Romans: Theology for Everybody (12-16)Sample

To be a Christian is to live under the authority of God. That above everything else in the world, it is to God alone the Christian must obey. Our world is a complicated place and as such, Christians must balance obeying the authority of both God and the government. There are a lot of sins in the sight of God that are not crimes in the sight of the government, which is why you cannot call the cops if someone takes the Lord’s name in vain, commits adultery, or lies about you. There are also a lot of things that the government supports that God’s people cannot support because they don’t align with the Bible.

This section of Romans is likely the best-known New Testament passage regarding obedience to civil authorities. The sad but hard truth is that, in our fallen sinful world, there has to be some laws to keep order, otherwise human life would simply come to a self-destructing end. The problem is that godless people will make, to varying degrees, godless laws and governments. In God’s Kingdom, all of this will be taken care of perfectly, once and for all. Until then, God’s people are to do their best to be good citizens of the state up until the point where they can no longer be good citizens of God’s Kingdom. This is echoed in 1 Peter 2:12-17: “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

By being good citizens, Christians can earn trusted positions within the government from which they can do good. The Bible provides many examples including Joseph ruling in Egypt, Nehemiah ruling in Persia, and Daniel ruling in Babylon.

By being good citizens, Christians can also keep a low profile so that they are free to live and worship freely with minimal intrusion. This is the heart of Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 2:1-2: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

There are times, however, when the government and God have different demands and a person is forced to consider if they flee, work through the system for more just laws or new political leaders, or simply disobey government in obedience to God. This righteous civil disobedience was practiced by numerous people in the Bible. The midwives in Egypt who refused to kill Hebrew babies which allowed Moses to live; Rahab, who hid God’s people rather than handing them over to unjust authority, as was requested; Joseph in his refusal as a slave to commit adultery with Potiphar’s wife, which landed him in prison falsely accused of rape; Daniels’ friends refusing to bow down and worship the king as god, Daniel disobeying the order to not pray to the real God, and he and his buddies refusing to worship the golden idol for which they were thrown in a fiery furnace. Obadiah, who disobeyed the command of King Ahab and his demonic wife Jezebel and hid God’s servants so they could not be arrested and not to mention the Lord Jesus himself who was arrested. Paul, who writes Romans and spent a lot of time in jail for serving Jesus, and the apostles who were thrown in prison and beaten for preaching Christ in defiance of the government.

It is important to consider this section of Romans in light of all of Scripture. Otherwise, this section of Scripture could be used to demand that God’s people do ungodly things.

Questions: 

1. Are there any legal issues you should be obeying that you are not (e.g. paying your taxes, running your business legally and ethically, etc.)?

2. How can you thank and honor those who are soldiers, police officers, and first responders who put themselves in harm’s way to try and preserve order and peace?

3. Honestly, how are you doing at honoring people in authority over you and helping establish an honor culture in your home, work, and church?