0511 LIMITS OF AUTHORITY

LIMITS OF AUTHORITY

“I don’t have to submit to my parents, because they aren’t Christians.”

“I didn’t vote for him, so I can talk bad about him.”

“I know that technically it’s against the law, but everyone is doing it, so what are they going to do?”

“He actively tortures and kills Christians. It’s time for us to rise up and let him know we won’t be bullied.”

Have you heard any similar stories? Perhaps you have said some of them yourself. In any case, we would do well to have an answer for each one. And I think all of them are answered in this brief teaching of Paul:

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭13:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let’s run each of the above statements past the first verse of Romans 13 and see what comes up.

“I don’t have to submit to my parents, because they aren’t Christians.” Parents are a governing authority, just as there are governing authorities in the civic, church, or organizational arenas. But what if they are unbelievers? Then certainly some of their decisions are counter to the will of God. And yet, Paul seems to say very clearly that “there is no authority except that which God has established.” 

“I didn’t vote for him, so I can talk bad about him.” In America, this seems to be the unwritten rule of politics and news media. And some are going so far as to take action against a politician whom they do not trust. Yet, the Bible claims here that “the authorities that exist have been established by God.” Not by unanimous human election. Not by a quorum vote. Paul uses a word that seems counter to any selective disobedience on our part: EVERYONE. “LET EVERYONE BE SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES,” Paul wrote. If EVERYONE is subject, then we don’t have a lot of wiggle room to give us permission to divide ourselves.

“I know that technically it’s against the law, but everyone is doing it, so what are they going to do?” There might be a second challenge found near the end of this statement: What are they going to do?” The implication is that if they can’t enforce it, we don’t have to follow it. But clearly that is a bad idea. The main point has not been addressed yet: “technically against the law.” If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you join them? That’s the question that was asked of previous generations. Today, the question has to do with getting caught, say, speeding or using marijuana, when you are within tolerance levels.

“He actively tortures and kills Christians. It’s time for us to rise up and let him know we won’t be bullied.” This one again seems to have more than one point. But the main point is this: If someone is ungodly and not Spirit-led, then do they cease to serve as “God’s servant for our good?” There seems to be no such margin in this passage. Do you know who was Emperor at the time when Paul wrote to the church in Rome? Nero! You know, the guy who used to burn Christians alive and use them as torches to light his gardens?! If Paul can write such strong commands to the church while Nero was hunting down and killing Christians, how much more should we pray for our leaders and follow their commands, and simply obey them while we pray for them.

There is a reason that Paul felt the need to write these words to the church at Rome. It was like writing to the believers in Washington DC, I would guess. They were all far more aware of politics and authorities and persecution and rebellions, as well as to the enemies and friends of the state. There must have been factions among the believers who advocated for breaking free of repressive government, while at the same time there were government workers and servants in homes of government officials. Put it together and you can see why there would be a special tendency in the church there to debate and/or reject certain authorities.

And so, my friends, let us all be subject to the governing authorities, whether those of civil government, or those of family, or those of church, or of a professional workplace—be subject! Amen.