I. INTRO:

Eric Robert Rudolph is a suspect in the 1996 bombing at the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, which killed 1 and wounded 111 others. He is also charged with having bombed more than one abortion clinic.

Though the FBI offered a $1,000,000 reward for information leading to his arrest, he alluded them for more than five years in the Appalachian wilderness in North Carolina, where he was finally arrested behind a Save-A-Lot store as he scavenged for food.

These bombings were allegedly in furtherance of his ideology and religion. It is thought that Rudolph had the assistance of sympathizers while evading capture. Some in the area were vocal in support of him. Two country music songs were written about him and a locally top-selling T-shirt read: "Run Rudolph Run."

Abortion bomber right?
Anarchists, are they right?
How about just hecklers, are they right?

II.What is the Christian response to govt? Submit.

All Submit
The main teaching of this passage is contained in just the first third of one verse: “(3)Everyone must (1)submit himself to the (2)governing authorities…”
It is so short because this main part is not hard to explain or understand.
It is hard to accept and apply for self-reliant, independent Americans in an unjust world.
That is probably why the bulk of the verses are given to explain why we should submit.
Today we’ll go from the clear & general towards the nuanced & specific. Using the answers to the “why” question and the final two verses we will look at what limits if any should be place on this general command that “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities…”

III. Why should the Christian submit?

A. God establishes all govt. vs.1a-2

Thus rebelling is against God
It is established in general to provide order, doing good, as opposed to the disorder and evil of anarchy

B. It is thus good spiritually to submit to govt, vs.5

Though imperfect, govt as entity is established and supported by God, and thus we should also support it.

C.It’s also good practically to submit to govt, vs.3-4

Get along w/govt by submitting
Govt (usually) gives fear only to lawbreakers

D.But some crooks are exalted, and some good folk are judged, like Herod and Jesus.

Says Dr. Carson, “the doctrine of unlimited submission to civil government in temporal things appears a hard saying. Who can hear it? If this sentiment prevails, it may be said, rulers may tyrannize as they please. They who speak thus do greatly err, not knowing the Scriptures, neither the power of God in the ruling of the world. It would be a hard thing indeed if God did not rule the rulers… ‘The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whither so ever He will,’ Proverbs 21:1… God rules on earth, even in the councils of His enemies, as completely as He rules in heaven.”
Isaiah 45:1 “This is what the Lord says to his anointed,

to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of

to subdue nations before him

and to strip kings of their armor,

to open doors before him

so that gates will not be shut

Was God in control when Pilate had Jesus crucified?

IV. What are the limits to that submission?

When to ignore govt, then?

A. Of course, if the government interferes with conscience, then the Christian must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29)

B. Individuals and government have different rules.

What of the American Revolution? Can there be a “new government” that has the right to throw off an old one?

C.Some specific examples

1. CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE: MLK’s passive resistance for civil rights was a glorious work. But what of this passage? Are we submitting when we agree to our arrest? And did not the apostles ask “judge for yourselves, is it right that we obey men or God?

The preparedness to pay the price to expose injustice, not to rebel

2. TAXES FOR IMMORAL USE: Rome used some money to build pagan temples, and they did not by any means always provide justice as they ought. Still, it is to this govt that Paul urges submission, and Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and unto God what belongs to God.”

3. NATIONAL REVOLUTION: What of the American Revolution and “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?” Individuals and government have different rules. Are these rights xian?

This zeal for preservation of the Christian faith, both culturally and individually, often gets blended in with strong views about economics, taxation, social issues, and partisanship, so that the Bible gets wrapped in the flag. ! V. invitation
The real solution to these issues lies not in your acceptance or disagreement with the authorities but in your understanding of and trust in God. When you properly understand God’s sovereignty
Did God rule b4 us, and will he rule after we’re gone? Then can we not assume he is ruling now, and trust?
IS HE RULING YOU?