How are disciples supposed to respond to secular governments? Paul told what is expected in Romans 13. This devotion looks at why disciples are to submit to governments.
Nuggets
- God has ordained the idea of a governmental ruling authority.
- We must follow God’s laws and commandments first.
- If we aren’t breaking the laws, we don’t have anything to worry about.
- Disciples need to support the government — through their words and actions and through paying taxes.
It seems that several countries have major divisions along party lines. We as disciples should not be promoting that division.
Let's Put It into Context
Governing authorities were set up all the way back in Moses’ time. “But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating dishonest profit. Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every major case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear it with you” (Ex. 18: 21-22 CSB).
Governments were to be for public good. They generally still perform two of the three intended functions:
- “Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity” (I Tim. 2: 2 NLT).
- “Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!” (Ps. 72: 1-2 ESV).
Tyson explained that as governments should punish those who do evil and reward those that do good. They are to govern for the people.
Many governments do not perform the third function these days. “They [the king’s officials] taught throughout Judah, having the book of the Lord’s instruction with them. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people” (II Chron. 17: 9 CSB). Those governments not only do not teach God’s laws and commandments, but they also do not govern based on them.
Note that God doesn’t tell us what form that government should take. What He does say is “… civil government is an ordinance of God, and that obedience to our lawful rulers is a Christian duty.”
Submit to Governing Authorities
“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)
Paul said that we are to submit to governments. God has ordained this idea of a ruling authority. He has also allowed — if not specifically placed — people to assume those positions. We are to respect their authority. Anything less is “… opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves” (Rom. 13: 2 CSB).
What does this submitting entail?
- “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them” (1 Tim. 2: 1 NLT).
- “Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king” (I Pet. 2: 17 NLT).
- “Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry the message, and a winged creature may report the matter” (Ecc. 10: 20 CSB).
- “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good” (Ti. 3: 1 NIV).
Yes, disciples are expected to pray for all people. Elected officials are people too, even if they are not from our party of choice.
I know. I chuckled at the bird thing, too.
But think about it. Don’t people have a way of finding out what we say or think about them?
And in this day and age, aren’t political opponents quick to make that known? Oh, the government official more than likely won’t know our names, but they will our opinions.
No, I am not saying we have to give up our opinions (especially when they are tied to our values) and fall into line with the the prevailing opinion. Homiletic Monthly described what I am saying as it is “not abject subjection to governments, whatever their character; but intelligent, manly subordination to a divinely ordered arrangement — the social framework and the national dominion.”
We must follow God’s laws and commandments first. Sandys wrote, “For the commands of the greatest potentates in the world are of no weight against the paramount authority of the King of kings and Lord of lords. When, however, they are not at variance with the law of God, the Scriptures expressly enjoin an unreserved obedience.” “But Peter and John replied, ‘Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?’” (Ac. 4: 19 NLT).
It is the “Do not curse the king even in your thoughts …” (Ecc. 10: 20 CSB) part that is really being ignored these days. People are so much more vocal — and vitriol — about their opposition to elected officials.
Sandys noted cursing our elected officials is not how God wants us to act. He wrote, “The blazoning abroad the faults of our rulers, so as to degrade them in the eyes of others, is an offence against God.” Instead, we should be respectful in our actions or speech.
What is that accomplishing? Division.
Who is the lord of division? Satan.
Yes, Satan is dividing our society. And from the looks of things, he is doing a bang-up job.
What If They Are Corrupt?
“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” (Rom. 13: 3-4 CSB)
I love what Paul says here. “If you aren’t breaking the laws, you don’t have anything to worry about.”
Yes, there will be good government officials and bad government officials. Hoadley wrote, “And that governor who contradicts the character here laid down, who is not a terror to evil works but to good, is not the governor to whom Paul presses obedience.”
Okay, does that contradict verses 1 and 2?
Hoadley went on to say we have to obey those that God allows in positions of authority. We can oppose them if they are opposing God’s Will. I would say we have to do that in the correct way — in my case, it would be the ballet box.
What are some ways government officials could oppose God’s Will?
- Human rights infringement
- Promote injustice
Paul also said, “If you are breaking the laws, you do have something to worry about.” Those that promote evil will be punished.
Government officials have been given swords — figuratively as the symbol of power. Farindon noted that “authority is not only ‘not in vain,’ but ‘profitable’ and necessary. God could have governed us without a sword, but it was not good for men to be so governed.”
Support the Government
“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. 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: 5-7 CSB)
Disciples need to support the government — through their words and actions and through paying taxes.
Jesus was asked once if taxes should be paid to Caesar. He replied, “…Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mt. 22: 21 CSB).
Paul expanded that here to say we should pay all of our debts. We must be responsible with our obligations.
Making the Connections
One thing we have to remember is this life is preparing us for the next. What I get out of this is we have to submit. We have to submit to:
- God
- Government officials
- Each other
- Wives are to submit to husbands
To read a related devotion, click the appropriate button below.
We have to remember that, when Jesus gave His instructions and when Paul was writing this, the government was the Roman Empire. It was not known as a Christian nation. Still, the directive is to obey.
Kaye made a good point. If government officials are allowed to serve, then isn’t God permitting society to operate?
No, that doesn’t mean God is condoning all of society’s actions. He isn’t giving everyone a permanent pass.
It means God is letting everything play out before He ends this earth. Eventually, He all judge those who have not submitted their lives to Him.
How Do We Apply This?
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
God has everything under control. We don’t always know how or why He is going to use something to further His kingdom. He does.
That includes God’s use of government officials. We are instructed to submit to their rule. We need to do so.
Father God. We choose to submit to You. In doing that, we will follow You laws and commandments. We will honor government officials as You have asked us to do. Amen.
What do you think?
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