What Does The Bible Say About Obeying the Government?

 

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 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.

Romans 13 is an excellent passage with much relevance for us today.  Whenever the question of submission to a governing authority comes up, this passage is referenced.  Though we automatically think of our government today, Paul writes in a time period where the Roman government persecuted the early Christian movement heavily.  Therefore the Christians back then had even more reason to rebel against the governing authorities than we do now!  But Paul teaches them to not do that in this passage. 

Paul says since the governing authorities are appointed by God, we must obey them.  All authority flows from God and as hard as it is to see this sometimes.  Although authority is given God, it doesn't mean people wield authority in a way that glorifies God. One day they will be held accountable for it.  Paul makes it clear that obeying the governing authorities is a wise thing for one to do.  Why? One doesn't have to be afraid of the authorities if one is obeying the law, but should be in fear of them when they don't.  It is sort of like if a drug dealer gets pulled over with drugs in his trunk, do you think he is going to be at peace during the encounter?  Whereas the person with nothing illegal with them can keep their blood pressure low.  

Also Paul says the role of government is to keep order in society.  We only have to look at the riots going on in many of our cities to see what lawlessness looks like.  God gave us civil authorites to protect us from evil.  What an awful thing to have an intruder threatening your life and family and to call the police and have no one to show up and protect you.  Like in any profession there are "bad cops" but it doesn't mean we should disrespect the police men and women who were appointed by God to protect us and keep evildoers at bay.    

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Finally, the principles above lend themselves to the paying of taxes.  Those who govern need to be paid for their work like anyone else.  

It is important to end with a question everyone asks.  Should I obey the government if they are asking me to do something evil?  The simple answer is no, we need to obey God before human beings as Peter says in Acts 5.  But this principle could be taken advantage of.  I.e. I don't agree with what the government is doing so I won't pay my taxes.  At the heart of God's law is to love and protect human life.  The government's ultimate role is to protect human life and give freedom for everyone to pursue their God given dreams.  

An obvious application to this passage would be how do we respond to our government during the COVID crisis.  And to make things more complicated, we have the federal government, the state government and local government to obey.  A question many of us faced was should we obey the governement when they shut down the economy and closed public places like restaurants, gyms, salons, schools and houses of worship.  Places which offered necessary services were allowed to stay open.  Why wasn't a church a necessary service many of us asked?  Bottom line is that I think we as Christians needed to obey the governing authorities.  You may disagree but I think part of it is the witness we give to the world.  If we disobey and rebel against with the civil authorities when we think they are wrong, how can we expect others to obey them.  Romans 13 is an important text for us to obey today and it will be I imagine well into the future!