“Be Subject to the Governing Authorities”
Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 29:1-7; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-25
September 25, 2016 • Download this sermon (PDF)
Congregation of Christ: These last few days, violence and looting have erupted in Charlotte these last few days, and in many other cities in the last year whenever there are black people who are shot by police officers. Some people even advocate violence against police authorities. These are all to protest what they perceive as social injustice and police brutality.
And in recent weeks, a protest has been getting much attention. It centers around professional athletes who don’t stand for the singing of the national anthem because they don’t want to honor a country where there is social injustice and police brutality. Now, even in high school events, some students have joined the protest.
But Jesus, Paul and other New Testament writers—and even Old Testament writers—disagree with all of these unlawful actions. Remember that Paul lived under the occupying forces of Rome, which was not exactly favorable to Christians. In our readings, Peter calls Christians to do the same. They were not only talking about good governors, but government authorities in general. They command us to be subject to governing authorities because there is no authority except from God. And they have specific examples of what Christians ought to do in relation to the civil government.
So our theme today is “Be Subject to the Governing Authorities,” under three headings: first, “No Authority Except from God”; second, “Whoever Resists The Authorities Resists What God Has Appointed”; and third, “For the Sake of Conscience, Do What is Good.”
“No Authority Except from God”
Paul gives the main reason why we ought to be subject to governing authorities: “for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Government is instituted and appointed by God. When a citizen violates the laws of the land, he is condemned by God. Therefore, submitting to the civil government is submitting to God himself (verses 1-5).
Government in general is a blessing to the people. Sometimes God gives good civil authorities who are “not a terror to good conduct,” and Christians should thank God when their civil magistrate governs with wisdom, justice and righteousness, and upholds the rule of law. But sometimes, God
raises up evil rulers as a means of testing or even punishing nations, as when God’s wrath came upon Judah because of King Hezekiah’s pride (2 Chr 32:24–25).
We might think that God ordains only good government. But even Israel’s best kings were tainted by sin, e.g., David, Josiah and Hezekiah. God ordains even wicked pagan kings. The best example is King Cyrus II of Persia. When he defeated Babylon, he took over the Jews exiled there. But later in 538 B.C., he decreed the return of the exiles to Canaan (Ezra 1:1-4). How did this pagan king happen to let Israel go back to their homeland? We read about this in Isaiah’s prophecy about King Cyrus, almost two centuries before the Persian king came to power. In Isaiah 45:1-4, we read, “Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus… ‘I name you, though you do not know me’” (Isa 45:1, 4). And then we read in Ezra 1:1 that “the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia” to make this decree. It was the LORD’s doing that Cyrus signed the decree.
This is why Proverbs 21:1-2 can say, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.” The hearts of all men, including kings, are known and subject to God’s will.
“Whoever Resists The Authorities Resists What God Has Appointed”
Paul doesn’t make a distinction between good and bad rulers, or between those who came to power by election or by force. Peter gives the same command, “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors… Honor the emperor” (1 Pet 2:13, 14, 17). He is more explicit when he addresses slaves, “be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust” (1 Pet 2:18). This command is not contingent upon the justness or unjustness of a government.
As citizens of their nations, Christians are to be subject to their government. To be “subject to” also means “to submit to” (Eph 5:24). Submission or subjection usually means obedience (1 Pet 3:5-6), so the Christian citizen must obey his government, whether good or bad. John Calvin, who was a persecuted Reformer, wrote that we are to be subject to all authority, even if they do not “perform their office toward us uprightly and faithfully as they ought” ( Institutes of the Christian Religion 4.20.25).
But what limits submission to the government? It is the Word of God. There are many Biblical examples of faithful believers who suffered greatly by obeying God’s Word rather than kings’ commandments. But in doing so, they glorified God. The Hebrew midwives disobeyed Pharaoh’s command to kill Hebrew babies. Daniel and his three friends disobeyed the king’s commandment to bow down before the king’s statue, so they were sent to burn in the fiery furnace. On pain of imprisonment or even death at the hands of government rulers, Peter did not cease from preaching the gospel, saying, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). So if the authorities tell us to perform same-sex wedding, or support abortion, or preach that all religions lead to heaven, we ought to disagree and disobey.
The Bible also tells us to leave the matter of punishing wicked rulers to God. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Rom 12:19). He will punish wicked rulers, whether in this age or in the age to come. He even uses his own appointed men to uproot them and to lead his people against
wicked kings, like Moses who led Israel out of Egypt against the decree of the Pharaoh; and Israel’s judges who saved them from foreign oppressors.
There are two kinds of people whom God uses as instruments to punish wicked tyrants. One kind of people God uses are his own appointed righteous deliverers, such as Moses and Israel’s judges. The other kind of people are those who act rebel against oppressive and corrupt authorities. Various
revolutions, including the English, French and American revolutions, fall under this category.
What would a people do to remove wicked rulers? Lawful mechanisms in various countries have been set in place by their governments. In most countries, there are regular elections. And if a wicked president is elected, then the lower magistrates, such as Congress, can impeach him out of office. If there is absolute one-man rule such as in many parts of Asia and Africa, and there is no mechanism to remove a tyrant, God will surely take vengeance on him by some other means, even if it takes years or decades.
All the ancient pagan evil empires—Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greek, and Rome—were toppled by succeeding evil empires. Even Habakkuk questioned God’s justice in raising up the wicked Babylonians to judge Israel for their sins. But God told him that he would raise another people to destroy the oppressors (Hab 1-2). Remember Napoleon Bonaparte, Hitler, Communist European countries, and dictators in Arab countries? They were all brought down by other leaders
who turned out to be as evil or worse.
What about civil disobedience? A lawful demonstration is different from civil disobedience. Christian citizens may join protest rallies and denounce corruption and wickedness of the government and the people. But this right to peaceful assembly and speech is not a license to block traffic, harass and
harm passersby and police, shout profanities, or go looting.
Although God does not seem to be sovereign over all rulers, he actually rules over all earthly rulers even now (Dan 2:21). But in the end, God“shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end” (Dan 2:44) and Christ shall make “his enemies … a footstool for his feet” (Heb 10:13).
“For the Sake of Conscience, Do What is Good”
Christians ought to be subject to civil authorities because government was instituted by God. But there is a second reason for this command. In verse 5, we read, “Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.”
God ordained civil government because they are “not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.” If there is no government, there will be anarchy, because man is inherently sinful, prone to do all kinds of evil against his neighbor. Anarchy was exactly Israel’s condition during the time of the judges when they had no instituted government. Although God was not pleased with Israel’s demand for an earthly king, the last words of the Book of Judges are telling, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Jgs 21:25). God raised up judges and kings for Israel, both good and evil, to have an orderly and peaceful society.
God ordained civil authorities to be rewarders of good conduct. If you do good and obey, you will live a peaceful life. You have nothing to fear. But if you do not submit yourself to the laws, then God’s wrath will fall upon you through the governing authorities. They have the duty to punish evildoers. It is striking that Paul mentions the government’s use of the sword, which likely refers to capital punishment for capital offenses such as murder in the first degree.
If we put ourselves under subjection to civil authorities, then our conscience will be at rest. There will be no fear in our minds that one day, our disobedience to the law will come to roost. That our corruption, lies, bribery, adultery, or stealing from our neighbor will be exposed.
What is conscience? It is the Spirit of God working through his Word that whispers in our hearts that we are doing right or wrong. It keeps us peace of mind when we know we did the right thing. But it condemns us when we break the commandments of God or the laws of the land.
So Paul asks us, “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.” If we do good, we have no fear of the authorities. What then are we to do to be subject to governing authorities and have a clean conscience? Paul gives us some examples.
First, in verses 6 and 7, pay what is due to the government. Christians must not refuse to pay taxes or disobey laws simply because they see that corrupt civil officials are embezzling their money. In spite of the corruption, injustice and wickedness of Rome, Jesus, Paul and all the Christians who were persecuted and then martyred by the Roman Empire did not ever preach to overthrow the Roman authorities.
Jesus first explained this in saying, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mat 22:21). Therefore, we are to be subject even to corrupt civil authorities (verses 6-7). We must submit to both rulers, but again, God’s law takes precedence over a human authority’s law if there happens to be a conflict between the two.
Second, we ought to “respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” We pay respect to civil authorities not only paying what is due to them, but in respecting and honoring them. We often fall short of this command, including myself, when we revile and insult civil authorities whom we dislike, or whom we suspect of corruption and other evil schemes.
David, even when he was unjustly being sought by King Saul to kill him, respected the king. Jesus himself submitted to the authority of the Roman governor, leading to his crucifixion. Paul apologized to the wicked high priest Ananias after he unknowingly criticized him (Acts 23:5). He even addressed evil Roman authorities with respect: Agrippa as “King Agrippa” (Acts 26:2), and governor Felix as “most excellent Felix” (Acts 24:2). He submitted himself under the authority of the Roman emperor. Peter also said, “Honor the emperor,” the emperor who martyred him and most of the Apostles, and burned Christians to light the streets of Rome.
Third, he exhorts Christians to offer “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings… for kings and all who are in high positions” (1 Tim 2:1-2). Even when the government is the evil Roman empire, where there was violence, corruption, debauchery, sexual immorality, homosexuality, and even paedophilia. Even when the government is oppressive Communist or Islamic, Christians are to pray for them. Even if we did not vote for the Democratic or Republican or Independent civil government. Even if they are atheists or unbelievers making laws that are not pleasing to God. This is consistent with Jesus’ commandment to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mat 5:44), if it happens that the civil authorities become the enemy of the gospel.
The purpose of paying taxes and respect to government and praying for authorities is so “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” When Israel was in exile in the evil Babylonian empire, Jeremiah wrote a letter to them. He knew that they will be there for the long haul, 70 years to be exact. So he exhorted them to build houses, plant gardens, marry and have children. Live life as usual, as if they were in the Promised Land. Then he tells them, “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jer 29:5-7). If Babylon prospered, they will also prosper.
Dear friends, I want to state clearly that the pulpit is not for preaching politics or social action. The church’s pulpit is for the salvation and sanctification of the congregation, not for calling them to join a political rally or to vote for certain candidates. On their own, individual Christians may join a lawful protest against corruption and wickedness. The pastor, like the prophets of old, can denounce and condemn wickedness in the government and in the culture. But he may not lead his congregation in joining anti-government demonstrations.
But the pulpit is for preaching the gospel, for building up the church into the image of Christ, and for calling sinners to faith and repentance. And if our government is oppressive, corrupt, and godless, we are to submit to its laws, as long as they don’t command us to disobey God’s law.
As Christians, we are in this world as pilgrims, waiting for the fullness of the kingdom of Christ. And while we wait for that day, Jeremiah’s instructions to the exiles in Babylon are helpful: live normal lives under our circumstances; pray for the prosperity of our earthly kingdom; and be a godly influence on our civil authorities and on our communities.
