Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Romans 13:1-7
 |
| Nero |
Octavian, considered the best of the lot, died in 14AD. He died of peaceful causes. But the rest of them died or took power under suspicious circumstances. Tiberius was adopted by Octavian, but could have been assassinated by Caligula or the head of the Roman police force (praetorian guard). Caligula, was assassinated by a conspiracy between Roman senators and the praetorian guard. Claudius, was probably poisoned by his wife Agrippina the Younger in order to put her son Nero, into power. Nero would go on to murder his mother, his wife and her unborn child.
It is clear that Paul states that all governments, all over the world are ordained and put there by God, no matter under what horrible methods that government was established. In fact, Paul, goes on to say there is no power but of God. If this is true, then to oppose any government by force, or resist it, is the same as resisting God himself, since he established that government.
Now Paul goes on to describe what rulers are, not what they should be. Rulers are not a terror to those who do good things. We believe this is what Paul is referring to in Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." We are not aware of any government in the history of the world, even the most dictatorial, that is persecuting, or would have persecuted anyone, for practicing these things. Indeed, those who practice such things, will get praise from the government. Paul goes on to say that they are ministers to believers for good. But to those who practice evil, governments are the ministers of God to seek revenge. Christians are to obey them not only because they are afraid of the punishments (wrath), but because they are commanded by God to obey them.
This obedience goes all the way to paying their proper taxes and honoring members of the government. It does not matter if they disagree with them politically, it does not matter if they are immoral person. They are to be honored due to their position in authority.
Some have claimed that any government that does not represent the people it rules is not to be obeyed but overthrown. This is not the biblical position. Certainly, the Roman government of Pau's day was a democratically elected government. Rome took territory by military conquest, often brutal. They ruled those territories through military force if necessary. If we look at the very words of Jesus about how people in power are to be treated, there is the famous example where he states that we are to render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar (Mark 12:17). What did he say elsewhere about serving those in power? "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." (Matt 5:39-41)
This does not mean that Christians are not permitted to criticize things that a government may do wrong. They are. But, they are never to do it with violence. They are to work within the means that government has provided for change. This means that Christians are to not use violence against their rulers.
Objections to this View
Some give examples of David, Abraham and others going to war. But in these cases, they acted as their own government. They were not individuals. Some have cited passive resistance as a correct procedure for producing changes in government practice of laws. If these demonstrations are permitted by the laws of that government, then there is no resistance involved, but if the demonstrations are unlawful, then a Christian should not participate in them.
There is only one time when a Christian may lawfully disobey the government. That is when the government tries to force them to disobey God. There is no objective line to determine this. It is left to the individual conscience of each believer, as he sees and understands the Bible. In these cases, we must say with the apostles, that we must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:28-29).
In my opinion (only) the highest governmental power in the United States to which all are to be submitted to is NOT the government. It is the Constitution, to which both the people and the government is to submit. It is the unique structure of our system of government that when either government or the people are found outside the boundaries of that Constitution, then it is the right and duty of the other side to place the offending party back into submission. In any other system of government on earth, the government has total authority. But not in this land. This system recognizes the "God given rights" by virtue of the creation order, for every individual and the government is NOT allowed to violate that, but is too ensure and protect those rights. God raised up our nation, the Founding Fathers and our system of government to protect the people from tyrannical government and within our system of government the people retain the right to alter or abolish any government that becomes abusive of those rights. Now about Rom. 13 - yes submission is a biblical principle. A woman is to submit to her husband, the husband to Christ, the children tothe parents and a congregation to its leadership. This is a general principle - and it is good and right in itself. We are NOT to go about shooting government authorities just because they raised the property taxes (again), there are legal channels for addressing issues. However submission is only a general principle and NOT a moral absolute. A wife does not need to submit to beatings and torture, a child does not need to submit to perversions and illegal activity encouraged or demanded by parents, a congregation follows a minister only as he follows Christ and teaches correctly, but if it be found the minister is corrupt and teaching heresy, it is the right of the congregation to remove that leadership and institute new leadership loyal to the Gospel. And so today in this country, if the government becomes rogue, and removes all constitutional restraints, become tyrannical and genocidal, we are not required to submit to such. The Jews were correct to resist in the Warsaw ghettos, the French right to resist Nazi occupation, resisters in the old Soviet Union were correct to do all in their power to bring down that evil government.
ReplyDelete