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.
—Romans 13:1-4
When God made the world and placed man and woman in the Garden, He immediately began establishing order, ordaining the ways we are to live together. He set up three great institutions of authority to keep us from chaos. First came marriage and the family, the very foundation of all of life and society. Then came His people, Israel in the Old Testament, the church in the New. And third, God established government.
That’s why Paul can write something that may surprise us: “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” God’s design for government is to provide peace, protection, safety, and security for His people, to restrain evil, slow violence, and punish wrongdoing. So Paul calls the governing official “God’s servant.” The governor, the legislator, the police officer carrying out justice, in this sense, they are ministers of God for our good.
Now here’s a hard truth: this command doesn’t come with an exception clause for governments we happen to dislike. When Paul wrote “be subject to the governing authorities,” the Roman Christians were living under Nero, a cruel, unstable, brutal tyrant, and under fierce persecution. And still the clear command of Scripture was to submit. As believers, we are to live lives of submission, giving honor where honor is due and respect where respect is due. We pay our taxes, we obey the laws, we show God’s love and kindness even to those in authority over us.
Does government always get it right? Of course not. As Christians we should never just shrug at an immoral policy, stay silent while an unjust law is debated, or fail to appeal a wrong judgment. We can and should engage, but we do it while showing the love and kindness of Christ to those in authority, not with the rage and contempt the world pours out.
So, live as a good citizen. Submit, honor, pay what you owe, engage with love, obeying God above all, and resting in the One who bore your judgment for you.
GOD ESTABLISHED GOVERNMENT FOR OUR GOOD, SUBMIT AND HONOR IT, OBEYING GOD ABOVE ALL, WITH THE LOVE OF CHRIST.
