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Revisiting Romans 13
by Pastor Gregory A.
Dixon
In recent years, Christians in particular
have interpreted Romans 13 as a command for unlimited submission to
government by God. Many proponents of this belief have sat passively
by, in the soft pews of their place of worship, while evil has
triumphed in most areas of family and church life. In our pacifistic
smugness, many have allowed government to become god without even
knowing. Yet, when confronted with the true meaning of Romans 13,
absurd accusations are shouted in religious rhetoric toward those
who would dare to break an unjust law or even to question the
almighty government. The opponents of unlimited submission to
government are deemed as rebellious, anarchist and disobedient.
However, there is no practical, historical or biblical consistency
in the shallow arguments of these simpletons.
First of
all, unlimited submission to government is not practical. For a
philosophy to be a valid philosophy, it must be consistent. As a
result, it does not make practical sense to blindly obey a tyrant
like Adolf Hitler or deem a law such as abortion on demand a
legitimate law just because one's government says it is public
policy. However, if Romans 13 teaches unlimited submission to
government, then we must obey and acknowledge all laws, good and
bad, as the will of God. If all governments are of God, then all
laws are of God. This is not practical from any point of
view.
Second, it is not historical. Our founding fathers
recognized and understood tyranny and despotism. They perceived the
ultimate end of the king's actions. Thus, they besought George III
to relent in his persecutions and implored him to uphold his
covenantal agreement.
In July of 1774, our forefathers met in
Fairfax County, Virginia, and considered ways of forcing Great
Britain to redress American grievances. George Washington and George
Mason were the instrumental agents in drafting what has come to be
known as the "Fairfax Resolves."
Ponder for a moment Resolves
five and six:
"Resolved that the claim lately assumed and
exercised by the British Parliament, of making all such Laws as they
think fit, to govern the people of these colonies, contrary to the
first Principles of the Constitution, and the original Compacts by
which we are dependent upon the British Crown and Government; but is
totally incompatible with the privileges of a free people, and the
natural Rights of Mankind; will render our own Legislatures merely
nominal and nugatory, and is calculated to reduce us from a state of
freedom and happiness to slavery and misery."
"Resolved that
Taxation and Representation are in their nature inseparable; that
the right of withholding, or of giving and granting their own money
is the only effectual security to a free people, against the
encroachments of Despotism and Tyranny; and that whenever they yield
to one they quickly fall prey to the other."
All of the
Resolves are loaded with bullets that explode against a tyrannical
and despotic government. The "shot that was heard around the world
on Lexington green was loaded in the "Fairfax Resolves." How can one
make that statement? After pleading with George III to uphold his
covenantal agreement and after seeking for a redress of grievances,
the "coup de grace" is plainly stated in the twenty-third
Resolve:
"Resolved that it be recommended to the Deputies of
the General Congress to draw up and transmit an humble and dutiful
petition and remonstrance to his Majesty, asserting with decent
firmness our just and constitutional Rights and Privileges,
lamenting the fatal necessity of being compelled to enter into
measures disgusting to his Majesty and his Parliament, or injurious
to our fellow subjects in Great Britain; declaring the strongest
terms of duty and affection to his Majesty's person, family and
government, and our desire to continue our dependence upon Great
Britain; and must humbly beseeching his Majesty, not to reduce his
faithful subjects of America to a state of desperation, and to
reflect, that from our Sovereign there can be but one
appeal."
In simple terms, the Resolves offered George III two
obvious choices. One was to fulfill his covenantal obligations and
be the king and ruler to the American colonists that he had agreed
to be, or second, to prepare for war. George III was asked to
"reflect upon the fact, that if he did not keep his end of the
covenant, there could be but one appeal!"
Last and most
importantly, it is not biblical. Daniel disobeyed King Darius and
went to the lion's den. The three Hebrew children broke the law for
not bowing. The parents hid the baby Moses from Pharaoh. Rahab lied
to protect the Hebrew spies. The Apostles went to prison for
preaching Christ in the authority of Heaven. Paul and his followers
in Acts 17 did contrary to all the decrees of Caesar in order to
make Jesus the King. Even Jesus lived in direct opposition of the
political religious leaders of his day and went to the cross for
us.
Romans 13 is a treatise by Paul the Apostle on the
institution of model government. As we rightly divide the word of
truth and take this passage in its total context, we will discover
seven truths.
1. Good government is ordained by
God.
2. Government officials are to be good ministers who
represent God.
3. We the people must obey good and godly
laws.
4. As we relate Romans 13 to America, our U.S.
Constitution is the higher power, not the IRS tax code.
5.
Good government is not to be feared.
6. In America we are to
pay honor and custom and constitutional taxes to whom it is
due.
7. Government is to protect the righteous and punish the
wicked.
As a result, we have a practical, historical and
biblical mandate to fervently disobey any unconstitutional laws and
all government officials who cease to be good ministers of Jesus
Christ. God almighty is the only power that deserves unlimited
obedience.
Greg A. Dixon
Senior Pastor
Indianapolis
Baptist Temple
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