The Christian and government
RE: Today's Online Devotion 12-28-17 Once again, I am puzzled, confused, and troubled when reading Romans 13: 1-5. In particular the words, "For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong." History is littered with governments and leaders who abused the innocent or otherwise are peaceably going about their business doing what is right, and the peoples rising up to throw off the yoke of oppression. Certainly our own United States nation was formed from a rebellion against established authority. Yet, on the Sunday near the 4th of July, I don't hear sermons or prayers condemning the actions of our forefathers, but rather, (rightfully) giving thanks for our country and government. It seems like we are preaching and teaching out of both sides of our mouths. While we certainly acknowledge our governmental leaders, past and present, are sinful and flawed human beings capable of error and mistakes, I think in general we say our country has always tried to do "good" in the general sense, given the particulars of any given point in time. I would like to think Paul was qualifying the type of government God wants us to obey. If we were to read the morning news and find out that the people of North Korea were rising up in an attempt to overthrow the regime, would we pray for the rebellion to be quashed, or would we rather see it as God's hand at work? I think the latter. I would welcome your response. Thanks!
Rather than with only a celebratory attitude, there is reason to look back at the formation of our country with some concern. Was the Revolution justified? There was not agreement among Christians—then or now. Not all the actions of the colonists can be lumped together into a category of “right” or “wrong.” There was mob violence in some areas that was clearly sinful disobedience. In other places there were well-established and recognized colonial governments that objected to what they saw as illegitimate interference in their jurisdiction. It is well documented that Lutherans who lived in this country at that time were divided in their loyalties.
In Romans 13, the apostle Paul was not qualifying the type of government God wants us to obey. When Paul wrote of being “subject to the governing authorities” (verse 1), and when the apostle Peter wrote of submitting to and honoring the emperor (1 Peter 2), Nero was emperor. He was definitely no friend of Christians; his atrocities against them are well documented. Yet, the directives of “be subject” and “honor” applied even to him—not because his life or actions generated respect, but because he filled a seat of authority God had established.
Paul’s point in the verse you cited is that God’s design for governmental authorities is that they punish those who break laws and protect those who keep laws. When citizens abide by the laws of the land, there is no need to fear governmental authorities. For example, if people have not broken any laws, there is no need to be afraid of a passing police car as they walk down a sidewalk. On the other hand, those who are lawbreakers have reason to fear governmental authorities.
God’s fourth commandment speaks of his representatives in government, in the church and in the home. Not all those who represent God in those three areas do so in ways that God wants. Still, God instructs people to honor and obey his representatives, unless they command a course of action that is contrary to what God says in his word (Acts 5:29). I hope this provides some help.