The Encourager
“Attitude Toward Government - by Jeff Curtis”
Attitude Toward Government
By Jeff Curtis
In Romans 13, Paul discusses what it means to live as a Christian. He emphasized that a believer must submit to the government by obeying its laws and paying taxes (13:1-7). An important question in Jesus’ day was how God’s people should relate to civil authorities. On one occasion His enemies asked Him, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (Luke 20:22). The Jews hated the Romans and hated paying taxes to them, but we know their question was really a trap. If Christ answered ‘yes,’ He would alienate His Jewish followers. If He said ‘no,’ his enemies could report Him to the Roman governor (Luke 20:22). He held up a coin and asked, “Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” “They said Caesar’s” (Luke 20:24). So, Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Luke 20:25).
Paul wrote to the church in Rome around AD 57-58, Jewish resentment was reaching a boiling point. The Jews harbored ill will toward the Roman government. Gentiles in the church at Rome may have sympathized with their Jewish brethren on this point. Rome had driven both Jews and Christians from Rome a few years earlier.
Whatever his motivation, Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) thought it was important to include instructions on how a saved-by-grace person should relate to human government. The subject is also mentioned in 1Tim.2:1-2; Titus 3:1 and 1Peter 2:13-17. But Romans 13:1-7 is the longest discussion on the subject in the New Testament. This text doesn’t cover every question that might be asked, but, it is an important revelation on a subject that impacts all our lives
When we become Christians, we are rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Col. 1:13). Even so, we remain citizens of an earthly kingdom / nation. How should relate to civil authorities? What are our responsibilities? In verse 4, we see that human rulers are called “servants of God.” If one has ever studied Romans 13, these statements might seem strange or extreme. But, back in chapter 9, Paul emphasized God’s control of earthly rulers when he described Pharoah (9:16-18).
As we read these inspired statements, questions could come to our minds. We wonder about evil rulers from the past and present; did God ordain these? Were their reigns established by God? We can’t answer every question that could be raised, but we can make observations about God and human governments.
- God instituted civil authority for the good of mankind.
- Every civil authority exists because God allows it.
- God can use evil government to accomplish His purposes.
People have and always will try to make a distinction between “good” and “bad” governments, they attempt to between “good” and “bad” laws. They insist God doesn’t expect us to obey “bad laws.”
We feel overwhelmed by traffic laws, building codes, tax regulations, and the slow process of paperwork. We feel strangled by bureaucracy. But we have not been given the right to distinguish between “good laws” and “bad laws.” If it is a law, we must obey it.
Meditate on this:
Acts 5:29
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.
