Playing By The Rules

Romans 13 Submission to the Authorities

¹Let every person^(A) be subject to the governing authorities. For^(B) there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ²Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 

When you read this passage it doesn’t really seem mind-blowing until you realize that Paul is saying this to Christians during the time of Nero, a horrible, evil ruler (Paul wrote Romans around 54-57 AD while Nero took over the throne from Claudius in 54 till 68 AD). Nero is the same guy who burned Rome just to blame in on the Christians. He executed his mother and step-brother. So, Paul is still teaching Christians to follow with full obedience during a time when you and I would think we have every right to rebel. Yet, Paul tells them to obey the laws of the land, to pay taxes, and to not be in debt, because when we do these things we are also pleasing God.

What is my application for this? There are the obvious, that I need to obey laws, I need to pay taxes, etc., but I think the real point is our heart and the spirit of this whole thing. We should live a life-style that is pleasing to God and with that, learning to obey is a big part. Why would God expect obedience from us to him, and then not ask us to practice obedience any where else? He wouldn’t. The life of a Christian is about the heart, and learning to defeat the cravings of the flesh, through the spirit.

God, let me be a citizen and a christian who is pleasing to my earthly leaders and my heavenly leader.