PAUL’S SUBMISSION TO GOVERNMENT
Governing Authorities Part 1.
Today, I’m going to talk about government. Actually, this whole week, I’m going to talk about government.
Today will be the first of a series on governing authorities, from Romans 13. Before we get started on the first post, I suggest you get familiar with the text. Click HERE to read Romans 13:1-7.
If we take a look through a variety of commentaries, articles and Bible blogs on this topic; we find numerous opinions on these verses. Some of the skeptics readily say:
“These verses just mean the governing authorities in the church. They don’t really mean the government!”
Clearly, these people have some submission issues.
Unfortunately for the skeptics, their opinion just doesn’t hold up. We know that the early church never taxed the members of the body; yet Paul speaks of taxation in verses 6 and 7.
Another skeptics’ argument is:
“These verses were written and placed into Scripture by the King of England, while the first English translations were coming into existence.”
Wrong again, because scholars have found much earlier manuscripts of this passage.
So, whether we like it or not, Paul is in fact addressing the topic of government in this passage. Though separation of church and state tends to keep heads cool, this passage in Romans brings us to the point where we must discuss them together.
Throughout this week, we’ll be hashing out this passage and how it applies today. Check back in tomorrow, to look at some historical context!
Join the Conversation, Leave Your Thoughts
How did Paul submit to government?
Hey Jeremy – long time!
Fun topic – one I’ve been thinking about a lot since moving to Ottawa, starting a job working for te government, but simultaneously becoming an Anabapist (Short version: we generally don’t like governments).
I respond to this question with a metaphor. You’re a Canadian. Say for whatever reason you moved to England for a relatively short term – a few years. Would you pay the taxes? Definitely. Would you obey local laws that didn’t offed your conscience? Sure. Would you fill out necessary paperwork to get along in life? Why not. Would you pursue legal redress through English courts if you believed your rights under English law were violated in some way? Probably. But if England declared war on France would you fight in ther army? Uh, probably not. Not your country. Would you sing God save the Queen at soccer matches? Probably not. Not your Queen. You might stand out of respect though. Would you vote in Englih elections? Uh uh, not English. Would you “feel proud” to be English? Nope. You’re not English – just visiting. You might admire some neat things the English have, but why would you feel proud about them? Your citizenship is in a different country.
So it is with Followers of Jesus: we hold our citizenship to be in a different Kingdom. We should obey laws, show respect, do everything in our power to be at peace with those around us, but this is not our country. Ultimately, that’s what most first century Christians were executed for: the refusal to acknowledge that Caesar was their Lord: they claimed a different King.
Which is all to say: in Paul’s language, we should be submissive. We should not be leading rebellions. But we must never mistake our geography for our identity.
Thanks for your thoughts Jeff! I have British parents and am hoping to obtain a British passport. I would fight for England any day. However, my homeland is undoubtedly Canada.
Regardless, your point is well taken and a good one. Identity in Christ should supersede everything else. Submission to authorities isn’t always an easy line to walk. Thanks for supporting my writing!
Jeremy
Nuts! Ignorance of your biography led me to pick a bad example! Let’s say Germany, then!
But regardless, I’m glad you see my point. Of course, this one is nested within a much more important point: submission to Christ. I’ve embraced what we call the “peace teaching” of Jesus since becoming anabaptist. A good topic for your blog: if Jesus commands us to encourage “wicked” people from to strike us again after already striking us, to “love” our “enemies” and to “pray” for those who “persecute” us, is there any space within the teaching of Jesus for fighting anybody, ever? (I vote “no”.)
Haha, Germany it is…nope, would fight for Germany…but maybe for a glass of their beer!
As for the complete anti-fighting, I must admit that these thoughts have crept into my mind a number of times over the years. I would love to write about it, but it would have to be from the ‘undecided’ point of view. Which might be the best case scenery to allow discussion anyway?
Alas, I’ll continue with this week’s government posts. Thanks again for supporting JeremyNortonBlog.com!
Jeremy