Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost

The State and the Christian

It’s fun reading other Pastor’s tweets about this week’s texts. One Pastor I know wrote: “Doing theology by exception is terrible, but it is popular practice. We shouldn’t read Romans 13 and jump straight to times when we can disobey governing authorities.”

I’ll say that too often as American Christians people try to make a case against our government from scripture or tradition when they should be using the constitution or, at times, common sense.

Tyranny and Freedom are both the home of the Kingdom of God. Christianity does not specifically endorse one form of governance over another.

We have a king unlike any other.

Four Parts:

vv.1-2 The role of the Christian

vv. 3-4 The role of the state

vv. 5-7 The relationship of Christian and State

vv. 8-10 The positive life

VV. 1-2 The Role of the Christian

Romans 13:1–2 ESV

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.

Our Confessions were signed by State Leaders in 1530. Holy Roman Empire

Your Imperial Majesty’s most humble, obedient servants

John, duke of Saxony, elector

George, margrave of Brandenburg[-Ansbach]

Ernest, duke of Lüneburg

Philip, landgrave of Hesse

John Frederick, duke of Saxony

Francis, duke of Lüneburg

Wolfgang, prince of Anhalt

The Mayor and Council of Nuremberg

The Mayor and Council of Reutlingen

They signed in agreement to this:

The Book of Concord Article XVI: Concerning Public Order and Secular Government

The gospel does not overthrow secular government, public order, and marriage but instead intends that a person keep all this as a true order of God and demonstrate in these walks of life Christian love and true good works according to each person’s calling. [6] Christians, therefore, are obliged to be subject to political authority and to obey its commands and laws in all that may be done without sin

Now before we get all huffy, about laws that may be done without sin let’s briefly look at Jesus.

Why was Jesus crucified?

Matthew 27:27–31 ESV

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

He was crucified for insurrection, for blasphemy against the Roman Emperor. This is the extent to which Christ was submissive to the government.

We must be quite sure before we decide that we know better.

The bible is full of Bad kings and bad states that were used for His purpose (Nebudchanezzer, Cyrus, Saul, David)

In 13.1 Paul says to be subordinate- the word is Hupotasso (slide) subject or subordinate

In 13.2 Paul says to Not be insubordinate- the word is antitasso (slide)

In short we as Christians are urged to be subordinate, not insubordinate.

VV.3-4 The role of the state

Romans 13:3–4 ESV

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, 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.

I personally prefer that we have the sword. 2006 in college and a church leader called me about a church worker and relations with minors. I said call the police. He went to jail for 15 years.

Compare this to the haunting verse at the end of Judges

Judges 21:25 ESV

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Christians are fundamentally people of order and the state, even poorly performing ones provide some level of order.

An example of this is that it is unlikely that anyone in our room has had a road built through their yard. The state limits this. Another obvious example is that even in challenging times we still have schools that are up and running.

Our confessions agree with this:

The Book of Concord Article XVI: Concerning Public Order and Secular Government

Concerning public order and secular government it is taught that all political authority, orderly government, laws, and good order in the world are created and instituted by God [2] and that Christians may without sin exercise political authority; be princes and judges; pass sentences and administer justice according to imperial and other existing laws; punish evildoers with the sword; wage just wars; serve as soldiers; buy and sell; take required oaths; possess property; be married; etc.

[3] Condemned here are the Anabaptists who teach that none of the things indicated above is Christian.

[4] Also condemned are those who teach that Christian perfection means physically leaving house and home, spouse and child, and refraining from the above-mentioned activities. In fact, the only true perfection is true fear of God and true faith in God. For the gospel teaches an internal, eternal reality88 and righteousness of the heart, not an external, temporal one.

In general we protestants ascribe to the idea of ‘two kingdoms’ that exist side by side.

The left hand Kingdom- Coram mundo - before the world

The Right hand Kingdom- Coram deo - before God

When these two are conflated you end up with Calvin in Geneva, feel free to read how that worked out or The Holy Roman empire (again feel free to read)

When these two are ignored you end up with Autocracy- a government where rulers possess absolute power or Monasticism- hermits on their own.

Lutheran theology holds this tension, God is in control yet He allows limited roles and the best rulers know their role.

In sum, the state provides sword and protection. Ideally the state protects space for church though the church historically has flourished especially under the threat of the sword.

VV. 5-7 The Relationship of Christian and State

Romans 13:5–7 ESV

Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 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.

Be hupatasso not antitasso!

Two reasons: 1. Coram Deo, (Where you always live) 2. Coram Mundo (Where you presently live)

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Moving to St. Louis we bought Cardinals gear, transformed ourselves into Cards fans- who’s pitching?

Christians do the same thing- where are we headed and how aware are we of our present situation?

It’s this simple in Romans, If you want to demonstrate your love for God- pay your taxes.

If you feel persecuted I’d encourage you to read the roman History of this church and then think about how they would perceive our present context.

VV. 8-10 The Positive Life

Remember back last week?

Romans 12:9–10 ESV

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Christians should be the best citizens.

The exception to the rule

Are there times that we disobey the state? Yes. The problem with that discussion is that they are clearly not included in this passage.

Our confessions state this:

The Book of Concord Article XVI: Concerning Public Order and Secular Government

But if a command of the political authority cannot be followed without sin, one must obey God rather than any human beings

This is based on Acts 5:29

Acts 5:29 ESV

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

This passage is specifically about preaching the Gospel. Telling others about Jesus.

The point of Paul writing about the church submitting to the government is not so that we will have mindless drones. He knows that the Christian life is a life of dying to self. Anytime we can put that into practice is a good opportunity to teach about the new life we have in Christ.

We must obey God rather than men in those times that our ethics are in conflict, not because it’s easier, but because when the state is in conflict with our king it is often because what Christians will be required to do is much more difficult.

During WWII Lutheran Pastor and eventual protestor preached the gospel and was captured by the Nazis. When the prison Chaplin came to visit the Chaplin said “Brother why are you here?, Why are you in prison?” Niemoller responded “And brother why are you NOT in prison?”

The Christian life is a life of service to our Eternal King who has come to both take us captive and set us free. May we be found dutiful citizens of Heaven when He returns. Amen.