Not My President?
Thinking about Romans 13:1-2.
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1-2)
Knowing the political unrest happening in Rome, Paul instructs Christians on how they must interact with the government.
As political unrest is rising in our own nation, this is certainly a message we need to hear again. Dissatisfaction with the current direction of the nation and fear of what opposing political parties may do to the United States can cause Christians to do things they ought not.
Being a “living sacrifice” for God (Romans 12:1-2) requires us to interact with our government in a certain way.
The Command.
Paul commands the Christians in Rome to “be subject to the governing authorities.”
The apostle was not merely suggesting that Roman Christians freely give up their own preferences to obey a pagan government; rather, he was commanding it. He did not want the Christians to give any hint of disloyalty that might imperil the peaceful spreading of the gospel to Spain and to other mission points, much less hinder local evangelism. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 466
The governing authorities most certainly refer to the government and the nation’s rulers. Paul mentions paying taxes in Romans 13:6-7, which would refer to Rome.
This same command is given in other places in the New Testament also.
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. (Titus 3:1-2)
Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (1 Peter 2:13-17)
Paul commanded Christians to submit to a government that had mistreated them and would mistreat them more in the future. No doubt, this was a challenging command for the Christians in Rome to hear. So Paul explains the reason for this command.
The Reason.
Paul commanded Christians to be subject to the governing authorities because their authority was “from God” and those in authority had been “appointed by God.”
The word for “appointed” or “established” in early Greek “was a military term for officers lining up men for battle. Later, in the New Testament, it has the sense of ordering or commanding something” (Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 467).
“If it didn’t suit God for that government to be there, it wouldn’t be there” (McGuiggan, Romans, 369). Daniel makes it clear that God rules in the kingdoms of men and raises up and removes rulers.
“…the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” (Daniel 4:32)
God is sovereign. The governments and rulers of this world have their authority from God. So to resist and rebel against the government is to resist and rebel against God.
The Consequence.
Paul reminds Christians what the consequences are for resisting the authority and ordinance of God - judgment.
This points to two things.
Facing the judgment of God Himself.
Facing the judgment of the government for resisting and rebelling (Romans 13:3-4).
Refusing to be subject to the authority of the government - and by extension, the authority of God - would bring serious consequences upon the Christians in Rome.
We live in a time where people are quick to dishonor governing authorities and threaten to resist if an opposing political leader comes into power.
This behavior is unacceptable for those who are “living sacrifices” for God - for those who strive to live according to the gospel of Christ.
Our government and governing authorities have received their authority from God. Not everything they do is done with God’s approval - that was also true for the Roman government when Paul wrote Romans.
But Christians have a responsibility and obligation to be in submission to the government and governing authorities - because we respect the authority and sovereignty of God.
The Word of God tells us to be led by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14-17; Gal.5:16-18). The government is upon the Lord's shoulders, and He is the one who allows who He wants that works with His ordained plan (Isa. 9:6-7). A lot of us are going to be surprise to who will be president. For me, it does not matter, because my trust is in God who has all power and not man. Only God can meet all of my needs through whoever He desires on earth (Phil. 4:19). And yes, it will be rough like no other but not a surprised to those who have a relationship with God; He will keep us (Psalm 91), and we have the world-wide insurance plan, His Word, and we do not have to sue to get the benefits that have been promised to us.
That’s a good reminder and something that’s difficult at times to do.
One question I do have though is there a line on how far a Christian goes in obedience to a government that’s going beyond doing things not approved by God to actively going against Him?
A modern example in America is during Covid lockdowns the government keeping churches from being open in some places. Would those Christian’s meeting regardless of the governments wishes be something they shouldn’t have done? Or is there a place to defy those orders?