Writing to the churches of Rome, Paul presents principles for Christian conduct in relation to the State. Believers must “subordinate themselves to governing powers, for there is no authority except by God.” His statement was written when Nero ruled the Roman Empire, the same man who became the first emperor to persecute the church.
What is truly exceptional is Paul’s
instruction to show respect and submission to “governing authorities” in
an imperial system that was anything but democratic, one ruled by autocrats with
absolute power.
And at the time, the empire was
ruled by Nero, one of the most infamous of Rome’s emperors. Yet despite the
despotic nature of his regime, the apostle summoned believers to show respect and
honor to the emperor and his officers.
GOD’S ORDER
And according to Paul, the
existing governmental powers have been “arranged” by God. This rendering
translates the Greek verb tassÅ, which means to “order, arrange,
set, appoint.” In other words, governing authorities exist due to the “arrangement”
of God, whether we understand His reasons for the present order or not.
In principle, this teaching was
not new. Paul builds his argument on Old Testament precedents, including
passages from the book of Daniel.
Near the start of the
Babylonian Captivity, Daniel declared that God rules over the affairs of the
nations - “He removes kings and sets up kings… He rules in the
kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he pleases, and sets up over it even
the basest of men” - (Daniel 2:21, 4:17).
And because He “arranged”
the existing authorities, to “resist” them constitutes resistance to the
“arrangement of God.” If God does give political authority to whomever
He pleases, opposing the existing order means trespassing on His prerogative
and challenging His sovereignty.
Over the centuries, church
leaders have argued that tyranny, corruption, and incompetence constitute exceptions
to Paul’s rule. In such circumstances, the church’s support for political and
even violent revolution becomes necessary and even justified.
But that is an argument of expedience, not principle, a form of the “end justifies the means.” Moreover, it ignores the historical context of the Roman house churches.
First, Paul says nothing
about any exceptions to the rule. Justifying insurrection based on the
government’s repressive policies or corruption is a loophole sledgehammered
into the passage.
Second, Paul is writing to
Christians living under a pagan and authoritarian regime. The Roman Empire
was certainly not democratic and only occasionally just. Caesar held absolute
power, and the government was notoriously corrupt and brutal.
Third, at the time Paul wrote, NERO
WAS CAESAR, a man so depraved that even by Roman history and standards he
was beyond the pale.
Among other things, Nero
murdered his half-brother and his mother. In a fit of rage, he kicked his
pregnant wife to death. Needing a scapegoat for the fires that burned much of
the city in A.D. 64, Nero blamed the conflagration on the followers of Jesus, thereby
becoming the first emperor to persecute the church, at least officially.
And quite possibly, Paul
himself was executed in the ‘Neronian Persecution,’ the very same apostle who
ordered the church in Rome not to resist the government.
ALLEGIANCE
Considering New Testament
principles and its apocalyptic perspective, the teaching of Paul makes perfect
sense. The disciple of Jesus is called to give his total allegiance to Jesus,
a political action that transcends all national, ethnic, social, cultural,
economic, and linguistic loyalties - (Galatians 3:28, Revelation 5:9-12, 7:9-17).
Christ’s disciple is a citizen of a realm that has no concept of “dual citizenship.” Loyalty to him must supersede all other allegiances. Moreover, he tasked his church with proclaiming the good news of the “kingdom of God” to ALL nations, thereby summoning all men to render allegiance to its king.
The only “revolution” that
matters is the kingdom of God. The day is coming when His rule will replace ALL
existing governments, and that day will coincide with the “arrival” of
Jesus in glory. That biblical declaration alone tells us that no government in
existence today will endure forever - (1
Corinthians 15:20-28).
In the interim, every disciple is
called to testify to that political reality while living in a fallen
world. But to work for change in the corrupt institutions of this age means
working for something that will not endure, to expend time and energy on “meat
that perishes” - (1
Corinthians 7:31).
The exhortation to obey even a
despotic state ought to give us pause before immersing ourselves in the
political processes of this fallen world order, let alone advocating rebellion
against existing authorities. Any calls for Christians to disobey an unpopular
government or officeholder must be rebuffed, if for no other reason because
Scripture requires it.
Christians must not disengage
from the world, but rather, to engage it with biblical means -
faith, prayer, gospel witness, acts of mercy, and above all, by emulating the
self-sacrificial service of Jesus for others.
We are NOT called to
live our lives conformed to the ideologies and values of this age. Yes, very
often the State is unjust, even brutal, and that is precisely the point.
Disciples of Jesus must not do evil so some greater “good may come.” The
ends do not justify the means! The church is called to something far different
than the ideologies and methods of the kingdoms of this world.