Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

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COMMENT

I have often written on the subjects of “Christians and Their Duty to Government” and “Government and Its Duty to the People.” The preface to today’s article states: Romans 13 isn’t a slogan or a scare tactic; it’s a doctrine. David Mitzenmacher offers a confessional response to recent misuse and misunderstanding of civil authority. Do civil servants abuse their authority? Absolutely, here is a link to the Civil Rights Attorney I recently found while surfing YouTube. Do everyday citizens abuse their obligations to that same government? Again, the answer must be absolutely. The recent events that occurred involving the ICE agent and the death of a lady in a car have hypercharged both sides of the aisle.

Today’s article is a response to Russell Moore, Christians, Let’s Stop Abusing Romans 13. While I agree with Mr. Moore that Romans 13 (verses 1-7) can be tossed about without thought of consequence. It is no more so than dozens, maybe hundreds, of other scriptures in our age of evangelical liberalism. Christians must be reminded that jumping to conclusions, spewing opinions not based on known facts, or posting memes of the same nature is a sin.

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ROMANS 13

ROMANS 13:1-7 AMP

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God [granted by His permission and sanction], and those which exist have been put in place by God. ² Therefore whoever ^[a]resists [governmental] authority resists the ordinance of God. And those who have resisted it will bring judgment (civil penalty) on themselves. ³ For [civil] authorities are not a source of fear for [people of] good behavior, but for [those who do] evil. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good and you will receive approval and commendation. ⁴ For he is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, [you should] be afraid; for he does not carry the [executioner’s] sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an avenger who brings punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore one must be subject [to civil authorities], not only to escape the punishment [that comes with wrongdoing], but also as a matter of principle [knowing what is right before God]. ⁶ For this same reason you pay taxes, for civil authorities are God’s servants, devoting themselves to governance. ⁷ Pay to all what is due: tax to whom tax is due, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, honor to whom honor.

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STUDY

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Contents: Believer’s attitude toward civil government. Law of love toward neighbors.
Characters: God, Jesus, Paul.
Conclusion: Obedience to civil magistrates is one of the laws of Christ, whose religion makes people good subjects. Love to our fellow-men is a debt that must always be in the paying, yet always owing, for love is inclusive of all duties and is the image of Christ upon the soul.
Key Word: Subjection, v. 1, and love, v. 8.
Strong Verses: 1, 7, 8, 10, 14.
Striking Facts: v. 14. Victory over the flesh may always be ours through personal dealings with Christ. To “put on Christ” is not imitation of Christ, but appropriation of Him. “Christ liveth in me”—is the victory—and if He has the right of way in us, we will make no provisions for satisfying the flesh.

Keith Brooks, Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the New Testament (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 46.

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Verses 1–7 The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where pride and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent. Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be, yet the just power they have, must be submitted to and obeyed. In the general course of human affairs, rulers are not a terror to honest, quiet, and good subjects, but to evil-doers. Such is the power of sin and corruption, that many will be kept back from crimes only by the fear of punishment. Thou hast the benefit of the government, therefore do what thou canst to preserve it, and nothing to disturb it. This directs private persons to behave quietly and peaceably where God has set them, 1Ti 2:1, 2. Christians must not use any trick or fraud. All smuggling, dealing in contraband goods, withholding or evading duties, is rebellion against the express command of God. Thus honest neighbours are robbed, who will have to pay the more; and the crimes of smugglers, and others who join with them, are abetted. It is painful that some professors of the gospel should countenance such dishonest practices. The lesson here taught it becomes all Christians to learn and practise, that the godly in the land will always be found the quiet and the peaceable in the land, whatever others are.

Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Ro 13:1.

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Here is an in-depth study of Romans 13:1-7

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ARTICLE

Christians, Let’s Rightly Understand Romans 13

In a recent essay, “Christians, Let’s Stop Abusing Romans 13,” Russell Moore urges Christians to reconsider how they invoke Romans 13 when the state uses coercive force. Writing in response to a fatal self-defense encounter involving an ICE agent, Moore cautions against using Romans 13 as a way of justifying state action or quieting moral unease. His concern is that the passage is often deployed reflexively, functioning less as biblical instruction than as a theological shield for power.

Stated narrowly and in isolation, that concern is not unreasonable. Romans 13 does not render the civil magistrate morally infallible, nor does it place state action beyond moral scrutiny. Scripture records rulers rebuked by prophets, resisted by apostles, and judged by God. No serious Christian political theology denies that civil authority is accountable to a higher law.

The problem is not whether Romans 13 can be abused, but how…

CONTINUED @ THE SOURCE

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Additional Resources

Sunday’s Sermon Series – Civil Government:

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PART 6 — WHAT SHOULD GOVERNMENT EXIST TO DO?