Paul and Governing Officials

 

My mind has been constantly stirring with the wonder of why professing Christians continue to rebut the leaders of the country and the states in which they live in. I have witnessed this from leadership as well as laity and it has caused me to wonder where and when this was deemed acceptable practice as a beneficial witness for the Kingdom. I try to see where it might be rooted in love, but I have a challenging time seeing love in this kind of action. Jesus-love – Agape’ love – is defined first as a selfless love. It would appear in these retaliatory actions that defy governing authorities due to a difference in viewpoints, the driving force of these actions is in fact the self. I have also seen professing Christian authority figures cast judgment on others that do not choose to join in these factions. Bible verses are used to defend their position and to some may seem convincing. Yet may I remind us that the Bible, if taken out of context, can be used to defend any argument if we so choose. Satan used the Bible when tempting Jesus, but Jesus righted it and put it back into context and Satan would be gone.

 

In the early days of the Church of Rome this same thing was happening. The early church had taken what Paul had said in Romans 12:1-2 and had become troublesome to the governing authorities. Paul had instructed them not to conform to the ways of this world, but to be transformed into a new person. The Church, (that would be the people today as well) took that as meaning not to put up with their government officials because they were not Christians. They began to cause trouble for the governing officials and that prompted Paul to write his next letter to them in Romans 13 to try and clarify what was truth about governing officials of the land. It reads.

 

Romans 13:1-2 (NLT2) says:
¹ Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
² So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.

 

What the people needed to remember – as do we – is that these governing officials are instituted by the Lord God. This started as far back as the prophets and judges that led the people, but furthermore with their request of a king. From the time of King Saul, who was their first governing official, instituted by God, the people have had governing officials instituted by God. God is sovereign and yet we know that not all governing officials are those that lead with the will of God in their hearts. We see that from the beginning as well with King Saul as God says at one point, I wish I had never made you King. Yet here is a notable example of respect for governing authority even when we know it isn’t deserved. David – who has already been instituted (anointed) to be the next governing authority after Saul has not one, but two chances to take Saul’s life. David refused to do so because Saul was the instituted (anointed) by God governing authority. As a God-fearing believer it was not his – David’s – position to do such a thing. God would deal with Saul when God saw the time for it. When proof-texting to gain support for our rebellious actions against authority and using Romans 12:2, if we put it into context and read the rest of the chapter, we see that Paul also says in verse 17 never to pay back evil for evil but do everything in such a way that is honorable. Verse 18 tells us to live in peace with everyone. And verse 19 tells us God will take care of the paybacks when the time is right.

 

So, if God has instituted the governing authorities – IE the governor – and we rebel against the things they are putting into place, then according to what Paul writes in Romans 13 we are we not rebelling against God and run the risk of bringing Godly punishment on ourselves? This incites an inward type of fear in those who rebel, whether we want to admit it or not. There is that unconscious fear of what the ramifications will be because of our rebellion. Will we suffer fines, loss of employment, health issues, or possibly all of the aforementioned? Paul writes in the same chapter if we do what is right and do not rebel because we realize these governing authorities are instituted by the Lord God Himself, we can live without fear, (verse 3) and in verse 5 Paul writes we can keep a clear conscience. The ultimate mindset in this is found in verse 10. Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of GOD’S law.

Which brings me to the picture of perfect love as illustrated by the Son of God. I am reminded of how Jesus stood before Pilate in John 19. As Pilate has Jesus flogged and then parades Jesus in front of people Jesus simply stands there. Pilate pleads with Jesus to speak to him and says to Jesus – don’t you realize I have the power to set you free. Pilate was the governing authority and Jesus was not rebelling even though HE was the So of God. When Pilate tried to show his authority to the authority of all authority Jesus still did not rebel, He simply reminds Pilate in verse 11, that he would have no power at all except that which has been given him from above. That very phrase and the action or lack thereof is loaded with information. As Paul writes in Romans that all authority comes from God, and Jesus just reveals this to Pilate as well, we see at this point why Pilate does what he does. Pilate could have set Jesus free, but since his authority is from God and that was not the plan, Pilate could not override the authority that comes from God and therefore Barabbas was set free. We can see in verse 12 Pilate tried to release Jesus, but it wasn’t happening. This was not of God’s authority as Jesus was on a mission for all of us. The one thing Jesus and the Father have is unity. The authority of authorities was in complete unity with the Father and saw no reason to rebel against the governing authority because Jesus – through His unity with the Father – knew that Pilate had no power but that which was given him from above. To put it simple, Pilate’s authority comes from God, and he was placed in the position he was holding by God. What if Pilate didn’t listen to the people and Jesus was set free? What if Pilate didn’t pay attention to his own conscience – the Holy Spirit prompting – and set Jesus free? What Pilate did unbeknownst to him was for the greater good of the world. But God knew. Even as Jesus appears to be captive, He in fact is free because He would in fact overcome all that was before Him. Jesus was totally committed to the cause and when we are totally committed to Jesus, just as He was we too are free despite what it may seem. John 16:33, Jesus tells us in these situations to take heart for He has overcome the world. That same power is ours if we are totally committed just as He was/is through the cross.

 

When we rebel against authority today it tends to bring into question our authentic unity with the Father. If we made the realization Jesus did in regard to authority and had the same perfect unity with the Father through Jesus, would that change our views on items such as mask mandates, and vaccines? Would we view people differently regardless of the choices they make in these areas? Jesus did not rebel against governing authority even when He could have. Jesus’ unity with the Father identified the reality that in fact there was no need to rebel because Jesus knew He would accomplish ALL things the Father sent Him to do. This includes the resurrection. As mentioned before Romans 13:3 (NLT2) says,
³ For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. This would seem to imply to me that we who rebel bring on our own fears primarily because we are rebelling governing authority in the first place. Perhaps deep down inside the real root of the fear is knowing we are rebelling against God. This is what potentially strikes fear in us. What makes this more concerning is when this is prompted by church leadership. Jesus said for us to love each other as I have loved you and prayed in John 17 that we would have the same unity that He and the Father have. If we truly have this love and unity, it behooves me why we as church leadership would feel it is “our right” to challenge – rebel – against the governing officials simply because it is not what we want for ourselves. As we know in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus would have liked His cup of the cross to pass from Him. He sweat drops of blood as He cried out to the Father. Yet for the greater good of all mankind, and because He is love, Jesus also prayed those words I love so much – YET not my will but thine be done. Perhaps His will is for us to reveal His love even when we too may sweat a little. Perhaps we are to be like Jesus with our governing officials and remember who really is in control while avoiding a rebellious mindset to let God’s glory be revealed because we know He has overcome the world. What picture would Jesus have painted for us if He would have rebelled? If Jesus the authority of authorities would have put up a fuss about the way, they were treating Him what would they say about the words He had spoken to us previously? The words about loving each other, turning the other cheek, carrying their shirt a second mile, and being non-confrontational primarily would have been tainted. So, if that is the case if leaders of the church and professing Christians are openly rebelling against governing authorities, what picture does that paint for those observing such behavior? Biblically speaking are we not then rebelling against God according to the scripture. This mindset reminds me of Jeremiah 36 when king Jehoiakim is being read the scroll – God’s Word – and he cuts off what he doesn’t like and burns it in the fire. Essentially are we not doing the same? Something to think about. How do you respond to governing authority? Remember, love does no wrong to others, including governing authorities.

 

Shalom.