Romans 13:1-7 - Respect authority

This chapter deals with our relationships with civil authorities. We need to understand the context within which this was given. We do not fully appreciate the significance of the phrase "Jesus is Lord". In Paul's day it was a highly political phrase, not just a religious one. According to Rome Caesar was Lord, so saying Christ was Lord was to challenge this statement. A few years after Romans was written a period of terrible persecution would begin on the church in Rome. Today saying Christ is Lord is beginning to achieve its powerful meaning once again. Our society is increasingly anti-Christian, we need to be ready to tell society that Christ, not man, is Lord.

But this needs to be balanced. Jesus told Pilate that he only had power because God had given it to him, but He also told him that his (Jesus') kingdom was not of this world. We do declare that Christ is Lord, but we are not leading a political insurrection. This is at least part of the reason for Paul's instructions here.

So we are to respect governing authorities. Now if they tell us to do something that is clearly wrong, this does not mean we have to do it. "I was only obeying orders" is no excuse. But our starting point is that we obey the authorities. God has placed governments in power. Remember that the Roman government was definitely not godly. Also remember that these words are directed to the citizens. They do not mean that governments can then get on their high horses and do what they like. To governments themselves the words of Jesus reminding them why they have power, and the words of many of the Old Testament prophets are the ones that God directs to them.

So, if we rebel against human governments we are rebelling against God. Jesus commended the Roman soldier who knew how to trust Jesus because he knew how to respect human authority. Our attitude to human authorities will affect and reflect our attitude to God. Now is Paul living in an idealistic world with all his talk of governments rewarding good and punishing evil? Surely not, for he had suffered enough at the hands of rulers. But our starting point is to respect authority, and my biggest problem, and your biggest problem is not the stupid government we have to live under, but the rebelliousness that resides within our souls.

We are also to pay taxes gladly. We should pray over our taxes, praying that God will bless that money!