Christians and Government

We cannot submit to authorities that require what God forbids, or forbid what God requires.

I think same -sex couples should be able to get married. We cannot redefine marriage. There's a 9th

Amendment there that's used to acknowledge the right to privacy. I mean, there's so many fundamental rights that are affected by that.

To equip Christians across the nation to do what we're doing, to give them resources, to engage in an all -out media campaign and assault, to flood the media, to change the conversation, to change hearts and minds through the gospel, and to end abortion at the state level immediately.

How should Christians respond when the government passes laws that are anti -Christian? What does it mean to submit to the government?

And are there circumstances where Christians should defy the government? This week we'll look at the first two verses there in Romans chapter 13, and examine our responsibility as Christian citizens, what it looks like and what it means for us to be in submission to those authorities that God has placed over us.

And particularly here in Romans 13, those governmental authorities that God has placed over us.

First, let's recognize that political issues are moral issues, which means that Christians are called to proclaim and fight for the truth concerning political issues.

It's simply not a viable position for Christians to say they won't get involved in politics.

It is important that we understand the significance of political authority and governing authorities.

They are very real, present, prevalent issues in our everyday lives.

They are absolutely inescapable, and it is foolish and ungodly to think otherwise, to think that somehow we as Christians need to avoid speaking on such topics.

The two extreme sides of this debate are people who do not submit to the government, and actively fight against everything the government does.

And the other side involves people who obey everything the government says and does without any pushback.

So on the one hand, you've got people who do not want to honor governing state authorities and overturn them, having been established by God.

And on the other, the flatterers of princes extolling their power without measure, hesitate not to oppose it to the government of God.

There's the second one. The second one is those people who are so enamored with public governing authority, state authority, that they put it in opposition and above the government of God's people in his church.

Unless we meet both extremes, purity of the faith will perish. It is important to meet both extremes.

The extreme on the one hand that over -emphasizes public state authority, and the extreme on the other hand that under -emphasizes state authority.

And how do we put those extremes to rest? By heeding what God's word teaches us on the subject.

Before continuing, let's point out that our system of government is not a democracy, and that democracy is actually an extremely problematic and dangerous form of government.

We are citizens of a republic, and I'll say that again. I'll say that again and again and again. Please stop referring to America as a nation.

We are a republic. And secondly, please stop referring to America as a democracy. We are not.

Democracy is the cruelest form of government known to man. It is not a biblical concept.

It is not an American concept. It is not a wise concept. It is a foolish concept.

We are a constitutional representative republic. Can we say that together?

A constitutional representative republic. Amen. Hallelujah.

Praise the Lord. Okay? In a democracy, if 51 % of people say that the other 49 % must die, then what happens?

The other 49 % must die because of the will of the people, unrestrained by anything other than their own whims and wishes.

That's what democracy is, folks. Literally means mob rule. So we're not a democracy.

We are a constitutional representative republic. There are many who despise the government to such an extent that they are itching to rebel and fight against the government.

And they are always attacking the government, whether in word or deed. However, as Christians, this should not be our attitude.

Our natural tendency will be to run headlong into the part of the text that has something to do with what the authorities are responsible for, so that we can figure out when and where that natural tendency that we all have and love so much can be justified in its rebellion.

To which I say today, not so fast. Not so fast. As Christians, we should have an extremely high view of submission to authority because Christians are people who are in submission to God's authority.

Instead of always looking for loopholes and reasons to rebel, we should be people who desire submission over and above rebellion.

First, we have to understand that God is the source of all human authority.

God is the source of all human authority. Look at that first verse again. 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. There is no authority except from God.

And those that exist have been instituted by God. Now, we want to run headlong and say, now, wait a minute, wouldn't that only be authorities that meet certain requirements and qualifications?

No. All authority, all authority comes from God and is established by God.

It's important to recognize that God is the one who has ultimately put into place all human rulers, even evil ones.

And that, generally speaking, he calls all people to submit to their rulers, even the evil ones.

So I say again, God is the source of all human authority.

Not all godly human authority, but all human authority.

Listen to Paul again. Let every one, 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. The reason why it's so important for Christians to have a high view of submission to government authority is because it represents our submission to God.

So if we are not submitted to government authority, then we are essentially not submitted to God's authority.

Secondly, submission to God is always by proxy. Submission to God is always by proxy.

Okay? What do I mean by that? Well, there are those who want to believe that you can live the Christian life just sort of between you and the

Lord and submit to him and not to other human beings. But submission to God is always by proxy.

So how do we then submit to authority? Talked about this on last week. First of all, in the home, we submit to God's authority through our submission to our parents.

By the way, this is all tied up in the fifth commandment. And so the child's submission to his or her parents is the child's submission to God.

In a church, submission to the authority of the church is submission to God.

And in the state, submission to the authority of the state is submission to God.

We submit to God by proxy through the human agencies that he has established and through those individuals that he has put in authority over us.

That's how we submit to God. If we are not in submission to those in positions of authority that God has placed in our life, then we cannot say legitimately that we are submitting to God.

Now, at what point should Christians not submit to government authority? In short,

Christians should not submit to the government when it requires what God forbids. The Supreme Court sided with Colorado baker

Jack Phillips, who refused to bake a cake for a gay couple, citing religious objections and artistic freedom.

War forbids what God requires. They can take our facility, but we'll just find another one. Your submission is unconditional, but it's limited.

Limited. What do I mean by that? We cannot submit to authorities that require what God forbids or forbid what

God requires. We can't do that. We're not allowed to do that, because all authority comes from God.

Ultimately, we have to do what God commands, and we have to shun what God forbids. That's where the line is.

When government authorities cross the line, Christians should respond in various ways and various degrees.

The first step is not outright rebellion. First, we should pray for the governing authorities.

Number one, pray. Pray for the authority. First Timothy 2, 1 and 2. First of all, then,

I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Second, we should model for the governing authorities what is true and right with our lifestyles.

Secondly, we model for authority. The picture of this is seen in 1 Peter 3. This is what

Paul says to wives. Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.

I don't believe it's illegitimate at all for us to extrapolate that to the way that we, as followers of the

Lord Jesus Christ, respond in the presence of authority, the way that we respect authority and honor authority.

Third, we should respond to the government overreach in degrees. And we should begin with appealing respectfully to the government concerning its overreach.

Not only do we have these passive responses, but there are active responses. And they increase in levels of intensity.

The first is to appeal to the authority. Appeal to the authority. This is done respectfully and in accordance with the means that have been provided by that authority.

Respectfully and in accordance with the means that are provided by that authority. We start with appealing to authority.

We don't start with just out and out rebellion against authority. If the government does not respond to our appeals, the next step is to respectfully confront the government and clearly communicate how it is abusing its power.

Secondly, we confront authority. We confront authority. This is moved to another level here.

Confront authority. Sometimes it is required of us that we confront authority. Again, authority who's doing what?

Authority who's doing something that we don't like. No, authority who's requiring what God forbids or forbidding what

God requires. We confront the authority. Nathan confronts King David. You are a man.

That was a confrontation. By the way, it was respectful. Even the confrontation was respectful and submissive.

And if the government doesn't respond to our appeals or confrontation, Needless to say, the right of women to make decisions about their own bodies is not negotiable.

The final step is to defy the government in the areas where it has abused its power.

Finally, we may have to defy authority. We may have to defy authority. Hey, Hebrew midwife.

Listen, Pharaoh wants the boy Hebrew babies dead. So when the

Hebrew women are giving birth, if it is a boy, you kill that boy. If it is a girl, you let her live.

No, no. Sometimes we must defy authority. And when we reach the point of defying government authority, we should be ready to accept the consequences, which in many places around the world is death itself.

Now, let me hasten to say this as I close. If and when we come to this last stage, we still do it in submission to authority, which means we must be ready to receive with gladness and humility, whatever consequence is required.

When Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah confront the king, they readily get thrown into the fiery furnace.

Daniel readily gets thrown into the lion's den. The apostles readily receive their beating for preaching the gospel.

See, we don't have a right view of this. And one of the reasons that we

Americans in the South and in Texas always want to run to the point where we shake our fist in the face of authority is because we have the privilege of living in a unique place where we can do that with impunity.

But in most of church history and in most of the world, when you do that, it is a last resort, and you know that you are going to pay the price.