The Christian honors, obeys, and supports God’s Governing Authorities. - Romans 13:1-7
Yesterday, July 4th, our nation marked 250 years since the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Across the country, Americans gathered for parades, fireworks, concerts, and community celebrations. Historically the 4th of July is a moment for Americans to remember the freedoms we have inherited, the sacrifices made to preserve them, and the kind of nation we hope to leave to those who follow us. And on a weekend when many are celebrating America, God speaks to us, through the pen of Saint Paul, about the Christian’s relationship with government.
For many Christians, that relationship with government is complicated. When our founders declared independence 250 years ago, they sought to build a nation of equal peoples who have been endowed by their Creator with rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They envisioned a government that was of the people, by the people, and for the people. America was to be a beacon of light that welcomed the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses longing to be free. America was to be a land of opportunity where dreams came true.
America was founded on aspirational ideas and noble ideals, but America has never perfectly lived up to those ideas or ideals. America has always wrestled with social injustices, systemic corruption, class division, and moral decay. If we are being completely honest, sometimes it feels as though America is farther away from achieving her ideas and ideals than she was 250 years ago.
America’s failure to live up to her aspirational ideas or uphold her noble ideals can complicate the Christians relationship with the government. What is our place in a government that has fallen so far short of its own ideas and ideals? How can we pledge allegiance to such a government without condoning corruption? How can we sing her anthem without becoming guilty by association? How can we wave her flag without endorsing the evils she commits?
The Christian’s relationship with the government can seem complicated, but it’s really not all that complicated when you read what the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write in Romans 13:1-7. Based on this section of Scripture I am going to describe the Christians relationship with our government with three words.
The first word is honor. The Christian honors God’s governing authority. In verses 1-2 Paul writes, “1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Rome was the governing authority Paul had in mind as he wrote these words. Rome, like America was a superpower but also like America it was full of political corruption, social injustices, and institutional immorality. And yet the Holy Spirit through the pen of Paul instructs the Christian to “submit” to the governing authorities. Submission is a humble yielding of one’s will in recognition of one who has power or authority over you. Submission between a husband and a wife is described with words like love and respect. But I think submission between a citizen and the state is better described with the word honor.
Paul explains why the Christian honors the governing authorities by telling us, “there is no authority except that which God has established.”. This does not mean that every ruler is a good and decent individual. Indeed, throughout history good and decent rulers are few and far between. However, it does mean that the office they hold is an office that has been established by God and is therefore an office worthy of our honor. Therefore, to honor the governing authority is to honor the one Who established the governing authority. Conversely, to dishonor the governing authority is to dishonor God.
As Christians we are to honor God’s governing authorities in the way we treat them and speak about them. I know at times this is difficult to do. Our governing authorities do and say things that make it difficult for us to honor them. As Americans we have the freedom of speech, and we can and should use that freedom to speak out against corruption, injustice, and immorality wherever it may be found, even if it is found in the halls of Congress, a Senate chamber or an Oval Office. But to speak out in such a way as to demean or degrade, to mock or to ridicule, to slander or to insult is to go too far. To dishonor God’s governing authorities is to dishonor God, and as Paul points out, those who do so “will bring judgment on themselves.”
As one who has done so, I look to our Savior Who was unfairly questioned by a Governor, unjustly stood trial before a High Priest, and was mercilessly nailed to a cross by a Soldier. And yet not once did our Savior say or do anything that would dishonor His governing authorities. I cannot help but hear our Savior crying out and giving up His last breath as He was punished and made payment for all the times we have dishonored or governing authorities for far less offenses than the ones Jesus endured. And I cannot help but feel eager to stand before our Savior on Judgment day and thank Him for His forgiveness.
The second word is obey. The Christian obeys God’s governing authority. In verses 3-5 Paul writes, “3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.” Our God is a God of law and order. It is not surprising therefore, that God should establish an authority that would be tasked with the responsibility of administering laws and keeping order. It is also not at all surprising that our God would instruct the Christian to obey those laws and orders. The Holy Spirit through the pen of Paul instructs the Christian to “do what is right”; to obey our governing authorities.
Paul tells us the Christian will want to obey the governing authorities because through law and order our God seeks to “do you good”. God gives our governing authority the sword to punish and protect. God’s governing authority keeps crime from our doors and invasion from our shores. But there are also countless other ways God’s governing authorities do good for us. Through God’s governing authority federal, state, and local parks have been established and are maintained. Transportation over land, sea ,and air is easily accessible and mostly reliable because of the rules and regulations of God’s governing authority. We have a high degree of confidence that the food we eat and the medicine we take won’t hurt or harm us because of the oversight of God’s governing authority. These are but a few examples, there are so many ways God’s governing authority does good for us.
But that does not mean all that the governing authority does is good. It is worth noting that the Christian does not blindly obey the laws and orders of the governing authorities. The Christian obeys the laws and orders that are right. But be careful here, it is neither politician nor people who determine that which is right. Rather, it is God who ultimately determines if something is right. Therefore, if our governing authority were to make a law or enforce an order that does not conflict with that which God says is right, then the Christian obeys that law and order even if it is inconvenient or irritating to us. However, if a law or order is in conflict or contrary to that which God says is right then the Christian will do what Daniel and the boys and Peter and the disciples did. We obey God rather than men and we accept the consequences of that obedience.
The third word is support. The Christian supports God’s governing authority. In verses 6-7 Paul writes, “6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” As Christians we are to be more than spectators or fans of our governing authority. It is not enough for us to wave Old Glory, wear a red, white, and blue t-shirt, or put a patriotic bumper sticker on our cars. It is not enough for us to shout USA USA when our athletes score a goal or sing songs about America at a Country/Western concert. The Holy Spirit through the pen of Paul, instructs the Christian to “Give everyone what you owe him”; to support our governing authority.
One of the ways we support our governing authority is to pay income tax, sales tax, capital gains tax, and whatever other duties, tariffs, and assessments are required to feed the families of our governing authority and to keep our government running. I recognize this kind of support can be challenging for even the most Christlike Christian. But if we truly believe the worker is worth their wages (as Jesus says they are) then it is only fair that our governing authorities should be paid for doing their job as we are paid for doing ours.
Another way we can support our governing authority is to pray for them, but not like prayer the Rabbis is Fiddler on the roof prayed, “May God bless and keep the Czar… far away from us”. No, our prayer is for the governing authorities to govern with wisdom, honesty, courage, and justice. Our prayer is that the men and women who serve and protect at home and abroad be kept safe. Our prayer is that the citizens of our country, all the citizens even the ones with whom we don’t always see eye to eye, that all citizens of our country might be blessed and prosper.
Supporting our governing authority by paying them and praying for them is not always easy. Thankfully our Savior Jesus is a great example for us. In our Gospel lesson for today[1] Jesus supports His governing authority by paying taxes to Caesar, even though Jesus knew His governing authority would soon arrest Him. And when His governing authority sentenced Him to death and the soldiers nailed His hands to the cross Jesus prayed for them. Not, “Father keep them far from me”, but, “Father forgive them”. Jesus supported His governing authority with payment and prayer, and He calls upon us to do the same.
For all her faults and failures, I can’t think of another governing authority under which I want to live. There are definitely places I want to visit and sights I want to see but America really is a great place to live. I was reminded of this last Friday as I attended the Johns Creek Fireworks display. Typically, Michelle and I just buy explosives and let the boys blow things up at the end of the driveway like good little rednecks, but this year we went downtown, and I am glad we did. I told Michelle I have never before celebrated America with so many people who were obviously not from America. There was a man from one country wearing an America 250 shirt and dancing to Neil Diamond. I saw a little girl from another country with an American Flag painted on her face jumping up and down and playing games. I saw a woman from yet another country wearing a headband with flashing red, white, and blue lights cheering as fireworks exploded over her head. They, and thousands like them, were all celebrating America.
America is not perfect, but relatively speaking she is pretty great. Which is why it is appropriate that we have gathered here today to thank God for the governing authority He has placed over us. But our gratitude to God goes beyond these walls and extends past the 4th of July. Every day and in every way let us express our gratitude to God by honoring, obeying, and supporting God’s governing authority. God, thank you for and bestow your blessing upon America. Amen
[1] Matthew 22:15-22