Submitting to Government

Of sermons regarding how a Christian ought to interact with government, there are no end. However, in my experience, they can mostly be summarized as “Do whatever the government says unless they explicitly contradict God, at which point you no longer need to respect them.”

You can even see such views in the US Declaration of Independence:

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

The Scriptures

The texts that speak most directly to this topic are Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17. However, for the right for godly men to resist this authority, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and the Apostles (in Acts 4-5) are given.

While those texts are vital to understand this topic I believe the interpretation misses some of the focus of those texts and has created an imperfect view of the relationship between Christians and government. One, because such a view basically makes governing officials arbiters of morality on all matters besides those explicitly addressed by God, and two, because that entire authority can be cast off like a dirty garment the moment they do contradict things addressed!

We’ll start by looking at Romans 13:

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Romans 13:1-4

The first thing that seems often overlooked, but is clear here is how much this section focuses specifically on judgement, fear, wrath, the sword, and avenging. Hopping over to 1 Peter 2, you will notice a similar focus:

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor 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.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:13-21

We see punishment, sorrows, suffering, and beatings throughout the text. They’re not suggesting that governments have the ability to determine right and wrong. A “wrongdoer” is assumed to be self evident prior to the governing actions in this text. This is not what we would call a “legislative” view of the role of a government. Instead, this is focused on the “executive” role, or law enforcement. This isn’t “live according to every dictate of the government” but rather “respect the power God has given earthly authorities to wield the sword against wrongdoers”.

The authority given to the government here is one of collecting taxes and arresting or killing wrongdoers, not informing morality by legislative action.

Were the Faithful “Disobedient”

So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 4:18-20

Here, you can see recognition of the necessity for authorities to determine what they would enforce. However, you also see that, while Peter and John understand the authorities must deliberate on how they will interpret the will of God, they will do likewise themselves and live according to what they have seen and heard.

What God had commanded them was at odds with the commandment of government. They clearly followed the will of God rather than man, because they end up arrested in the next chapter! This proves they were no longer respecters of government, right?

and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

Acts 5:40-41

However, even here you see that they continue to respect the government’s authority to enforce their laws even if those laws are unjust. They didn’t organize a protest, or worse yet, a rebellion to oppose or overthrow the government for it’s unrighteous commands. Instead they took the suffering at the hands of man with rejoicing and continued to do good, heedless of the rulings of the authorities.

The Subtle Difference

How does that change our perspective?

First, rather than look at a nation’s laws as moral guidance except when they clearly aren’t, we should look to God, who has given us scripture as a guide to all righteousness and living according to those principles. Essentially, what our governing officials decide is “right and wrong” not only shouldn’t override God’s expressed will, but it also shouldn’t be allowed to cloud up our understanding of God’s will either.

Second, we shouldn’t harbor a heart of rebellion, waiting for the government to speak contrary to God so that we have a reason to oppose them. We are to recognize that their authority to arrest, beat, and kill people, even when their reasons for doing so are wrong, are ultimately given to governments by God.

Third, this really rules out any consideration of an anarchist option for Christians. We are to recognize and even appreciate the need for law enforcement, even if we do not agree with the laws being enforced. It would not usher in a golden age of freedom and civility. Rather, it would result in a world where God’s wrath would have no enforcer and wickedness would thrive.

Unjust Authorities

But where does that leave us when our authorities are absolutely wicked and are wrongly persecuting people?

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12

We are to count those sufferings as blessing, for we are counted worthy to suffer as Christ suffered. Nobody ever said living for Christ was easy!