Being a Good Christian Citizen

Today is the last sermon from the Book of Romans. But instead of just finishing up chapter 16, we are going back a bit to the first verses of chapter 13. I had started this sermon in September, but was led to put it off until almost November, which is our normal season of political input through the ballot box.

This is one of the primary Biblical passages on a Christian’s responsibility to the society in which we live, our subjection to the authorities under which we live, and even our responsibilities to pay taxes. Our brother Simeon uses this passage in his law enforcement classes to state the Biblical stand on policing authority as well.

If these things were not important for the Church, and for every Christian, they would not have been preserved in the New Testament for nearly 2000 years. Politically, Paul did not live in a modern democracy. The Romans operated on a system of laws, and did have a senate, but this was put in place by the movers and shakers, not by a general election. The Roman Emperor, or Caesar, was in power as long as he could hold his position through influence and military victory, subterfuge, murder, and threats. So Paul was not in a political system where anyone voted on who was in charge. He needed to re-frame the politics of his day in the light of the sovereignty of God.

Paul was a Jew who was also a Roman citizen. So he knew what measures Rome had imposed upon Jerusalem and Judea, how the governors and even the puppet monarchies of Herod’s descendants and relatives were political appointments of Caesar through Rome, and how the Roman legions were in charge of keeping the peace no matter what the cost to the populace.

Let’s just say that it was not a system that took directions from the people it served, yet it was a system in place by the grace and permission and sovereign control of the Lord God Almighty.

That is the point that Paul never forgets, even as he sometimes must stand up for his rights as a citizen, which in his missionary work he often sets aside in order to serve the mission of Christ instead of his own comforts.

For us, this year, we aren’t in the cycle to elect a President or members of the US House or Senate, but the first Tuesday of November in 2024 will be a very important election for our nation and our state. Of course, you are already well aware of the bluster and ambitions of people who want to take the reigns of political leadership in our country.

In the meantime, before we have national elections, you may have opportunity to vote in local elections, and there will be a primary election coming up.

This passage from Romans is not simply about who is in charge. It is more focused on how we must live in our respective societies in such a way that we will . . .

Be A Good Citizen

And with that, we also must remember that Paul does not have in mind the Republic of the United States of America. That was more than 1,700 years in the future for Paul. Paul isn’t writing to China or Russia or modern Israel either.

Paul is sending this letter, with its universal applications, to the church in Rome, the heart of the empire and the seat of government for most of the Mediterranean world, from Gaul to Achaia to Galatia, to Syria and Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon and all the way to Carthage, plus all the island nations of the Mediterranean.

Roman Christians were about to be accused of every possible political treason by the misguided egos of the Roman Emperors to follow Paul’s time. But already, Paul knew that Christians were in some peril where they where.

So Paul writes to the church with simple and timeless instruction:

Romans 13:1–2 ESV

1 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. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

When Paul wrote this, it was something like 25 years after the Romans had carried out the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This was a political system where the Roman Emperor was moving toward the idea that he was a god himself, and so he could do no wrong. The was the same government that ran the Jews out of Rome by the time Paul got to Corinth, because their complaints about the Christian were upsetting the Pax Romana—the peace of Rome.

Paul is reminding Christians that their faith in Jesus was not a license to rebel against an evil and corrupt government, for there was still a reason for their civil obedience even in that day.

Of course, you might consider that Paul wanted to be sure that if the authorities got hold of his letter to the church in Rome, he wanted to be sure he was not considered a revolutionary. But that is not really the message that we read in the Word of God as it has been preserved and protected and transmitted to us through 2000 years.

Paul says we must be subject to the governing authorities. That means whatever government is in place according to the laws of the land, not according to the opinions of some.

The reason for this is profoundly simple, based on the firm faith that we have a God that is in conrol. “There is not authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

This was used by later European monarchs establish their right to ultimate rule. Yet it is still God who is in control of who governs, regardless of our opinions about who it should be. It makes for shaky ground for revolutionaries, and this passage leaves no room for interpretation of God’s designs for political leadership. Always remember, God and God only has the big picture in mind.

Romans 13:2 “ Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”

This means that the attack on our Congress on January 6, 2021 should have never happened, if Christians who actually read their Bibles clear through were acting according to scripture. This has nothing to do with what political party you are loyal to. It has nothing to do with whether you agree or disagree with the ideals presented.

Since we are we are a republic, our “governing authority” is the duly elected houses of congress, and the duly elected president, and the duly appointed courts. Which means when an election is not won, there is no right to try to overturn it. Selfish ambition and misplaced loyalties led to an event that had not happened in 240 years of America’s existence as our own people stormed their own duly elected house of representatives with a mob mentality that was an effort to take what was not theirs to take.

The problem was a narrow sense of right that lead to doing what was wrong. Generally, a portion of the population placed their loyalty on a loser instead of on God’s sovereignty and tried to force their idol’s right to rule outside of the law. And continuing today the courts are making those responsible face the consequences of their actions.

This was not what was good for the country, and it has led to division and distrust and even the paralysis of the congress to carry out their responsibilities to govern.

Paul reminds us to . . .

Carefully Sort the Good from the Wrong

Notice I said to sort the GOOD from the WRONG. It’s not about our rights. almost always, what is good is what is right. But sometimes our sense of good gets clouded by our sense of rights, which leads to wrongs that are destructive instead of good for the people. It’s not about wants, either. Every person and all their supporters that run for office in our country want to win the election. Just like every player on a team wants to win the game. And if you don’t get what you want, you don’t have permission to throw a tantrum.

The last verse ended with “those who resist will incur judgement.” On the sports field, the Ref or the Ump can throw your out of the game, or have you removed from the field. So what should be expected for those whose actions against the government are destructive?

Romans 13:3–4 ESV

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Notice the contrast is not between what is right and what is wrong. It is between what is good and what is wrong. Doing good, behaving well, prevents a life of fear of the the authorities. Even the Mafia gets a pat on the back for a good job done when it makes it look good for the authorities.

But cross the line, and you better be aware that God has given civil authorities the responsibility to penalize the civil crimes.

Does the system always work? We certainly know that it doesn’t—at least not how it is best designed.

Not every action of every authority will be without sin. But that does not give us permission to discard that authority. Anarchy is not a God-ordained way to exist in society. No controls = no standards = no morals = no leadership that is good for God’s people.

Consequently, even if we do not agree with the style of government or the people in government, we need to work with the government. And when change is needed it should be that we work within the system for the good of all.

The Bible tells us this:

Romans 13:5 ESV

5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

We don’t get to decide if God got his way in an election. We must have enough faith to live with the fact that God has not lost control nor given up his sovereignty even when a government seems evil to us.

So, Paul tells us, rebellion against the government is a way to get on God’s naughty list because it is a rejection of God’s sovereignty. And God would rather we live without guilt nor fear, not needing to look over our shoulder to see if we are about to be caught in our sin.

It is not only behavior that is important. It is also about social responsibility.

The Bible actually tells us that. . .

A Christian Pays Taxes On Purpose

Because it takes resources to keep a government running, and apparently God approves of taxes! Or, at least, God approves of his people paying the government taxes that are due.

Paul says since the government is run by those who are ultimately appointed by God, it is proper and appropriate for us to give our support through our taxes.

Romans 13:6 ESV

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.

You can’t have peace officers unless you can pay them, you can’t have things like streets and water systems and sewage and fire protection and schools and everything else unless the money comes from the people who are served by it. So taxes are needed, and good citizens pay taxes.

A final point that Paul makes in this passage is to . . .

Pay Others What is Due

Since Paul is thinking about what it takes to be a good citizen, and he got to taxes as one way to show how to do that, and then it leads to something else.

We don’t just act like good citizens, if we are Christians. We act like good neighbors.

Part of that is recognizing the worth of others and their accomplishments and about what it means to give, nor just to take.

So Paul goes on to mention taxes, royalties, respect, and honor

Romans 13:7 ESV

7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Begin with what is owed: Pay your bills , pay your taxes, pay your loans, pay for your services. Then go farther: Treat others with respect. Those who should be respected because of their office or their position should be shown respect.

And how about those who wait on you in the restaurant. Learn their name. Don’t point out their mistakes; they may need you to make their day a good day.

Those who deserve honor, because of their character, because of their service, because of the work they do. The Bible says, show them honor when they are due honor.

In fact, all of this is to keep us reminded to pay up on all the debts we might owe so the only thing left is the Debt of Love. —which I shared with you on September 10; you can go to our YouTube channel and look that one up.

Finally, jumping toward the end of Romans 16 to finish this,

Don’t Support Those Who Divide

And I’m not talking about mathematicians here.

Paul tells us clearly that people who cause divisions between people are in it just for themselves.

It hardly gets more clear than this:

Romans 16:17–18 ESV

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

I could go on and on about this in terms of political and religious personalities, but I won’t. What does the Bible say?

Avoid those who cause divisions.

Avoid those who create unneeded obstacles.

Avoid those who teach contrary doctrine.

Why?

The Bible says they aren’t serving our Lord, they are serving themselves. Note that carefully.

The Bible says such people deceive the hearts of the naive.

Smooth talk and flattery have been effective for this since language was invented. We are perhaps even more prone to give in to the kind of language that agrees with what we were already thinking about something, with no sense of what is good according to God, for we are selfish creatures who want our own way.

Breaking out of this cycle of setting up some as enemies and some as allies makes us richer rather than poorer. If what we are giving up is our own perspective in order to try to gain more of God’s perspective, it is a good thing. If we are more involved with healing divisions than creating them, we are richer for it.

And God is honored by our loving approach to others.

Finally,

Seek to be Wise About What is Good

Romans 16:19 ESV

19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

so that your reputation with God and man is clear.