Faith in an Election Year Part 1

Romans 13 Exposition

Part 1

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

When we consider our duty in an election year we must first consider this truth. God has established human authority on earth. Beginning in Genesis with the establishment of man's “dominion” over the creation, God has afforded to humanity a degree of government and stewardship over the world. In a difficult time for Christians to follow the Authority of Caesar an the imperial government, Paul writes the Spirit's inspired instruction that the people of the church are to live in subjection to the civil governing authorities. While one can point to Daniel and even to the early Apostles for examples of how to obey God before the rules of men, here Paul is cautioning the church to avoid anarchy and the rejection of all civil authority. Our belief in no authority over Christ does not permit us to disobey lawful authority at will. Indeed by reminding us that “there is no authority except from God” Paul makes it clear that God still reigns as the highest authority and those who rule do so only at God's permission or pleasure. When he adds that “those which exist are established by God”, we are reminded that to reject human authorities is to reject what God has established either by his direction or by His permission.



2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

With the rejection of authority comes it's own punishment. When we refuse taxes there will be penalties. When we break traffic laws there will be fines. When we commit crimes there will be sentences. We are reminded that our rejection of authority is a rejection of something God has established.

3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

Why has God established human government. He reveals it here. Government has two biblical purposes to resist evil and to promote the good. Do evil and you will need to fear do good and you have reason to at least be free from fear of punishment and at best will be upheld. True there are times when this is not the case and when tyrants or those rulers who are simply incompetent end up punishing the good and promoting evil. In those cases we are also to trust that God will establish justice. Scripture here does not speak of the realities of all cases of human government but the intended purpose behind God's establishment of authorities. Where these purposes are abused it is a consequence of the sinful nature of humanity. That will be dealt with dually and according to God's will by either the transforming work of the Holy Spirit or by God's Judgment. Often it is even the use of human government from another or higher place which is used to correct abuses of power.

This is especially important to us in our form of government where we are given a certain, if limited, ability to effect change in our government. We have been granted the tools of voice through freedom of speech and of vote through regular elections. While we often feel limited in what we can actually accomplish we are given the ability to be a part of the authority of our government and work to do all we are able to resist evil and to promote good. We cannot neglect to do all we can to ensure that our elected leaders fulfill their God given responsibility to oppose evil and promote good. We will be accountable to God for what little we can do, they for the greater amount they have been given the power to accomplish.

5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.

We are told to be in subjection to authority both to avoid punishment but also to maintain a clear conscience. It is not just that we do not break those laws which we may likely be punished for breaking, but also we are to maintain a clear conscience by doing all that we do in a way that is legal and ethical. We are held to a higher standard as well, the standard of God's law, so that whatever is legal does not always equal what is right. In all things we are for conscience sake do that which is right before God.

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

The subject of taxes is important because it highlights the purpose of governors as “Civil servants” whose labors deserve to be rewarded. Cynically we could say that they do not do all that their salaries deserve but Scripture here does not give us the authority to decide that for ourselves and to refuse to pay taxes. Recall the question brought to Jesus regarding taxes. Matt 22:17-22
17 "Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? 19 "Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, " Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."
NASU

The question was given as to the righteousness of paying taxes to a repressive and pagan regime. Jesus upheld the practice saying “render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's and to God the things which are God's.”

7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

We are to give what is due to the one to whom it is due. I would encourage any Christian that it is his or her duty to pray for leaders. Knowing that a leader is given the holy task of resisting evil and promoting good it is essential that we should ask for the help of almighty God for them to do just that. Even for those who would not ask such help for themselves it is all the more important that we seek the Spirit's direction for those who would otherwise resist it. It is after all the Spirit's intervention for us that calls us to faith and to obedience while we were still sinners and seeking our own will alone.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark