helps us from threats from without our community and punishment for those who do wrong from within.
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What I think Paul is saying here is the omnipotent God gave the leaders the power to rule. If He didn’t allow them to rule, He wouldn’t have given them the power.
But Lyth and Sandys put a qualification on it. They said that it must be legitimate authority. That legitimacy has nothing to do with our agreement or disagreement with the leaders.
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Whether the government is legitimate or not, the leaders are subject to God.
It is easy to think that government rule is secular. Still, the Homiletic Monthly wrote, “While we approve not the perversions of depraved legislators — their intemperance, Sabbath desecration, profanity, luxury and ambition — we can, notwithstanding, hold ourselves in dignified yielding to normal law.”
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We should respect our leaders. “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (II Pet. 2: 17 ESV).
We shouldn’t talk bad about our leaders. “Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter” (Ecc. 10: 20 ESV).
I think that there is a reason God wanted leaders to govern. God is not a God of chaos but of order. He wanted us to be organized.
That thought makes what the Homiletic Monthly said make sense. They felt the application of this discussion is not submission to the secular government. It is all about submission to God.
God wants to order and organize our lives so that we have the peace needed to worship Him. If we don’t have the peace governments are to provide for us, we won’t have the comfort to worship. That gives governments a divine purpose.
Thomas said the leaders have a divine appointment — or they are ordained. Since God has given the heads of state the authority to rule over others, disciples should pray for them.
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We have to obey God rather than man when there is conflict. When the rules mesh, we are to follow man’s rules.
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Rogers made it clear that God is not advocating or approving a single type of government. He is saying that government should be formed for the good of the people.
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We have to remember that this world is temporary, making secular governments temporary. We need to look to God’s government, which will be eternal.
Doing What Is Right
“For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks" (Rom. 13: 3-6 CSB)
Disciples should not fear government leaders if they are following God’s laws and commandments.
Yes, wrongdoers should be punished. Disciples are called to be rightdoers. We should not fear punishment.
But that flips the submitting to authority from submitting to something we don’t want to submitting to what is right. We should have no problem with that.
Since it is submission to what is right, Thomas said that “‘the new commandment’ is the law of humanity; nothing can justify its violation.” God’s laws should not be broken for any reason.
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One thing we have to remember, as Hoadley pointed out, is that being the leader — be it governor or King — does not elevate them above others to the point of servitude.
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I think we can take this back to Paul’s discussion about the many parts of the body. All are needed for the body to work to its potential.To read a related devotion, click on the button below.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
Paul said it again. “Therefore, you must submit …” (Rom. 13: 5 CSB). He does not leave any wiggle room. We must submit.
What Paul is teaching us is obedience. That is an important response to God’s laws and commandments. We are called to do the do’s and not do the don’ts.
If we can’t obey man’s laws, how are we going to obey God’s?
The leaders have a responsibility here, too. They have to follow God’s Will.
If they do not, we are to follow God.
Sandys brought up the time of the judges. Those were dark times. Still, he argued that it would have been worse if there had been no leadership.
Probably, our gut reaction to a leader we are questioning as “God’s minister” is to want to overthrow them or get them out of office. Maurice gave us a scenario of why we should rely on God’s judgment. He wrote,
- “Nero’s will might be devilish; every power which he wielded was Divine. He had been appointed to rule the world which he tormented by Him who loved that world.”
- “The effect of regarding Nero as a minister of God was, no doubt, to make them patient under his government, and afraid to engage in any mad schemes for subverting it. But this faith gave strength to their cries that the earth might be delivered from all her oppressors, assured them that those cries would not be in vain, and made them welcome their own sufferings as steps towards the redemption.”
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So, they had a very bad leader, but they grew in their faith because of him. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8: 28 NIV).
All things — even what we consider the bad things.
Paying Our Taxes
“Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor” (Rom. 13: 7 CSB)
Disciples are to pay the taxes they owe in order to support the government.
Governments cost money. They get that by taxing the citizens. Paul said we should pay our taxes.
Jesus paid His taxes (Mt. 17: 24-27). Okay, most of us won’t find a fish with our tax money in it like He did. But, focus, He paid what He owed to the government.
Sandys reminded us that “here, then, is forbidden everything that is disrespectful either in manner or language.” Even if we disagree with the politics of the leaders, God forbids us to scornful and contemptuous toward them.
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Bottom line. We owe our leaders respect and honor. No qualifications.
Making the Connections
Dalrymple argues that nations, as well as people, have a mission from God. I think Hall gave us what that mission is. Hall wrote, “Religion was designed to train us for heaven, not by unfitting us for the duties of earth, but by enabling us to perform them rightly. Religion would be an injury to the world if it withdrew the best men from it. True piety is nurtured and developed, not by avoiding any portion of our duties as men, but by diligently performing them.”
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By performing our job within society, we are preparing ourselves for life in God’s kingdom.
Kaye reminded us why we have societies. They are to benefit all of us. We find these benefits through mutual patience.
Because of this, Kaye cautioned us that “our dislikes, then, should not prevent us from rendering due reverence to official dignity, as well as to rank, talent, and all true worth.” Governments have their mission and their purpose. We should respect our leaders.
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We are to respect our leaders.
How Do We Apply This?
- Evaluate the government to determine if it is promoting good or evil. Good, in the biblical sense, is the workings of God within His people. Evil is equated with sin because it is that which goes against God and His purposes.
- Remember that no government is infallible.
- Have a concern for the public interest.
- Have our worldly morals kicked up to social graces to support that public interest.
- Promote peace and justice
- Live a righteous example.
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God has provided a framework through which we can find comfort. We should praise Him for this.
Father God. We submit to those here on earth that You have placed in positions of authority. In doing so, we submit to Your Will. Help us to grow closer to You. Amen.
What do you think?
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