THE GOVERNMENT AND GOD: ROMANS 13 (Part I)

Recently, one of our church brothers asked several questions about how God relates to sitting governments:

Dear Theologians,

RE: question about Romans 13
Paul gives good advice and explains the will of God on how those under authority or rulership must conduct themselves, without giving God’s will or good advice whatsoever regarding those in authority or rulership should conduct themselves.

1. What is God’s will on the rulers’/ authorities’ conduct?
2. Will God conduct His wrath on the subjects when they are at the same time under the oppression (wrath) of their ruler?
3. At what distinct point must I resist authority, if I should or must
4. What is to do good according to this very chapter?
5. How should l understand Paul’s teaching in this chapter in light of what is happening in Uganda, first, and elsewhere in the world
6. What does it mean that no authority except from God

Am sure this question was influenced by three circumstances:

The first is what is happening today in Uganda politically following the detention of over 30 people (including injured MPs from the opposition side) in the recent Member of Parliament bye-elections in a Ugandan district known as Arua, the second circumstance that might have provoked the questions is the weekend preaching from his pastor who warned his church members against the military, and finally, the brother asks because he is ideally (though not pragmatically) not a supporter of the existing government in the country where he is.

I am going to attempt an answer to all the six questions and I have to mention that my answers apply exclusively to those who believe in God and are Christians. Those who are not Christians and do not believe in God, therefore, are the authorities themselves and what is right and wrong is determined by themselves.

Chapter 13 of the book of Romans is a continuation of Paul’s discourse focused on a transformed life that starts from chapters 12 to 15. He is not teaching how to behave to win favours with God but instead, discussing a kind of life only possible in Jesus Christ. The matters in there, therefore, are for Christians in Rome and not necessarily for everyone in Rome under different kinds of authority.

The chapter has two sections and each addressed a different issue under the same context. Christians are reminded that a transformed life submits to the powers be it (local and national government) = verses 1-5 and the common way to exhibit that submission involves our faithfulness in paying taxes and exercising a respectful attitude for those in authority= verses 6-7. In other words, the first seven verses 1-7 are about an individual Christian in relation to the government.

In the next seven verses (8-14), Paul exhorts Christian individual relationships. He implicitly states that the institution known as a government is composed of individuals who are our friends and family and therefore, if we followed the Jesus command of loving one another and properly exercised love, the law would be adequately met (8-10).

The last four verses (11-14) warn us about the time we have left, not under the government (we like or hate), but under the body and we are asked to stop making provisions for the fulfilling of the lusts of this body we are under. Interestingly, when you look closely, individuals in governments (policymakers) abuse other individuals (Public citizens) due to materialistic greed.

In the lens of both their love to Christ and the Jewish roots of the majority Christians in the Church at Rome, Christians in Paul’s day had an attitude towards the Roman government. It was the Roman government that had charged their Jesus with treason and killed him at the cross (John 19:12).

Apart from the Jewish messianic activists and jihadists (Acts 5:34-37), the Jews were very critical to the Roman superintendence over them (Mark 12:14, John 8:33, Mathew 22:16). They did not like the government and these Jews except in incidences when they were the beneficiaries (Acts 18:12-17), they were permanent opposition to the existing government (John 8:33). The Apostle Paul Himself was a major victim of both established religion and the government at the same time (Acts 16:20, 21, Romans 8:35-39).

What makes Roman 13 interesting is that Paul asks the people to obey the government. He does this because he understood that it was a Christian obligation and part of what a transformed life is. Why? Because ever since man invented a Political Government and suspended a Theocracy (People Power), a democratic God adopted the government and he, directly and indirectly, participates in the formation of these Political Governments. It is important to understand that both the people and the government are God’s. A good Government is under God and so is a bad Government (Exodus 9, 2Kings 20:21, Daniel 4 etc.).

A Government is a structure built by people and for the people. It is a man-made sovereignty that administers public policy and political power through traditions, customs, institutions and laws which are agreed upon by a select few in the disguise of public representation. However, like my diagram exhibits, even this structure is under God’s control. Both people power and political governments are under the God and all report to God. Once a political government oppresses the people outside the will of God, then God overthrows that government. But if the government (good or evil) is serving the will of God in his sovereignty, it doesn’t matter how much people fight that government, it cannot go away.

Gospel Hawker’s Government & God

In the above diagram, I try to demonstrate that while God (in his sovereignty) never invented Political Governments, he uses them for his purposes. Those in power hold their power not because of an election or because of their military arsenal and acumen but it is all due to God (John 19:10-11) and when God deems it fit that they are removed, it doesn’t take much effort (Psalms 75:7; Daniel. 2:21).

All people, all things and all Governments are powerful but their power and might is subject and under the sovereignty of God and serve not only the good of people but also God’s ultimate purpose to bring glory to his name (Psalm 115:1–2; Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 42:8).

Francis Schaeffer, the late Christian philosopher, wrote,

“True spirituality touches all of life, including things of government and law, not just religious things.”

Jesus Christ is Lord, not just over Christians but over everyone. God is sovereign and in control, not just over the church but over all of the world. God is in control of everyone and everything.

Next, I will handle the questions not addressed by this session.

God bless you and: THINK about what I am saying. The LORD will help you UNDERSTAND all these things. (2Tim 2:7 NLT)

Pr ITM White
The Gospel Hawker
iTiS Well of Worship Ministries (John 4:24)