Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Romans 13:1-7
Here’s a preview into this weekend’s lesson in Rock City, the K-6th grade ministry of Echo Church. We’re talking about authority. Pretty fitting considering the current temperature of our society. Here’s the basic breakdown of the scripture. We’re instructed by the Bible to honor and obey our government.
Yes, Acts 5:29 tells us to obey God over man. I’m not arguing that. So, from my understanding, if government ever instructs a believer to disobey God, then that believer must disobey its government. Scripture doesn’t instruct us to rally against anything. Rather, we’re instructed to be humble and submissive.
Look at Jesus’ example when He was being arrested? John 18:10-11 shows us how different Jesus approach was than even Peter’s.
It doesn’t matter what side of the political aisle you find yourself in agreement. Our society is consumed with fear and anger. We can’t love and honor God and then not love and honor his Word, and the commands it gives. We are to be subject to our authority. God… and the government. There’s no loop hole in Paul’s teaching for whether or not you approve of said government. How can we hope to see peace in our society if it doesn’t first begin with the Church?