In our often politically charged times, Paul’s words in Romans 13:1-7 offer timeless wisdom regarding our relationship with governing authorities. While extreme situations may arise where obedience to God necessitates a different path, Paul’s primary focus here is on our general posture towards government.
Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.
He goes on to tell us that when we resist the government we are often resisting God and we will bring judgement on ourselves. But we should focus on doing good.
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.
We see that God established government to help deal with those who do wrong. This is actually established coming off the Ark. Remember what God said about human conduct in Genesis 6:6 – every intent and thought of their hearts was continually evil… He brought a flood that destroyed all humankind for a reason, and He established government coming off the ark so that the evil people do will be dealt with and we can have safe and orderly societies. In fact, in Genesis 9:6, God gives a foundational principle for government’s role in justice: “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.” This establishes humanity’s right to administer justice, even to the point of taking a life for murder. Hence, the government is God’s servant, instituted by God to deal with those who are doing wrong and to bring punishment to them, a responsibility rooted in God’s command in Genesis.
So we should:
And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. <sup>7<5></sup> Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.
God is telling us to submit to our authorities, pay our taxes, respect those in leadership over us and give them honour. This is a hard thing in hard times, or when there seems to be corruption in the government, or overreach in terms of their authority. There may well be times in which as Christians we need to obey God over what the government is asking us to do, but those are really very unique times. We see from the Bible that government is God’s idea, His vehicle to bring order, it is something He instituted and our authorities are His servants. I am thankful that I live in a time where I at least get to vote and have some say in what and who will govern me. Most often I have voted for the other guy and get to figure out how to submit to a government in which I did not want, but it doesn’t change God’s commands here in Romans 13.
As we consider Paul’s direct command in Romans 13:7, let us take a moment to honestly assess: Are we diligent in fulfilling our obligations, ensuring we pay our taxes and tolls as required? Beyond the financial, are we also intentional in giving respect to whom respect is due and honor to whom honor is due, recognizing the authority God has placed in their hands?
