After two decades of living the Christian life and almost a decade of preaching the Bible regularly, it’s easy to think that I trust God’s word. But this week I’ve been confronted by my unbelief.
What’s your instant reaction to reading this passage?
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (Rom 13:1-2)
Maybe it’s my convict heritage (I am Australian after all), or maybe it’s just that I grew up as a child of the first of the consumer generations, but I’ve realized this week that I possess a deeply ingrained anti-Establishment streak.
I’m used to seeing how the world’s message on sex and sexuality has seeped into my consciousness. I expect God’s word to be different on those things. And so I cling to the importance of marriage between one man and one woman as the God-given way of expressing our sexuality. But try and tell me that all authorities come from the hand of God and that I should obey them as I obey God, and I feel that you’re stark raving mad.
What about the 20th-century totalitarian regimes? What about the you-scratch-my-back-and-I’ll-scratch-yours world of politics? Won’t this kind of power just go the Prime Minister’s head?
I have a thousand reasons to disbelieve Romans 13. But none of them are ultimately any good. God says that it’s for my good to obey the authorities and treat them as if they have been instituted by God for his work.
Why am I so opposed? I suspect that, firstly, it’s because of the Spirit of our age. We don’t want anyone to be in authority (including God). We have fallen captive to the logic that freedom is only guaranteed by having no-one in power. But, biblically, freedom is only guaranteed by having the true God in ultimate power. I am the most free when I am obeying my maker (and his authorities)!
Secondly, it’s because the idea that freedom is guaranteed by autonomy appeals to my deeply sinful self. The essence of sin is the assertion of autonomy. So how fantastic is it that I can defend freedom while asserting my autonomy!
Thirdly, it’s because Nazi Germany stands behind every discussion of the topic. (I mean, surely, if we live like this, every government everywhere will turn into Nazi Germany, right?!) But I don’t live in Nazi Germany. I don’t live in anything like Nazi Germany. The government I live under actually does seek to do what is just and right. In fact, it does it much more than the rulers in Paul’s day did! But Paul still spoke the truth of God—that the authorities are God’s servants.
Fourthly, I suspect that I am constantly conned by the world into believing that this life is all there is. If my 80 years are all that I’ve got, I need justice now and perfection now. But if 80 years are the opening seconds of eternity, then true justice awaits the return of the perfectly righteous judge. If authorities do what is wrong, God will avenge the wrongdoing. That too is the promise of his word.
It is passages like Romans 13 that challenge me again about whether I believe the gospel. Do I believe in the sovereign goodness of God to establish his plans? Do I look for the resurrection from the dead and the world to come? Will I live patiently, waiting and seeking godliness in the mean time? Will I trust God and take him at his word?
Were you thinking of a particular application of this law, Grimmo (eg road rules, tax laws), or was it just the entire concept?
We’re so blessed that our government does not force us into worship of giant golden statues, and that if it did we could vote it out.
Thanks Paul,
Good article, speaks to a lot of things I’ve been thinking through also.
I wonder if it isn’t a little more complex than you’ve laid out in a democracy – where “the citizens” are rulers (at least once every few years
? How would you say an appropriately Rom13-minded Christian should approach lobbying govt and agitating for change in a democratic environment?
In Christ,
W
@Ellen. I was talking about the whole thing
@Wally. Thanks for your comments. I certainly don’t want to suggest that living in a democracy will be the same as living in a dictatorship (for example). I guess I was just thinking that my anti-authority bent leads me to easily bash politicians or complain etc. without realizing my responsibility to submit to (and pray for) our authorities. But as you point out, there is much more to be said here.