God and Government

Romans 13:1-7

Where we are going over the coming weeks:

Today- one last week away from the Gospel of John.

Next week- return to John for a number of weeks as we built up towards Easter

Finally, we will spend a few weeks focusing on the cross right before Easter

Over the past few years the political climate in the American Church has become even more contentious than before and it has had damaging effects inside and outside of the Church. I am not here this morning to speak to the rightness or wrongness of any political position or legislation. I simply want to speak to what we are called to in our relationship to governmental authorities.

The government authorities have been instituted by God Himself

God reigns over all creation at all times and in every way

If this is really so, then He institutes every nation on earth and every government of every nation

Daniel 2:21- He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings, he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

Daniel 4:17b- the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’

Not only this, but He even reigns over the hearts and minds of rulers

Proverbs 21:1- The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

It is not a though any government, authority, or political figure has done anything outside of God’s sovereign control

He wasn’t taken off guard Hitler and the Nazis, and He wasn’t surprised when Joe Biden became president

I start here, not only becasue the text starts here, not also because the political fear and dysfunction of our hearts and minds toward government isn’t a party issue, its a God issue

Therefore, subject yourself to the governing authorities who are over you

There is no exception clause here

Many Christians have tried to wiggle out of this one and try to say that this is only speaking of those authorities who rule legitimately and justly, but there is not a hint of such an exception here or in all of the New Testament

In fact, the context in which Paul is writing is a governing authority ruled by Emperors who consistently abused power, indulged in debauched sin, and was at times even extremely hostile to Christians

This means that the default posture toward the government ought to be submissiveness

Titus 3:1- Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

1 Peter 2:13-17- Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor[b] as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

As long as it does not contradict God’s commands

We must never obey any authority who tells us either to sin

To do what is forbidden

To refrain from doing what is commanded

When government commands these things we must obey God and not man

Governmental authorities are a servant for your good

God has instituted authority as a good thing

Sinful man needs governance and restraint or else the sinfulness of man will run rampant and unrestrained

If you want to see the depths of the wickedness of sinful men, dissolve a government for even one day

Make no mistake, governments are a good gift from God

Even more, we in the West have enjoyed a type of governmental system that has undisputably led to the greatest amount of human flourishing of any governmental system in human history

There is much governmental sinfulness for us to pray and talk about with concern and maybe even some disgust

But there is far more to thank God for

They reward good and punish evil

This is a truism

Much of the time, even though far from perfectly, governmental authorities punish evil and look favorably on good conduct

For example- even North Korean law makes it illegal to murder, embezzle, commit prostitution, and steal

In verse 5, Paul even calls the punishment of the government towards lawbreaking God’s wrath

God uses the right and power of a government to enforce laws to bring a temporal kind of wrath on those who would commit sinful lawbreaking

Pay to the Governmental authorities what is owed

Taxes and revenue

Taxes are speaking of direct taxes such as property tax

Revenue is speaking of indirect tax such as import duties

The government has a legitimate right to tax its citizens in order that it can execute its duties

Therefore it is sin to refuse to pay taxes to the governing authorities

Respect and honor

The point here is that Christians are commanded to give respect and honor to the governing authorities because they have an authority given by God that is due respect and honor

This is why “Let’s Go Brandon” must not come out of the mouth of Christians

Those who have said this or any other disrespectful and vulgar statement towards the governing authorities must repent

What you say really matters

You can bring disrepute on the name of Christ

Unfortunatley this has happened over the past number of years in a heightened way

God commands that we speak differently from the world:

Ephesians 4:29- Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Titus 3:1-7- Bible

Do this all for the sake of conscience

The sword of the government is the lesser reason to obey

It is certainly a reason to obey

“Be afraid for he does not bear the sword in vain”

It is no light thing to be punished by the authorities for doing wrong

The greater reason is for the sake of conscience before God

This means a genuine clear conscious that comes from genuine godliness

This doesn’t merely mean don’t steal and cheat on taxes

This means guarding your tongue in regard to the things you say about governmental officials

This means praying for God to grant them help, wisdom, and that they might be saved by His grace

What we must passionately say is not “Let’s go Brandon” from our soapboxes, but rather “Lord, save Joe Biden” from our knees

We are citizens of heaven, not mainly of the United States

Fix your eyes on Jesus and live for Him

This includes the way that you think about, speak about, and pray for our leaders and governmental authorities

We ought to speak about political leaders and authorities in such a way that people ask for the hope that is in us

All of you life is designed to be for the glory of God alone, so don’t act as if this part of your life doesn’t matter. Make your Christ-centeredness be evident to all in regard to your dimenor, words, and actions towards the governmental authorities which God has placed over you

Acts 26:24-29

And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”