When Kingdoms Rise and Kingdoms Fall

Introduction

We want to welcome you today - its good to see each one of you and worship together. If it is your first time here, we are excited that you’ve joined us today. I want to get you up to speed on where we are in the current message series. We are at the very end of a series called “Taboo: Talking about the Things We Don’t Talk About.” We’ve covered everything from tattoos and piercings to marriage, and today we are going to have a discussion on Politics and Government. This series has been something that has generated a lot of really good discussion among us here at Involve Church and in our life groups throughout the week.

But, I want to be clear that good discussion is not enough. The desire of going through a series like this is to force us to go back to what God has to say on the issues. In other words, we want our hearts, minds, and actions to be shaped by what God’s Word says and not what is necessarily popular in current culture because God’s Word is truth and in it we find wisdom that is good not just for a people 2,000 years ago, but wisdom that is good for all people, in all cultures, and in all times. And so, as we are wrapping up this series called Taboo, our hope is that you are encouraged to come back to what the Bible has to say and are beginning to develop the skills to interact with difficult issues from a biblical perspective, which means you are constantly asking yourself, “What does God have to say about this?” and you have the tools to figure out the answer to your question.

So here we are in the last Sunday of Taboo and we are discussing probably one of the most controversial topics of our time: politics and government. Let’s be honest - you’ve probably gotten in some sort of argument or disagreement with someone over political views or the role of the government. And if you haven’t gone there, you may have some thoughts on the most recent presidential election. I know that I see all sorts of crazy comments regarding politicians on social media. It seems like politics have a unique way of polarizing and dividing people. Over the past several presidential elections I heard some interesting things like this:

Trump is as bad as Hitler!

Obama is Hitler! In fact he may be the antichrist!

Bush is Hitler!

Well, it seems like I remember back to when I first started paying some attention to politics and commentary every major politician with any kind of opinion on something is equated with some long-dead brutal dictator. But let me tell you something - Scripture has a unique view of how we are to interact with government - whether we think that government is good or bad. The Bible provides us with many different examples of good and bad governments and usually those governments are headed by a king that is either good or bad.

Today, we are going to look into specifically Paul’s view on government. But before we do that, let’s talk together about the background of Romans.

Background on the Passage

Nero was the emperor of the Roman Empire from during the time of the early church, from AD 54 to AD 68.

Nero was the emperor of the Roman Empire from during the time of the early church, from AD 54 to AD 68.

Before we dive into reading , its important that we put ourselves in the mindset of the people Paul was writing to. The letter to the church in Rome was written during an time when the Roman empire was about to be led by one of the most infamous emperors in history.

His name was Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, but you probably know him as Emperor Nero. Through manipulation, treachery, and murder, he eventually took the imperial throne. This guy became known as someone who was very good at mixing poisons to kill off his enemies. He also participated in all sorts of sexual perversions. Also, it was said that he was a talented musician and that you didn’t want to be better than him because if you were - he would figure out a way to have you killed.

When you hear about the early Christian church undergoing intense persecution at the hands of the Romans - and I mean stuff like throwing groups of Christians to the lions, crucifying them upside down, and bodies being lit on fire at night as they hung from the crosses - this guy persecuted Christians harshly. And it was to cover up something that happened that many historians think was actually his fault to begin with.

One Roman historian from his time says it this way:

“Hence, to suppress the rumour he falsely charged with the guilt, and punished with the most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who are hated for their enormities...Accordingly, first three were seized, who confessed they were Christians. Next, on their information, a vast multitude were convicted, not so much on the charge of burning the city as of hating the human race. And in their deaths they were also made the subjects of sport; for they were covered with the hides of wild beasts and worried to death by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set fire to, and, when day declined, burned to serve for nocturnal lights. Nero offered his own gardens for that spectacle, and exhibited a Circensian game, indiscriminately mingling with the common people in the habit of a charioteer, or else standing in his chariot; whence a feeling of compassion arose toward the sufferers, though guilty and deserving to be made examples of by capital punishment, because they seemed not to be cut off for the public good, but victims to the ferocity of one man.” - Tacitus, Roman historian

“Hence, to suppress the rumour,” says Tacitus (Annals, xv. 44), “he falsely charged with the guilt, and punished with the most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who are hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of that name, was put to death as a criminal by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea, in the reign of Tiberius; but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time, broke out again, not only throughout Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also, whither all things horrible and disgraceful flow, from all quarters, as to a common receptacle, and where they are encouraged. Accordingly, first three were seized, who confessed they were Christians. Next, on their information, a vast multitude were convicted, not so much on the charge of burning the city as of hating the human race. And in their deaths they were also made the subjects of sport; for they were covered with the hides of wild beasts and worried to death by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set fire to, and, when day declined, burned to serve for nocturnal lights. Nero offered his own gardens for that spectacle, and exhibited a Circensian game, indiscriminately mingling with the common people in the habit of a charioteer, or else standing in his chariot; whence a feeling of compassion arose toward the sufferers, though guilty and deserving to be made examples of by capital punishment, because they seemed not to be cut off for the public good, but victims to the ferocity of one man.”

Another Roman historian from Nero’s time says this...

“One of the most brutal dictators of all time.” - Suetonius, Roman Historian

Now how do you think that we, as followers of Jesus, should respond to such an evil tyrant? Its what Tim just read for us in ...

1 Peter 2:13–14 CSB

13 Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority 14 or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good.

1 Peter 2:13 CSB

Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority

1 Peter 2:17 CSB

Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

1 Peter 2:17

First, Peter makes it clear that it isn’t just some human institutions that we are to remain subject to, but every human institution…and by the way, you look at the original language for that word “every” and you’ll find no wiggle room. It means all.

Second, Peter provides a reason for being subject to every human institution - its for the Lord’s sake. He appeals to the reputation and progress of the message of the Gospel of Jesus - that Christ lived a perfect life, was crucified on a cross, and three days later rose from the dead. All that confess Him as Lord and repent from their sins will be forgiven and saved. Peter is saying that for the sake of that message and its progress, we are to be subject to every human institution. It also has the implication here that we submit to authorities because Jesus Himself submitted to authorities even as He was going to be crucified. He did not speak out against Pontius Pilate, but acknowledged that the authority that was given to Pilate was given by God Himself:

John 19:11 ESV

11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

John 19:10–11 ESV

10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

John

Third, Peter - knowing by this point about Nero and the persecution that was happening to the church - makes this crazy statement - “honor the emperor.” So not only does he say “be subject to” just some authority…he is now getting specific and telling believers to honor the man - to give esteem to - the one that persecutes them unjustly.

Romans 13:1-7

This message of being subject to the governing authorities isn’t just Peter’s - Paul talks in this way as well as Jesus. We are going to head over to and hear from Paul for a bit, so if you have your Bible or phone, go ahead and open to ’ll also have it on the screen. Keep in mind what we just read from Peter was written during the height of Christian persecution in the early church at the hands of Nero. What we are about to read is written by Paul during a time when Nero and his family are manipulating and murdering their way into power, but you’ll find that it both echoes Jesus and also foreshadows what we just read from Peter. Let’s read it:

Romans 13:1–7 CSB

1 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. 4 For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 5 Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. 6 And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. 7 Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

Before we dive in to this passage, let’s pray.

One of the most brutal dictators of all time

We are going to work through this one section at a time. We’ve spent a little bit of time in Romans before, but as a refresher - Romans is divided into two major blocks:

Paul’s Letter to the Church in Rome

The Foundation of the Christian Faith (Chapters 1-11)

How We Should Now Live in the Word (Chapters 12-16)

So we have just come out of a section of the letter in which Paul talks through how we are to behave towards our enemies, which is not repaying evil for evil, but repaying evil with good.

He then makes this statement that we just read:

Romans 13:1 CSB

1 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.

This word “submit” or “be subject to” has a connotation of subordinating yourself and being willing to submit to the orders of another person. Notice how it doesn’t say here, “once you agree with the governing authority…then you can submit…?” This is stated by Paul as a command - submit to every authority.

And Paul gives a reason that would probably give us pause in this day of polarizing politics. Whats the reason? Because there is not authority except from God - yes - and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.

Paul goes on to say,

Romans 13:2 ESV

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

Romans 13:2

We see that being subject to the governing authorities includes not resisting that government and that a consequence for resisting is judgment. Now, I don’t know about you, but the first thought that comes to my mind when I read that statement is this:

“What is resisting?”

As we seek to clarify for ourselves an ambiguous passage of Scripture one way can do that is to look for other examples of a situation or concept. The reason this particular concept is difficult for us is because we find ourselves wondering this: “What do I do if the governing authorities are doing things that are contrary to God’s desires and wishes?” This is an extremely important concept to talk through because it is also linked to the question “To what degree do I submit to the governing authorities, especially when it runs contrary to God’s desire for me?” Regarding the concept of resisting authority, when we begin looking through Scripture we can find a couple of specific examples of what it might look like if we were faced with this dilemma.

One situation is Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. If you were around a couple of years ago, you know that we went through the Old Testament book of Daniel, which tells the story of the Israelites who had been conquered and taken from their home in Israel, moved to a pagan nation with pagan kings that began putting in place requirements that directly contradicted the faith of the Israelites. In the case of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the King had made a giant, golden idol of himself and commanded all people to bow down and worship this idol. But, of course, this would be in direct contradiction to God’s law, so they are sentenced to death by being thrown into a fiery furnance and here is what they say to the king:

Daniel 3:17–18 CSB

If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”

daniel 3:

In the end, they survived the punishment and were not burned in the furnace.

Another example, this time from the New Testament, is in the book of Acts. To provide you with context, the Apostles are going throughout Jerusalem and performing signs and wonders in the name of Jesus and preaching the Gospel. But, the priests didn’t like this very much because there was the small detail that they had been responsible for Jesus’ death. So, they have the apostles brought before the Sanhedrin which was the full council of Israelites and here’s what they say to them:

Acts 5:28–32 CSB

“Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree. God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Acts 5:28-

And then they are flogged and sent on their way. And you know what? They continued teaching and proclaiming Christ even after they were threatened.

So what can we learn from these examples and how do we reconcile them with Paul’s command to be subject to the governing authorities? There is a difference between the government permitting an evil act and the government placing a requirement on you to do something that runs contrary to what God commands. In the instance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, God had commanded that they not bow down to false gods and idols. So they refused. In the case of the apostles, they were commanded by Jesus to make disciples and proclaim the Gospel, so they made that clear once again to the Sanhedrin.

So what can we do with that? You may be aware of a number of things permitted and even done by our government with which you strongly disagree. It seems that it is alright to speak out against these things and even participate peaceably in the established process to make a change. But until the government requires some act of you that runs contrary to what God has commanded you to do, you need to keep this at the forefront of your mind:

Romans 13:2

Romans 13:2 CSB

So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.

Going on to verse 3, we see that

Romans 13:3 CSB

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.

Romans 13:3–5 CSB

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.

Romans 13:3-

There is a lot in this section that we don’t have a lot of time to cover, but Paul continues to make the point that the government is given authority by God. Ultimately, what Paul is asking us to do is trust in the sovereignty of God. The question you have to ask yourself is this:

“Do I trust God to work all things together for the good of those who love Him?” Paul literally makes that statement in this same letter in chapter 8

Romans 8:28 CSB

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

So if we believe that statement is true, then even the government, whether it does evil or good in our eyes, will ultimately be used by God for our own good. It all comes down to trusting God, knowing that He is in control, and knowing that He has said in Scripture that civil governments are His servants.

Taxes

And now we get down to it - it seems that Paul has some specific agenda in mind when addressing the believers in Rome. Even though Christ long ago settled the argument on whether taxes should be paid, this particular issue was addressed by Paul once again in this letter. Here’s what he says:

Romans 13:

Romans 13:6–7 CSB

And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

So it must have been at least a discussion among the believers in Rome whether or not to pay taxes to Caesar. Paul definitively reinforces what Jesus had said: yes. And the foundational motivation behind paying taxes for a believer in Christ is the fact that civil government is an institution set up by God Himself.

Conclusion

A few rem

I want to share with you a few remaining thoughts on civil government as we close and perhaps give you a few suggestions in how to take what is clearly a timeless principle from Scripture and apply to it to our own lives.

First, I want to reiterate something that was spoken by the prophet Daniel whom we read from earlier:

Daniel 2:20–22 CSB

20 and declared: May the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to him. 21 He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals the deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him.

Daniel 2:20-

God is the one that ordains civil governments, whether good or bad. In His infinite wisdom He has chosen to use government to carry out His purposes, including helping to keep evil at bay in the world.

Secondly, I want to remind us what Jesus said in :

Matthew 28:18 CSB

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Ultimately, our allegiance is not to any earthly government, but our allegiance belongs to the One that has all authority, including authority over the most powerful of kings: that is our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

And that leads me to our last and final thought for today. Just as our allegiance belongs to Jesus whose kingdom is not of this earth, so also is our citizenship not of this earth. Take a look at something else Paul had to say:

Philippians 3:20–21 CSB

20 but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.

Phil 3.20

One of the reasons that we sometimes get confused and look to government to make all things right is because we are impatient. What we really long for is the day when Christ will subject everything to Himself, every tear will be wiped away, sin and sorrow will be no more, and peace will rule the nations. But that day hasn’t come yet. In our pride and arrogance we try to bring this about through human systems, ingenuity, and rule-making. But as it turns out, it is part of God’s plan for us to look forward to that Day that He will bring about when we will finally take our place as citizens of heaven.

What do we as believers do with all of this?

Show respect to government officials and pray for them.

Pay your taxes.

Engage in the political system if you are gifted and passionate to do so.

Remember that the church is the one tasked with taking the light of the Gospel to the world, which includes meeting physical needs and most importantly sharing Christ to meet the spiritual need - this means you.

Speak out against evil in our society that is permitted by the government.

Live in a why that shows the ability of God to change a person

Peaceably resist requirements placed on you personally by the government that violate God’s commandments as specified in Scripture.

Let’s pray.