Skip to main content

Subject to Governing Authorities

             Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13:1)

 

            I saw this verse the other day and thought, “I hope I don’t have to write about it soon.” Today it came up in my verse of the day files. Sigh. It’s an appropriate passage, because next Tuesday is election day and because our society is so fractured politically and philosophically. Those aren’t the only reasons, however; as Americans, some of us are accustomed to a certain level of antipathy against the government. Even our primary legal document, the Constitution, reflects the idea that there are things the government is not permitted to do, and if it does them, the citizenry is permitted to demand redress or even rebel. The Declaration of Independence strengthens this attitude.

            So, how are we to be subject to governing authorities? Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel all convinced a palace official to not require them to eat certain foods. Later, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego all refused to bow to an idol and Daniel refused to change his regular prayers in response to a king’s dictate. Esther risked her life by walking into the king’s presence unbidden.  Peter and John were thrown into jail for preaching about Jesus and refused to stop preaching. Jesus and several of the people who sought His aid broke social conventions. At least one could be said to have broken and entered a private residence. There is precedence for refusal to be subject, but Scripture and the Declaration of Independence agree that it’s not something to be done without consideration, and those who violated the dictates of the governing authority did so knowing that they could and would face dire consequences.

            Daniel and his three friends survived miraculously and continued to work for and generally submit to the person who ordered them killed for their refusal to submit. Peter and John asked those who arrested them whether they were to obey God or man. Esther threw two banquets (to which she invited her enemy!) before she asked her husband for anything. At no point were any of them impolite. They accepted the risk and the consequences.

            When it comes to our choices about subjection and rebellion the primary issue must be the greatest commandment. Can we do X while loving God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Can we do X while loving our neighbor as ourselves – while treating them as we want to be treated? Must we do something because of our love for God and others? What can we do or must we do that we must do without violating the command to love?

            One responsibility we have as Christians in America – I believe – is to pray and then vote for the person we believe will allow us to live following Scripture. I am not suggesting that we vote for the candidate who promises that his/her administration will enact Christian or quasi-Christian policies because God does not call for any government to take on our responsibilities. That will require prayer and consideration.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Think About These Things

                 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) This passage is a major challenge for me. Like everyone else, I struggle to keep my thoughts from wandering off into the weeds, then wondering what possible benefits those weeds might have… Sigh. But as a writer, I have to delve at least a little into the ignoble, wrong, impure, unlovely, and debased. After all, there’s no story if everything’s just as it should be and everyone’s happy. As Christians, there are times when we need to deal with all the negatives, but that makes it even more important that we practice turning our minds by force of attention to what is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. It’s just too easy to get stuck in a swamp. With my...
1 comment
Read more

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

Pure...

            The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (I Timothy 1:5)   I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16) I’m probably cheating - or mishandling the Bible, but earlier I was thinking about love being pure and purifying. And hatred being pure and purifying. And anger…joy…patience… fear… jealousy… courage…lust… and other strongly felt feelings, attitudes, and beliefs. Today’s verse brings purity and love together, so it’s the verse of the day, but it’s not really the focus. That means my motive for sharing it with you probably isn’t pure. As you read through my list, you   probably thought, “Yeah” about some, and “What’s she on?” about others. But consider how much hatred, a...
Post a Comment
Read more