A Counter Cultural Family (Ro 13:1–7)

Introduction

This is a particularly difficult message. Not because the text itself is hard, but because when we read this text, we feel the separation of 2,025 years. As we well know, Paul is writing to (1) Christians, (2) in Rome, (3) under the rule of Emperor Nero, (4) around the year 57-58. You and I are Christians, but we are not Romans under Nero in the year 57 or 58. Paul’s instructions to the Christians in Rome are incredibly clear, but because of the amount of separation between Paul’s day and our own, the text leads us to ask at every turn, “But what about…?!” or “But what if…?!” Indeed, these are good questions to ask, the central question being: how are we to figure out what Paul’s words mean for a 21st century western democratic republic?

We are continuing our study of the book of Romans this morning, looking at what it means to live as a family. I want to remind us that the last few messages as well as the next few messages hinge on Romans 12:1–2. There, the apostle Paul told the readers:

…in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Everything that follows these two versus is specific and direct application for renewed, transformed, living sacrifices. Two weeks ago I preached verses 3–8 of chapter 12 detailing how living sacrifices live in the united body of Christ. Last week Pastor Paul preached verses 9–21 of chapter 12 detailing part 1 of the Christian love ethic. Now, here in verses 1–7 of chapter 13 the apostle Paul instructs us on how living sacrifices respond to governing authorities.

Despite the chasm between Paul’s world and ours, his words are still relevant and applicable for our 21st century, western context.

I. Paul’s Thesis (Ro 13:1a)

Paul begins this section with an incredibly simple, yet challenging, thesis statement. Here is the big idea of Romans 13:1–7: “Let everyone submit to the governing authorities.” Simple, right?! Yet this statement immediately brings three questions to mind.

The first question that might pop in your head is, “Who is Paul talking about when he says that “everyone” should submit…?” This question is quite easy to answer. Think about it: Paul is speaking to the Christian church in Rome, giving them instruction on how to live as sacrifices. In the context of Romans 12–15 it makes sense that here, when Paul says “everyone” he means all Christians in Rome.

A second question that might come up is “Who or what is Paul talking about when he says “governing authorities”?” Again, he is writing to Christians in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire. Thus, it makes the most sense that Paul is speaking about Roman government or rule. This is further evidence by verses 7 where Paul speaks about paying taxes, tolls, and giving honor.

A third and final burning question that you might have as you think about this passage for today is “What does Paul mean by “submit”?

There are two possible meanings of the Greek word behind the english word “submit.” The first one that might naturally come to your mind is “to obey.” While submit might at some point include obedience, the Greek word that Paul uses, as one scholar says, “does not mean so much “to obey”…or to do the will of someone but rather “to lose or surrender…” (TDNT, 8:40). If Paul had meant strict obedience, there is another perfectly clear Greek term he could have used, but he does not.

Second, more likely definition is to be in a subordinate position. In other words, what Paul means by submit in this verse is to recognize that there are authorities above you. Paul uses the same word in other passages such as Ephesians 5:21 where Paul says Christians should “[submit] to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This type of submission, as Doug Moo puts it, means that we acknowledge others have authority over us and that means we will usually obey, but sometimes disobedience is compatible with submission.

In summary of this first point, Paul is telling us in verse one that he wants all Christians in Rome, who have been transformed by the renewing of their minds and are living as sacrifices pleasing to God, to recognize and obey those who have authority over them. But here’s the thing: Paul’s words are totally out of step with our current culture.

This statement, this command, grinds against our cultural norms. We live in a society and culture that abhors authority structures. We live in a culture that prioritizes personal autonomy and authority over societal, religious, or institutional authority. In his book “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self,” Carl Trueman details the prevalence of this worldview:

The rise of the modern self is a story about the gradual dethroning of external authorities—whether God, tradition, or nature—and their replacement with internal feelings and personal experiences as the primary guides for life (ch. 5)

The world we inhabit is one in which the subjective feeling of the individual has become the ultimate guide for identity and behavior, and the authority of any external structure—be it religious, social, or familial—is viewed with suspicion or outright hostility (ch. 6)

In the modern world, freedom is increasingly defined as the ability to live according to one's internal desires and feelings, with no obligation to conform to external standards or authorities. This has led to a cultural atmosphere that exalts autonomy and views authority as inherently oppressive (ch. 7)

Make application on how this is the air that we, we sitting in this room, breathe.

Paul’s words are intensively counter cultural to our day. Yet despite this friction between modern culture and biblical ethics we must obey the inspired words of the apostle and stand out as those who have respect for authority. Yet, we must also recognize that this respect and submission to authority does not mean blind obedience to the governing authorities. In fact, as I have already mentioned, sometimes disobedience must be had to properly honor the governing authorities. Sounds counter-intuitive doesn’t it? You might be asking, “when would such disobedience properly honor the authorities?” The answer is that when we disobey the demands of authorities that would lead us to sin against or reject God, because our ultimate submission, our ultimate allegiance is to God alone.

Christian’s are to submit to the governing authorities because to do so is to submit to God.

II. Paul’s Theological Argument (vv. 1b–2)