Our Relationship With Our Government-1
The Government’s Responsibility To The People
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Sermon Delivered 11/12/00
Text: Romans 13:1-7
Outline Overview
I. Our Relationship With Other Believers – Rom. 12:9-16
II. Our Relationship With Our Enemies – Rom. 12:17-21
III. Our Relationship With Our Government – Romans 13
God has established three institutions. The first and oldest institution
established by God is the family or home (Genesis 2:18-25 & 4:1). Today there seems to
be confusion when it comes to the definition of a family. Now remember, it is God who
established the family and therefore defined what a family is. A family is made up of one male
human husband and one female human wife who are united together in marriage and who seek to
produce offspring and rear them to maturity. That’s what a family is. Anything outside of
that definition is a human perversion of what God established! Our Lord Jesus Christ reminds
us, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Matthew
19:6
Another institution that God established is the church (Acts 2). By
that I am referring neither to a building nor some denomination such as Baptists, Catholics,
Methodists, etc. I am referring to those who have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior and who have
been biblically baptized by immersion into the local body of believers led by a pastor(s) and
assisted by deacons called "the local Church."
Today the institution that we are going to be looking at is human
government. God established human government when Noah came out of the ark for the order
human society and the punishment of evildoers (Genesis 9:1-17). The first legal provision that
God instituted was the capital punishment of the murderer. Why? Because human life is sacred.
Man, unlike any other creature of God’s creation, is created in the image of God. Neither
human government nor capital punishment by that government has ever been proscribed or
rescinded by God! "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the
image of God made he man." Genesis 9:6
In Romans 13, the Apostle Paul points out the Christian’s responsibilities
and duties to the government. Yet, what has often been overlooked in this passage is the
government’s responsibility to the people. Let’s begin with the later.
- The Government’s Responsibility To The People
Government
Officials Are Servants Of God
The first phrase in Romans 13:4 says, "For he is the minister of
God…" It is important to note that the word minister is the translation of the
Greek word diakonov diakonos (dee-ak'-on-os;
1249) which means a servant, a table waiter, one who executes the commands of another. In this
case it is clear that the commands that are to be executed are God’s commands! (Our
English word deacon is from this same word) Therefore, the civil magistrate, saved or
unsaved, is a servant of God because it is God who instituted human government as a means of
regulating the affairs of the human race and punishing evildoers. I should note that those who
hold public office will give account to Almighty God as to how they discharged their office.
While there are those who do not know or will not acknowledge their responsibility to God, that
does not release them from their responsibility. Nebuchadnezzar is a prime example of this
responsibility (See Daniel 4:27-37).
Now we come to the second responsibility of government.
Government
Officials Are To Promote Good, Punish Evil & Praise Right
The purpose or design of government is to promote the good of society,
to punish evildoers, and a praise to them that do right according to Romans
13:3-4 "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not
be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil,
be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger
to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."
In fact, God has ordained human government for the natural, moral, civil and
spiritual good of society. When I refer to natural good I mean that government is to
protect men’s natural lives from wicked men who would seek to do us bodily harm. When I refer
to moral good I am referring to restraining all kinds of vice and encouraging virtue.
Civil magistrates or leaders are to enact and enforce laws that forbid immorality, lewd
behavior, lying, cheating, stealing, etc. When I refer to civil good I mean that the
government is to enact and enforce laws for the preservation and protection of men's families,
properties, estates, rights, and liberties, which would be continually invaded, and made a prey
of by others. Finally, when I refer to spiritual good I mean magistrates are to
insure the liberty to worship God according to our consciences, without the threat of reprisal.
No man should be punished for what he believes. My point is simple. Human government is to
promote good and punish evil. That is how public officials are the servants of God.
But, what is a believer to do when civil leaders are corrupt, evil, and
lawless? Are we to obey them?
How
Are We To Respond To Evil Civil Authorities?
No, I do not believe that is what Romans 13 is telling us to do! I want to
read a quote to you from J. Vernon McGee’s commentary on Romans 9-16.
The believer has opposed bad government and supported good government on
the theory that good government is the one ordained of God. The believer is for law and
order, and against lawlessness. He is for honesty and justice, as over against corruption and
rank injustice. At great moments of crisis in history – and that’s where we are today –
the believers have had difficult decisions to make….During these last days, which I believe
we are in right now, lawlessness abounds. The believer must oppose it; he must not be a part
of it, even when it is in his own government.
I think McGee is right. When civil authorities go against "the laws of
nature and natures God," they are to be opposed and not to be obeyed. Here is why I say
that. Acts 5:29 says, "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We
ought to obey God rather than men."
When civil authorities enact laws or demand obedience in things that God
disallows, God is the higher authority and it is His laws that we must obey! The
Bible includes many illustrations of this truth. Two clear examples are the three Hebrew
children (actually teenagers) before Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:14-23) and the Egyptian midwives
who refused to kill Israeli newborns (Exodus 1:15-21). The prophets of God regularly opposed
the evils of Kings and those in civil leadership. Consider Elijah’s confrontation King Ahab
and Queen Jezebel (1 Kings 21:19-26; 2 Kings 9:35-37).
I believe it is necessary and right to oppose lawlessness, injustice and
corruption (i.e. SIN). Political leaders are not above the Law! The Apostle Paul opposed the
scourging he was about to receive pointing out that it was illegal for them to whip a Roman
citizen (Acts 22:24-30). Further, the Jews were lobbying to put Paul to death and might well
have been successful in their efforts had it not been that Paul resisted their lawless plans
and appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:7-25). It is right to oppose lawlessness, injustice and
corruption. That’s exactly what John the Baptist did. "For John had said unto Herod, It
is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife." Mark 6:18 He lost his head,
literally, because he refused to overlook the lawlessness of the King and spoke out against it.
Many Christians were torn apart by wild animals because they refused to obey
the command of Caesar to drop a pinch of incense on the pagan altar and affirm "Caesar is
God." These believers were not disobeying Paul’s injunction in Romans 13 when the
refused to subject to Caesar in this matter.
Likewise, in the future, we know that the One World Dictator, known as
Antichrist, will compel everyone to receive his diabolical mark in their foreheads or right
hands (Revelation 13:16-17) but the Tribulation Saints will refuse that mark
(Revelation 14:9-13). They will not be disobeying Romans
13:1-7.
Allow me to make my position on Romans 13 crystal clear. I do not believe
the Apostle Paul is saying we are to be subject to every law even if it is and evil law. The
context clearly indicates that a civil official "is the minister (one who executes
the commands of God) to thee for good." Romans 13:4. Lawlessness, corruption
and injustice is to be met with "obeying God rather than men" when you are asked to
break God’s law, and opposing (speaking out against) lawlessness, corruption and injustice.
Having said that, I must tell you that I find neither permission nor mandate in Scripture to
take the law into our own hands and dole out vigilante justice to lawless magistrates. Yes,
refuse to do what they demand if it is clearly against the command of God. Yes, protest their
lawlessness peacefully. Yes, call for their removal. Yes, use any legal means you
can to get justice. But do NOT take matters into your own hands. For instance, abortionists are
murderers! But, do not get an abortion. Oppose the lawlessness of abortions. Call for an end to
the slaughter. Push for laws that will be righteous laws. Pray for the abortionists to repent
and be saved and if they will not come to Christ, pray for God’s judgment to fall upon them.
But do NOT take matters into you own hands and murder the murderer.
"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."
Proverbs 14:34
"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth
rule, the people mourn." Proverbs 29:2
Next: Our responsibility to the government
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