Crossroads Fellowship

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Rebelling Against Authority

What is the role of different governments in the world? Are we as Christians to obey those governments? Does God really use non-Christian governments to do his will? These are but a few of the questions we can ask in response to reading Romans 13:1-5. The apostle Paul seems to be putting high regard into obeying the authorities that are placed over us. Let’s take a look briefly at what the scriptures say. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. 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. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. Romans 13:1-5

Paul is saying here that the authorities that are in place are God appointed. This is a really hard truth to swallow when we see so many authorities that are unrighteous. However Paul is not saying this merely from some special revelation he received, but he is saying it because he knows what the word of God says. Many times throughout the Old Testament God brings unrighteous kingdoms against the nation of Israel, and puts the nation in subjection to them as a part of his divine plan. As they are carried away into captivity they are to obey that government and live by its rules. Those authorities are, as Paul says, not a terror to good behavior – but rather are a terror to bad behavior. The authorities are God’s servants, even if they are not worshippers of God. Again I say that one only needs read the Old Testament to see how God uses non-believing kings from other nations as authorities in the lives of the Jews.

Many times we as Christians try to use the excuse that a government official, or a boss at work, or some other such authority is not a godly authority and therefore we do not have to obey him/her. If only that were the real case, then we would not be guilty of so much sin in this area of our lives. The scriptures above plainly say that the authorities are from God, it does not say anything about those authorities having to be worshippers of God. Paul is telling the church at Rome to obey the Roman government, who definitely condoned the worship of many false gods, and had its own imperial worship system. Yet they were told to obey this government not only to avoid God’s wrath, but for the sake of their conscience. The truth is this – it is not because the authorities are not godly that we don’t want to obey, it is because deep inside of us we do not want to have an authority placed over us. In the next few paragraphs I want to go over just a few examples of what I am talking about.

Let’s look at the “authority issues” that are so common among believers in the church of God. First we rebel against our government almost on a daily basis when we are in our cars. How do we do this one might say? By speeding, we rebel by speeding. This seems like such a trivial matter that we are speeders, but look at it from this angle. If everyone in the country drove whatever speed they wanted on the streets and roadways what would result? You might have someone doing 55mph down your neighborhood streets, kids would be run over, accidents would happen, and chaos would ensue. Yet God in his perfect wisdom has set up governments that will enforce speeding laws to keep God’s children safe from harm and living decently and in good order.

Next we rebel against the authorities at work so often. When we take long breaks, or we are goofing off at work when we should be working we are in rebellion to the God given authorities. First the authority is God given because God provided that job for you to work at right? Second if everyone at your work could work at their own pace, take as long of breaks as they wanted, and do whatever then how long would the company stay in business? Not very long! Yet again God in his infinite wisdom has set up authority at our work places so that we may have jobs that provide food and shelter for our families.

Lastly we rebel against authority at church. Many times pastors and preachers bring God given sermons preaching on living a godly life. Yet we sit in the pew unaffected, and walk out the door and continue in the course of sin that we have chosen. We disobey what God would have us to do, and then we find dissension in the church, and ultimately the church splits into two congregations. Or people get mad and leave the church, yet has God not placed the Pastors, and Elders in the church as a form of spiritual authority? I have seen many churches call a new Pastor only to fire him after a few months. They were certain that he was God’s man for the job, but then he preached some sermons they didn’t like so they let him go. Are we really submitting to authority when we do these things? I think the answer is obvious. These are but a few examples of how we deal with authority in a bad manner, when we should obey those authorities instead. I am just as guilty as the next guy in all of these areas, but none the less I leading a call for repentance!

9 Comments:

  • Since one of my biggest passions in life is seeking justice and righteousness in government, I thought I'd share some insights I believe I have gained in my own study of the proper, biblical role of government as they relate to your post. Some of this can be found in my own blog (http://www.truth-justice-and-the-american-way.blogspot.com/) but here goes:

    The highest authority is God; therefore, every person and every entity He created, including earthly governments, ought to be in submission to Him. Scripture makes it clear that all governments are under God; if this is true, then it logically follows that they must obey Him.

    If, as Romans 13 states, government is God’s minister to do us good, then governments are in rebellion against Him when they commit evil and wrongdoing against innocent people.

    The fact that governments (including the theocracy of ancient Israel) historically have not obeyed Him does not release government leaders from their obligation to do so.

    The fact that God used lawless tyrants to judge the nation of Israel does not mean He is the author of such “governments” (I used quotation marks to indicate that a tyrannical regime cannot be considered a legitimate government because it considers itself above the law and operates outside the bounds of any law, God or man’s; see Merriam-Webster’s, 11th edition, for the definition of a tyrant as one “unrestrained by law”).

    I believe there is a difference between the valid Scriptural claim that God ordained the institution of human government and the unbiblical assertion that God ordained every so-called government that is in active rebellion against His laws, commits genocide against people who have been made in His image, and blasphemes His Name.

    If we believe that all authorities must always be obeyed, then people who join religious cults should obey their cult leaders without question and should never leave the cult because this would be an act of rebellion.

    If we insist that authorities at work are always to be obeyed, then if our boss tells us to do something unethical or immoral, we would have to obey. If a pro-life nurse is told by her supervisor to assist in an abortion, she must do so regardless of what God and her conscience is telling her. If a corrupt police chief tells his officers to violate the Constitution and Bill of Rights, the officers must do as he says.

    If we accept the notion that followers of Jesus are never to resist ungodly, tyrannical “authorities,” then we must conclude that the United States government is an illegal government because it was founded primarily by Christians who broke away from the King of England because he was repeatedly defying the laws of England. We also must condemn the heroic actions of people like Carrie Ten Boom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and other believers who defied Nazi oppression by hiding the Jews or speaking out against Hitler. We would label Bonhoeffer a lawless rebel because of his role in the plot to assassinate Hitler. In addition, we would have to condemn the Hebrew midwives, the prophet Daniel, and other biblical saints (including the apostle Paul) for defying the laws under which they were living in order to obey God (see Acts 4:18-19).

    For more reading on this subject I highly recommend “The Christian and Civil Government,” by Pastor John Weaver and “Lex, Rex, or The Law and the Prince;
    A dispute for The Just Prerogative of King and People,” by the Rev. Samuel Rutherford, Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrews. One of Rutherford’s most important contributions to political philosophy was his argument from Scripture that the power to do ill is not from God.

    By Blogger Julie, at 1:46 PM  

  • As servants of the Most High, we must always maintain a hierarchy of obedience. Our first loyalty is to God. Any authority which demands we violate God's law or our conscience must be disobeyed.

    I think the original post was describing insubordinate rebellion rather than righteous civil disobedience. Personally, I find my pride to be the greatest source of my own battle with rebellion, especially as it relates to my service to God through my church.

    I've discovered a few clues that let me know that my pride is about to get me into sin: when my feelings are hurt, when I feel unappreciated, when I am insulted or offended, or anytime I begin to think someone in authority over me is less competent than me. Whenever I am aware that any of these feelings are welling up, I try to be careful not to speak with anyone. I've often regretted things I've said at these times. I confess it as sin, pray about the particulars, and try not to speak to anyone else about it except maybe my spouse.

    Leonard Ravenhill once said, "Oh what precious gifts of the spirit we have... Oh how we long to be recognized. But we can't. Do you know why? It's because we stink with pride, that's why!."

    Pride and the rebellion it leads to are a foul stench in the nostrils of God. That's why He resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Think about it. When we have sinfull pride God is resisting or pulling against us. I can't win that tug-of-war!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:36 AM  

  • The original post was most assuredly describing insubordinate rebellion. I mentioned that we rebel against our God by rebelling against our countries laws on speeding. When we speed it has nothing to do following God rather than man, it has to do with rebellion to the authorities. I appreciate your comments Julie, but I am not sure that they really have any bearing on the example that I gave. Obviously if my boss told me to do something illegal or immoral I would not comply, but just because he is not a Christian does not give me a reason to disobey him.

    If I lived in Iraq or Afghanistan I believe that God would want me to follow the laws of the land so far as they did not conflict with obeying him. Just because some of their laws don't line up with God does not give me the right or authority to disobey all their laws.

    I also will add that I believe 100% that God has instituted some unrighteous gonvernments, or authored them if you will. For example, the Pharoh of Egypt, was continually being hardened and shaped by God. He was unrighteous and God definitely had his hand on him, even telling Moses that he hardend Pharoh. That qualifies as authorship to me. Let me know what you think.

    By Blogger Pastor Jerry, at 7:07 AM  

  • Pastor Jerry, nowhere in your post titled “Rebelling Against Authority” did you state that it was ever--under any conditions--permissible to disobey the authorities. If you truly believe that it is allowed under certain circumstances, then you should have made that clear. It’s too important a point to leave out, and I’m sure that I’m not the only one who was confused by your omission. There are Christians who believe that it is never right to disobey anyone in authority. Examples are pastors who tell abused wives that God will punish them if they don't submit to their husbands' beatings. I know it sounds insane, but I have heard of pastors who have actually said this. Unfortunately, if they were to read your original post, they would mistakenly conclude that you agree with them.

    You are correct in saying that Pharaoh was unrighteous, and God did use Pharaoh for a specific purpose in His plan for the nation of Israel. However, that does not mean that God authored the evil within Pharaoh that drove him to oppress the Israelites. It also does not mean that God is the author/creator of all such regimes that oppress, murder, or torture innocent people. This would be incompatible with Romans 13, where it states that leaders are God's servants to do us good. Because it is in God's nature to be just, it doesn't make sense for Him to create or institute an unjust system of government, though that wouldn't stop Him from using unjust rulers for His own purpose.

    The problem I see with making statements along the lines that God is the author of all governments, including tyrannical governments, is that such claims tend to turn people away from God by misrepresenting His nature. I have known people whose lives have been completely ruined by government decree, and when they hear Christians say that God put such governments in power, they can't possibly believe that such a God could love them or care for them. It is a serious error to teach that all governments--no matter how evil--are instituted by God, and I’m glad that you don’t believe that.

    By Blogger Julie, at 3:42 PM  

  • Julie, I agree with most of your post, but Dan. 2:20,21 & 4:25,37 seem to suggest that God indeed is in control of Governments, both good and evil. I think it's an issue of God's sovereignty.

    There may be another issue implied in your last paragraph. See Luke 13:1-4. Jesus was questioned about the suffering of innocent people. His response is simple: "repent or you will likewise perish." Calamity and injustice are common outcomes of our fallen world. Only repentence and faith in Christ will deliver us from the ultimate calamitly, which is the justice of a righteous God applied to an unrepentant sinner in a place called hell, forever.

    Evil is a profound mystery, but it never has any bearing upon the goodness, justness, or sovereignty of God.

    People will say they reject God for any number of reasons, but the reality is that most people reject God because they love their sin and they refuse to bend the knee.

    If you think I'm in error, please correct me with scripture. Thanks.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:31 PM  

  • The Scripture that directly contradicts your assertion that God is the author of every government, including those that operate in complete opposition to His will, is Hosea 8:4:

    “They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval.”

    If the Israelites could set up kings and rulers without God's consent, then the only logical conclusion is that God does not establish every government that happens to be in power. God may allow evil governments to exist, but to say he specifically brings an evil government into existence is saying that He is the author of evil. God, by His very nature, cannot create evil; He can create only good. However, the good He creates can be corrupted into something evil. At the same time, God can control and limit that which becomes evil. I think this is the case of evil and unrighteous governments.

    Also, note that Romans 13:1 (NIV) states, "...there is no authority except that which God has established." The wording seems to suggest the possibility that usurped authority is not ordained of God (in other words, if God didn't establish it, then it is not a legitimate authority). Let's look at it from the perspective of religious authority. We would never believe that a cult leader could be ordained of God, but such a leader would obviously make the claim that he was. Just because the leader claimed to be an authority would not make him one, because God did not ordain him as one. I believe the same thing can be said of political leaders/governments that operate outside the will of God. God may allow them to exist, just as he allows cults and cult leaders to exist, but that doesn't mean He willed them into existence.

    I completely agree that evil has no bearing on the goodness, justice or sovereignty of God. However, when we try to reach a fallen world with His love, we need to be able to give a ready answer for why we believe. One of the most common objections to belief in God is the problem of evil. Often this may just be an excuse to go on sinning, but sometimes it is truly a cry from the heart from people who have been horribly wounded by evil. My best friend from high school had a classmate whose parents were burned to death by their own government because they had spoken out against injustice. How do you think this young girl would feel upon hearing Christians say that God put the government that murdered her parents in power? Should we tell her, "Repent or likewise you will perish?" Or should we tell her that the God who died for her could never be the author of such evil and that He came to destroy evil once and for all?

    By Blogger Julie, at 10:02 AM  

  • Julie, Thanks. I think you expressed yourself more clearly in your last post. I agree completely. Thanks for the scripture support. CM.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:18 AM  

  • You're welcome! I've enjoyed discussing this with you.

    By Blogger Julie, at 4:11 PM  

  • Hey I am just happy that there is a discussion going on on here that I did not start!

    WOOHOO!

    By Blogger Pastor Jerry, at 6:28 PM  

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