Remember who established the government you love to complain about.
Romans 13:1-5 (NIV)
12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
13 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.
2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
Listen to passage & devotional:
Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 36: The Civil Government
We believe that
because of the depravity of the human race
our good God has ordained kings, princes, and civil officers.
He wants the world to be governed by laws and policies
so that human lawlessness may be restrained
and that everything may be conducted in good order
among human beings.
For that purpose he has placed the sword
in the hands of the government,
to punish evil people
and protect the good.
And being called in this manner
to contribute to the advancement of a society
that is pleasing to God,
the civil rulers have the task,
subject to God’s law,
of removing every obstacle
to the preaching of the gospel
and to every aspect of divine worship.
They should do this
while completely refraining from every tendency
toward exercising absolute authority,
and while functioning in the sphere entrusted to them,
with the means belonging to them.
They should do it in order that
the Word of God may have free course;
the kingdom of Jesus Christ may make progress;
and every anti-Christian power may be resisted.
Moreover everyone,
regardless of status, condition, or rank,
must be subject to the government,
and pay taxes,
and hold its representatives in honor and respect,
and obey them in all things that are not in conflict
with God’s Word,
praying for them
that the Lord may be willing to lead them
in all their ways
and that we may live a peaceful and quiet life
in all piety and decency.
And on this matter we denounce the Anabaptists, other anarchists,
and in general all those who want
to reject the authorities and civil officers
and to subvert justice
by introducing common ownership of goods
and corrupting the moral order
that God has established among human beings.
Summary
It's hard not to have a rebel mindset as a Christian. After all, Peter's rallying cry as he preached that powerful first sermon on Pentecost was to save yourself from this corrupt generation! Peter would go on to tell the corrupt establishment that he wouldn't submit to their ungodly demands because Christians were to obey God, not man. So it's somewhat natural for people like us - citizens of the Kingdom of God - to assume that the godless governments of this world are beneath us and that they ought to submit to us.
Paul shatters such notions here in today's famous passage. The governing authorities, although often corrupt and godless, have been established by God. It does seem revolting that God would even associate Himself with the governments of the world, much less that He would be the One who put them in positions of power to rule over the civil affairs of His people.
But take a few steps back and you'll see that this is all very consistent with our understanding of God's sovereignty. Our holy God is, of course, completely perfect and without sin. Yet, as one of my seminary professors was so fond of saying, "God uses sin sinlessly." What he meant was that God omnipotently controls all things - even people's sinful actions - as He works out all things for the good of those who love Him.
The one in authority, reminds Paul, is God's servant - that's an amazing statement in and of itself, but Paul's not yet done blowing our minds! These servants of God are put in place for your good. So don't just submit to them because it will hurt if you don't but because in doing so you are honoring God's good provision for your life.
Dig Deeper
It's tragic that the very sword that God gave to the governing authorities would take the life of the man who wrote these words that God inspired. All throughout history this sword has been used to slaughter millions of innocent people. This is why, that one of the things we'll learn about God's design for government this week is that although God grants them the sword, He also commands that its size and scope be very limited.
We live in an age that's very skeptical of governing authorities. In reality, nearly every generation has shared this skepticism. Psalm 20 reminds us not to trust in horses or chariots, referring to the might of government, which is one of the easier Biblical exhortations to follow since it so closely aligns with our skeptical instincts.
But one of the ways we can instead trust in the name of the LORD our God, as the Psalm goes on to command, is to submit ourselves to the governments He's placed in authority. We often gripe about our governments, especially during election cycles, but take time this week to notice and give thanks for all the blessings you enjoy that God provides through our governing authorities that God has instituted.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who governs all things, and who has established our governing authorities;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for our government and pray for the wisdom and patience to submit to them, knowing that in doing so you're ultimately submitting to our Father;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 2 Peter 2
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