The
New Testament position on submission to government authority can be summed up
in four sentences: You can voluntarily
lay down your own life. It’s yours to sacrifice for the gospel’s sake. But,
don’t take anyone else down with you unless you have their permission.
You don’t have that right.
So
long as it is about me, I can turn the other cheek, give into whatever is asked
of me if I so choose. However, when it involves our spouse or child, the call to sacrificially protect and intervene is first order over any government mandate.
It is simply the greater calling.
The same holds true if government comes without warrant, an official
bullies a neighbor or a friend outside of their jurisdiction, or a gang of
local officials band together to burn down your house. These are acts of evil, and we are to resist evil
with words and actions in whatever way we can.
Your family and friends are at risk. There is no greater love or
sacrifice. At this point, you are not
demanding your own rights, but laying down your life for theirs.
Romans
13 states we have nothing to fear if we stay within the law. But, if those laws go against God’s sovereign
moral compass, are we going against God’s sovereign anointing over said leaders
if we are asked to hand our child over to be raped by a village official or to
send our wife out to be beaten or executed because the leader of that country
or domain has total authority are we to do so?
Does God have two faces; one that condones evil for anointing sake and
another one that hates evil? Would God
be divided against himself?
The
NT position as a whole is surprisingly clear and direct with regard to
authority. My hope is to get you to
explore this systematically rather than getting uniquely focused on Romans
13. Scripture must be interpreted in
light of other scripture. God cannot and
does not contradict his own nature; have one set of rules in one circumstance
and another opposing set under different conditions.
I
will state upfront: This is not a
political paper. Quintessentially, this encompassing
message incorporates what Jesus said, what Paul said, and a bit of John. I have been greatly disappointed in what I
hear coming out of most pulpits today.
In fact, I am sickened. And, as
we see impending powers worldwide draw in tighter upon believers, one must
recognize where we stand, what Christ really expects of us in advance. Once upon us, it is too late. Stand firm in your knowledge, and if your
pastor teaches one aspect of submission, with disregard for the whole, I
challenge you after this to gently, but directly question that. Of course, we continue to pray for all political leaders that have charge of various offices, and the focus of that prayer is that they would continue to observe and serve faithfully within the intended framework. Let’s all grow together so that we will not
be weak when it’s most imperative that we be strong in the face of
adversity—that we know the mind of Christ in all things.
While
different type of governments exists, universally acts of conscience still
apply. Each passage below boils down to
a few key elements, offering hope and more accurate spiritual application. I am curious to hear back if any of you have adapted
this thought process.
Beginning
with Jesus:
John 10:11 [Jesus] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his
life for the sheep.
John 15:12 [Jesus] Greater love has no one than this;
that someone lay down his life for his friends.
1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is:
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and
sisters.
Jesus’
example of sacrificial love throughout the gospels is unmistakable, and John
reminds us to emulate that in no uncertain terms. As Jesus laid down his earthly body, we are
to do likewise for others—for those we call neighbors, family, and friends; for
the destitute, the helpless, the widow, and the orphan. Sacrifice ultimately results in surrender or
giving something over. But to surrender
life or freedom one must have the right or possession to do so. I can befittingly choose to become a martyr
for the gospel because God has given me charge of my own life decisions. However, I cannot choose to forfeit
rights of friends or family members, simply because I do not possess the deed
to their lives.
But,
what has this to do with submission to authority? Let’s first look at the go-to
passage.
Romans 13: 1-5: “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.
Seems pretty obvious, right? If you disobey or rebel against people in
power you are in sin and will bring judgment upon yourself. Moreover, corporate rebellion will bring
judgment upon churches, cities, and nations.
Those in power are anointed and appointed by God. We must not rebel, and
do well accepting that. Isn’t this what most
of us learned?
Well, let’s test this precept, starting with the United States. First, we must answer, where does ultimate authority reside? Is it with the President? The combined office powers? Once elected, are the actual people holding these offices anointed with divine governing authority? None of these answers are correct according to our constitution.
In attempting to avoid being too wordy here’s the summary: In the United States, submitting to authorities means the constitution, not the people elected to the offices, right up to the president. When presidents, judges, elected house and senators are in sync, they bring great honor to themselves and to the people they represent; misrepresent the constitution, they personally fall out of the grace and anointed covering. It was designed that way because man is absolutely not fully trustworthy and the founding fathers recognized this in their wisdom. While elected officials are to be honored with great respect as ones carrying out the will of that document, that honor wanes when they try to put their personal spin on it. We fight for the document, not the electorate. That’s why there are divided roles and not a king. Christians in the United States, ironically, are to place their allegiance in a stone-like document that can only be changed by a rigid amendment system so as to purposely resist elected officials having their own interpretations. It requires 2/3 of congress and ¾ of the states to approve such changes. Checks and balances, reduce the power of officials as well. They have always been guards and servants rather than bearers of new destiny.
I think they quite seriously considered
what Jesus said when he spoke of the
heart of man in John 2 “24 But Jesus didn’t
trust them, because he knew all about people. 25 No one needed to
tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.
In deciphering obedience to rulers
and authorities in other parts of the world we must incorporate Romans 13: 1-5. But, now, in addition, let’s allow the rest
of the verses to help bring us sharper focus.
Beginning with verse 8: “8 Let no debt
remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever
loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The
commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You
shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Whenever government or rulers go
outside this “love does no harm to a neighbor”, they are walking a plank separate
of their anointed powers as rulers appointed by God. It is up to God to judge them, but if a ruler
or elected official does things that bring harm to their citizens—at that point
being outside the anointing--a Christian, by moral conscience, should not obey
it! I will do no harm to myself, my God,
or my neighbor sums up the fulfillment of the law Jesus spoke of in Matthew
22:34-40.
While the people of Germany struggled
with this concept, Hitler should have been a no-brainer. Prior to 1933, Germany had protective
citizenry laws. Beginning in 1933, as appointed chancellor, Hitler unilaterally
and systematically began pirating away these rights. At the death of
Hindenburg, the former president, he self-appointed himself as supreme
leader. This act was a breach of
contract was an illegal act; a forced
take over. At this point the people should
have immediately recognized this and removed him from office. Instead, they sinned. By not actively resisting, they brought
natural consequences upon themselves.
Here’s where you see an active separation of sheep and goats. The German church was about 90% of
professing Christians; more national than relational to God, they did not resist.
The remaining 10% were known as Confessional Christians and their consciences
were progressively conflicted by this takeover.
They began resisting. Was it wrong for people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer to move from pacifism to active attempt at assassination to save and protect those whom he loved?
1 Corinthians 13: 6-7
Love protects “ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always
protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” -- NIV In other versions, love bears up. The Greek word for “protects” here is stegei, which literally means “to cover” and includes the idea of protecting and preserving. So, if you were Jewish, you could willfully
give up your own life, in order to save or help the lives of others. But, would it not be a sin to surrender to
German hierarchy instead of trying to help your family flee persecution? Love helps and preserves. As one born Jewish, later swept up into
Christ’s kingdom, I can tell you pretty certainly that in my walk today I would
have either joined the resistance movement and fought underground or earlier would
have sold everything and done anything to get my family out of the Nazi grasp
of Europe. Not doing so is selfish. It is the opposite of love. Resist evil in all sorts of ways. It is not only our right, motivated by love alone, it is our calling. Jesus premeditatively created a snapping whip while turning over the moneychangers’ tables in the temple. Jesus said, be angry, and do not sin. There many ways in which to do that.
Today, if you were ruled by Kim Jong-un in North Korea or lived under ISIS who have recently at the time of this paper usurped authority in Iraq and Syria, demanding strict adherence to Sharia-law, where would your allegiance lay? If you are consistent with pastoral teachings
on how to submit to authorities of the land, would you not have to submit to
such tyrants (given by God)? You might
say, yes so long as you weren’t required to break God’s law of denying your
faith. What if they want to take your life?
Are you to submit to that? You
can choose to give up your life as a martyr.
Under Romans 13 as taught so often today you would be instructed to do
so as God will redeem you eternally.
And, I would not argue with that.
But, according to 1 John, martyrdom is still a choice, not a default
surrender. So, I’m going to argue that
this is a total false and nonsensical interpretation. If you plan to be a martyr, do so that the
gospel maybe well served, dying or protecting others. Make it count for something. And again, it is supposed to be an entire
voluntary act of love, not cowardice that forced the option! The next scripture confirms this.
According to 1 John 4:18 “Love is the opposite of fear; fear
has to do with punishment.”
Did the Jews of Germany end up as
martyrs by result of lovingly choosing to lay down their lives so that these
despicable Nazis might turn to Jesus as they saw innocent blood running down
the ditches by the hundreds of thousands and eventually millions? Do you conceive that because they surrendered, Jews were honoring God,--and as a result of that honor, all are taken to heaven regardless of their convictions about God?
Or were they forced into death
out of their fears, having no more choice in the end? If they just went along with the program, everything
would be all right. Many Christians and
Jews believed this at the onset.
My grandfather was in politics and
tried to get my grandmother to flee Czechoslovakia in 1938. She wouldn’t do it. About a year and a half later they did escape—barely--handing
everything over to the local officials in exchange for their lives. A year and a half earlier they would have
been able to sell their home and belongings. Instead, they escaped with the
clothes on their backs and a few pieces of China. He tried to protect his wife
and daughter. It really was a miracle
that he got a second chance, having to bribe his way out of jail at that
point. Many more did not fare so well. Steeped in fear,
apathy, or disbelief, this lead to final and ultimate waste. My proof is that Germany is not spiritually
repentant and serving God boisterously today.
Quite the opposite holds true.
Just as in Germany, great harm came
to many quiet, long-suffering, pacifists so it follows today in many regions of
the world where the people cower and hunker down. They ignore or pretend that events don’t
matter, that their governments will do well for them in the end. Rather than actively resist evil in their
prayers and actions they become victims of their own apathy and fears. Turn the other cheek when it brings testimony
to your own story. But, resist for those
put in your charge and those you couldn’t stand to live without.
Spiritual sanity follows accurate
teaching. Equipping ourselves with
contextual understanding is vital to preparing our lives for battles that certainly
lie ahead of us. Christians have a moral
conscience that guides them via the Holy Spirit to side with what is right; to
sacrifice ourselves and our comforts for the greater good of all. I hope that I have challenged you to rethink
these positions and these scriptures for yourselves so hereafter you respond
with Godly confidence first over misguided rulers of this world.
Barna
