Here in the United States there has been a lot of political unrest and violence over the last two months. I have seen several instances where pastors have told their congregations to do what authorities tell them no matter what. If we were living in a time where government authorities upheld their oaths of office, and we aren’t, that may be okay advice. However there have been instances where city officials have told the police they aren’t allowed to interfere with the rioters but are instructed to arrest law abiding citizens who resist the “mostly peaceful protests.” What do we do then? Unfortunately this isn’t just a rhetorical question any more.
When pastors tell their flocks to comply with authorities under all circumstances it is almost always justified using Romans 13. My interpretation of Romans 13 is a bit different than most and I don’t believe it gives governing authorities carte blanche. I know many Christians will object to my analysis but I think it is at least as solid as what comes from most pulpits.
My analysis pivots on the idea that Romans 13 is not disconnected from Romans 12. Keep in mind that old chestnut that “text without context is pretext.” I believe that the end of Chapter 12 provides context for Chapter 13. Here is an extended quote of Romans 12:9-13:6:
12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
13:1 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.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.
Romans 12:9-16 makes it clear that the Roman Church is being mistreated. Many of the New Testament epistles touch on persecution of the church. Sometimes that persecution is petty and sometimes it is a threat to the very lives of the Christians the Apostles are writing to. In Chapter 12, Paul urges the Roman Christians to do everything in their power to keep their situation peaceful. Treat everyone (including unbelievers) well even though Paul admits that may not be possible. Then in Chapter 13 he changes gears and tells the Roman Christians that if they take revenge or act in a criminal manner the Roman authorities will come after them and rightly so. Chapter 12 is telling the Roman Christians to do what is right and Chapter 13 tells them what will happen if they fail to do so. I do not believe that this passage demands passivity in the face of government sponsored evil.
Let’s assume you are in a situation where the mayor in your city has told the police that rioters are not to be touched no matter what they do (this has happened). If the rioters decide to invade your neighborhood and torch your house do you have a right to resist? If the local government supports the rioters and threatens me with prison is that authority “God’s servant for my good?” If local police tell me that if I resist my property being wrongfully destroyed or my person being wrongfully injured are the police “agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer?”
Those questions are meant to be rhetorical and I hope you can guess how I answer them. If you interpret this passage as most pastors do, that the government is always right by virtue of its authority, it becomes a self-contradictory jumble. Local authorities have been violating every single point Paul makes in Romans 13:6-9. Many pastors say this does not matter. That means Paul was just blowing smoke and didn’t really mean any of what he wrote.
One of the things that studying scripture is supposed to is allow us to tell good from evil. Then you should do what is good and avoid evil (Romans 12:9). If a pastor can’t help with that are they really doing their job?
I want to wrap up with this thought from Isaiah 5: 20:
20 Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
Unfortunately those who tell Christians to go along with evil because it’s the government doing the evil have, I believe, a great woe placed on them!
