The Christian And Authority

(It has been requested that the sermons be provided in print format, so I'm going to try and honor that request by posting them to the BLOG each week.  This past Lord's Day we were privileged to hear from a missionary, and so this is a sermon that was preached on February 7, 2016 at FBC.  This sermon also caused some to respond with questions, and so perhaps after reading it in print, those questions will be answered.  If not, give me a call and I'll try to clarify.)

Read - Romans 13:1–7

Key Verse - Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (‭‭Romans‬ ‭13:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Key Thought - Christians should submit to authority, except when it would violate our submission to God.

Introduction

Some have opined that this is one of the most difficult passages in the New Testament. I don’t think for a minute that they were saying it is difficult to interpret. No, what Paul says here is completely unambiguous and decidedly clear. What they were saying is it’s difficult because there are so many questions that arise from the very clarity of Paul’s words.

We are in an election cycle here in the United States. There is no doubt that the Christian’s response to and responsibility to government is much on our minds right now. So Paul’s instructions concerning the Christian and government… to authority… are very timely.

Now the primary interpretation of this passage has to do with the Christian’s response to CIVIL authority. The context clearly demands such an interpretation. However, the principals regarding the Christian response to authority can be applied, I think, to other areas as well - marriage, parenting, employment, schooling… basically any relationship where there is someone in a position of authority. We won’t go there in this study, but it’s a thought worth studying on your own.

So, what is the proper Christian response to be toward government?

• Must we obey it? Always?
• What about when we disagree with it? What about when our political party is out of power and we really don’t agree with the party in power?
• What about when our rights are threatened? We have a marvelous document here in the United States called the Bill of Rights. It was added to our constitution early in our history to protect the rights of American citizens. We have watched it slowly fade away until it is a largely irrelevant document now. Must we submit to a government that is intent on stripping us of rights we have long held dear?
• What about when government takes our taxes and uses it for things we disagree with? We know that tax money is used to fund abortions, an abomination that is unprecedented in history. I recently saw a pie chart depicting the ratio of American deaths in war vs. American deaths by abortion. The deaths from the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Vietnam, the Korean War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, The Gulf War, and the war in Afghanistan all combined were just a tiny sliver on the pie chart, almost totally obscurred by the deaths attributed to Roe v. Wade… abortion murders.
• What about when our government approves things that we know God does not approve?
• What about when our government tells us what we can and cannot say as Christians… what we can and cannot do as Christ’s church?

What is the proper Christian response to be toward government?

• Corrie Ten Boom lived during the Jewish holocaust and rather than go along with her government’s program of not harboring or helping Jews, she chose to do the opposite, and helped the Jewish people. Was she right to disobey?
• Oscar Schindler is another who, despite his government’s organized policy of murdering the Jewish people, chose to actively work against that government policy to save hundreds of them from destruction. Was his rebellion against governmental authority right? Or should he have obeyed and let hundreds more die?
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and theologian during WWII. When things started looking bad as the war was gearing up he moved to America where he thought he would be better able to work. Later though, as the extent of what was happening in Germany became clearer to him, he moved back into the midst of it and actively worked against his own government. Bonhoeffer was executed just as the war was ending because he had actively participated in a plot to assassinate Hitler! Was his response to government right?

What is the proper Christian response to be toward government? Where is the line between being a good citizen and civil disobedience? Should a Christian EVER participate in civil disobedience?

These are difficult questions… timely and hard hitting questions to be sure . These are areas where we all find our mind wandering from time to time. So let’s dig into what Paul has to say about it. We will tackle it by first noting the PRINCIPAL taught in Scripture. Then we will address some clear LIMITATIONS that are mentioned. Finally, we will find great help from a couple EXAMPLES in scripture.

The Principal

What is the proper Christian response to be toward government? Well, Paul says it very plainly in the first verse - Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (Romans‬ ‭13:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

We have to start off by being honest with ourselves. This verse is very clear. It is not ambiguous. It does not provide for a wide latitude in interpretation. There is no nuance in the Greek that will get us off the hook. No… It means exactly what it says - Christians are to be good citizens, and are to live lives marked by submission to government.

ALL Christians. EVERY soul.

This is not the only place where such a principal is stated in our Bible:

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1–4 NKJV)

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, (Titus 3:1 NKJV)

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men– as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (1 Peter 2:13–17 NKJV)

So the first principal is submission.

Paul doesn’t just dump that load on us, though, without explanation. He tells us why, as Christians, we are to submit to authority. Our submission is primarily due to recognizing the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men. there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (‭‭Romans‬ ‭13:1‬ ‭NKJV‬)

Now this is an amazing statement to be sure, but one supported throughout Scripture. Nobody has ever sat upon a throne, won an election, or ruled a nation whom God did not put in that role.

So let’s try and get our minds around that for a minute. Those of you who vote Republican will howl, but the truth is God put Obama in office. And those who are Democrats will howl as loudly to consider that God put George W. Bush in that same office. In just a few months now we will all exercise one of the wonderful rights we have as citizens in America and we will vote. And whether Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton comes out on top after that election, it will be because the sovereign God of the universe so chose.

But let’s take it further.

• God put Adolph Hitler in charge in Germany.
• God put Joseph Stalin in charge in Russia.
• God raised up Pharaoh, who oppressed God’s people brutally, enslaving them and using them for his own purposes, and to whom Moses was sent to demand their release and relief. Paul already used him as an example back in chapter 9 - For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. (‭‭Romans‬ ‭9:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) cf. Exodus 9:16
• God raised up Emperor Nero in Rome during the very time in history when Paul wrote this letter. When Paul wrote this letter Nero’s atrocities had not reached their zenith. He had not yet lit Christians on fire and used them as torches to light the streets, but that was coming in just a few short years.

Harry Ironside had this to say about Emperor Nero:

“As we come to the study of this thirteenth chapter, it is well for us to remember that he who sat upon the throne of the empire when Paul gave this instruction concerning obedience to the powers that be, was one of the vilest beasts in human form whoever occupied a throne—a sensuous, sensual brute, who ripped up the body of his own mother in order that he might see the womb that bore him—an evil, blatant egotist of most despicable character, whose cruelties and injustices beggar all description. And yet God in His providence permitted this demon-controlled wretch to wear the diadem of the greatest empire the world had yet known.”(Ironside, Harry, “Lectures on the Epistle to the Romans”)

The point we must see if we are to understand our responsibility toward authority is simply this - whoever occupies the position of authority on earth, they are there because God put them there, and we are to therefore submit to God by submitting to them.

This is my Father's world 

Oh let me ne'r forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong

GOD IS THE RULER YET. 

Daniel answered and said: Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. (‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2:20–21‬)

“There is no ruler anywhere or from any time in history who was not set in his exalted position by God.”(Boice, James Montgomery, “Romans, Volume 4: The New Humanity (Romans 12–16): An Expositional Commentary”)

So the principal then becomes submission to God, by submission to those He has placed in authority over us. Paul states this principal positively in vs. 1 and negatively in vs. 2.

Now all of us are squirming in our seat a bit. If we just stop there we know it’s not sufficient. We know there are times when blind submission to despotic authority cannot be the will of God. So let’s consider some times where submission is NOT the right answer… some LIMITATIONS to the principal set forth in Romans 13:1.

The Limitations

This passage needs to be understood in light of something Paul said a few verses earlier - If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

The fact is, it’s not always possible to obey. This is clear from the very reason Paul gave for our submission - God’s sovereignty. When we say we are submitting to God by submitting to those He places in authority, we are stating plainly that God is the ultimate authority. And time after time we see that ultimate rule described.

• We saw it already in the example of Pharaoh. God reminded that evil ruler that any authority he had was only because God had raised him up.
• Sennacherib is another example of God’s ultimate authority and control over worldly rulers - Because your rage against Me and your tumult Have come up to My ears, Therefore I will put My hook in your nose And My bridle in your lips, And I will turn you back By the way which you came. (‭‭II Kings‬ ‭19:28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) This rotten leader had gone where he ought not, and done what he ought not, in trying to destroy the people of God. God reminded him that He controlled him just like a fisherman controls a fish.
• Yet another example is Nebuchadnezzer who ruled in Babylon. His pride at leading such a great empire had no bounds, and so God knocked him down a peg or two so that he would remember Who the ultimate ruler is. Daniel told him, This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men. (Daniel 4:17 NKJV). If you read Daniel 4 you will find that the phrase The Most High rules in the kingdom of men is mentioned several times there - vss. 17, 25–26, 32, 34–35. Nebuchadnezzar had to be reminded Who was really in charge. And he eventually got the message - Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down. (‭‭Daniel‬ ‭4:37‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

God is ultimately in control, and our ultimate alliance is to Him, and so that fact must take precedence over the principal stated in our text. Our submission to authority here must not violate our submission to God.

Billy Graham said, “As long as we are on this earth, we possess dual citizenship. On one hand we owe allegiance to our nation and are called to be good citizens. But we are also citizens of the kingdom of God. Our supreme loyalty is to him.” (Graham, Franklin, “Billy Graham in Quotes”)

Boice says the the correct way to view the authority of God vs. the authority of Caesar Is to recognize both “the authority of God and Caesar but with God in the dominant position.”(Boice, James Montgomery, “Romans, Volume 4: The New Humanity (Romans 12–16): An Expositional Commentary”)

So there is a limitation to the principal stated in the text - if the government (or any authority in your life) requires something of you that would force you to violate a clear command of the ultimate authority, God, then you must choose to obey God.

The Examples

There are several very helpful examples in Scripture. I’d like to close this study by drawing your attention to three such examples.

There is the example of the apostles. cf. Acts 4:1–31.

In that passage we see that they were forbidden to speak by the authorities. But they recognized that in this case the authorities had overstepped and were asking them to do something that violated the will of God.

As Christians we KNOW it is God’s will for us to proclaim the gospel. It is the ONLY reason we are here and not yet in heaven. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark‬ ‭16:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Since the authorities… the rulers of the people (vs. 8) were demanding something that would violate the clearly defined will of God, the disciples stated they could not submit in this case vss. 19–20. Then they prayed for God’s help to rightly disobey(!) vs. 29. And then they DID disobey vs. 31. It’s all summed up nicely in the next chapter - Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us! But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than men. (‭‭Acts‬ ‭5:28–29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

There is the example of Jesus in His exchange with the Pharisees. cf. Matthew 22:15–22.

He clearly taught that we should submit to authority and render to that authority what it was entitled to - render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. He also taught that the authority has limits - and to God what is God’s.

There is the example of Jesus standing before Pilate. Cf. John 19:1–16

Perhaps this is the clearest example of all, and one we ought to meditate on as we wrestle through Romans 13:1.

• Jesus clearly submitted to governmental authority. Cf. vs. 1, 5, 16
• Pilate claimed ultimate authority, but Jesus reminded him such was not the case. Cf. vss. 10–11a
• Jesus rebuked Pilate’s error and reminded him that he would be held to account. Cf. vs. 11b
• Jesus submitted to the authority even when it meant inconvenience, pain, loss of freedom, even loss of life because God had put Pilate there and given him the authority to do those things. And of course Jesus knew that nothing Pilate was doing violated God’s will… rather it was a fulfillment of His will and plan to save us all.
• But Jesus proclaimed the truth. “You are only in authority because God, who rules over both you and I, wills it. You are responsible to do right with that authority, and not doing so is sin, for which you will be judged.”

Conclusion

Some years ago I was in a local sporting goods store making a purchase. I was standing at the gun counter waiting for the clerk to finish the transaction. Looking around I noticed something was missing. Many gun stores have a picture of President Obama with the caption “Salesman of the Year” on it, because his restrictive policies and threats have caused more guns to be sold than ever. So in a sad attempt at levity I mentioned the omission to the man behind the counter. “Where’s your Obama poster?” “What do you mean,” he asked. “You know, the one that says he is salesman of the year.” The man fixed me with a stern gaze and said, “Sir, I am a Christian, and the Bible teaches me to be a good citizen, and to not speak evil of the ruler of my people.”

Now I’ve had a few rebukes in life that have stuck with me. I don’t think I’ll ever get over that one. I practically had to crawl out of there I felt so convicted.

• Christians should be the best citizens on earth.
• We should pay our taxes, obey the laws, vote faithfully, and participate in government.
• We should recognize that human authority is delegated by our sovereign God, and must therefore, whenever possible, be obeyed. To disobey the authority is to disobey God.
• We should never speak evil of our leaders, but rather pray for them constantly, that they might be saved… and that they might govern rightly under God.
• We should take every opportunity to recognize that our primary task, no matter what’s happening in the halls of government, is to proclaim the truth.
• And finally, if the occasion does arise where submitting to earthly authority would cause us to go against God’s authority, we must resist.