The Classic Liberal Blog

Being Sunday, I thought this would be a good time to address Christianity, and our relationship to the State. As so often found here at The Classic Liberal Blog, this post directly challenges “conventional wisdom” ... but just stick with me, and you just may find a thing or two that makes a lot of sense.

Generally speaking, Christians are taught that subservience to governing authorities is required by God at all times and in all cases. Subservience, which implies obedience, means we are always to give honor to whom honor is due, and that we're obliged to give our respect and obedience to our Earthly governing authorities.

The case for this school of thought is based primarily on Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17. For the purposes of this post, we'll focus exclusively on Romans 13:1-7, which reads as follows (King James version):

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same; For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Even as a child, I was puzzled by the lack of historic reference in respect to stories from the Bible. “Being that these stories are true,” I thought, “wouldn't it make sense to teach them in their historic context?”

Sure, a more intellectual and historic study could be found in certain Bible classes, but still, what about on Sunday, when most people hear the word of God? So with this in mind, we'll review the history surrounding Romans 13, to see if we can better understand Paul's letter to the Roman church.

Historical Background:

After his conversion to Christianity, and when Paul was still known as Saul of Tarsus, the Jews of the city of Damascus had plotted to kill him as a traitor. Acting under the authority King Aretas, the governor of Damascus then commanded his troops to arrest and execute Saul.

Upon learning of this plot, Saul escaped the city in the dark of the night (aided by fellow Christians), and fled to Jerusalem. In other words, he knowingly and purposely disobeyed the governing authorities. And for the remainder of his life, he was a hunted man, who lived in and out of the government's prisons, for the "crime" of preaching the word of Christ.

Illustrating his torture by the State, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 11:24, that “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.” Paul also suffered the beatings of the governing authorities "rods," ultimately meeting his death when the State chopped off his head (for daring to preach the word of Christ).

So, far from being obedient to the “governing authorities,” Paul lived his life indeed, in rebellion of the State!

Subjection to Governing Authorities:

Paul was not free to just say anything he wanted, because in Rome, Christians were a persecuted minority. Any mention of "the King of Kings" and "His Kingdom of Heaven," were considered threats against the Roman Empire and treated as such. In fact, most people were hostile to the Christian church, making it all the easier for the governing authorities to persecute Christians.

Paul was no fool either, so when he sent his letter to the leaders of the Roman church, he knew it would be copied and distributed throughout the populace (meaning it would fall into the hands of the Roman authorities). Of course, Roman authorities would naturally interpret his letter from their point of view, which was that of legal positivism (Moral constraints on law (inalienable or pre-political rights) do not exist. Laws are made by man, therefore those in power define rights).

The Romans considered Caeser to be a divine god. They would carry ivory statues of him in religious processions, and even erected a statue of Caeser in the temple of Quirinus, engraved with the words: "To the Invincible God." Indeed, most people thought of Rome as the only true kingdom, which was ruled by the divinity of Caesar.

Paul wasn't writing to the non-Christian people of Rome, he was writing specifically to his fellow Christians, via the leaders of the church! Christians of course, would have no doubt concerning what he actually meant. Therefore it becomes a fallacy to believe that Paul would command the Christians of Rome to submit to the Earthly authorities who persecuted them, because there is no authority but God, in the first place.

Any genuine authority that may exist, would not be just any authority, but only those expressly appointed by God. So when you think about it from this perspective, if Paul was telling the Christians of Rome they muc submit to Caesar, it would not only make him an outright hypocrite, but would also deify Caeser over God!

To illustrate this point, read what God Himself said, in Hosea 8:4:

They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

In reality, Paul was referring not to the mortal authorities of Rome, but to the leaders of the Christ's church. If you're still struggling to see this, think for a moment, about the “governing authority” of Saddam Hussein. Would God really want you to be obedient to this brutal, mass-murdering tyrant?

Of course not! Because most of what Hussein's authority demanded was in direct conflict with His word.

Considering the life of both Paul and Jesus then, submission to Earthly authorities as an absolute command, in no way makes any sense! Again, Paul was persecuted continuously by the hands of the State. It was even the "governing authorities," who chopped off his head, thus ending his life.

Jesus too, was persecuted by the State throughout His life. In His final trial before the "governing authorities," He was charged with “perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King (Luke 23:2)." For these "crimes," the State punished Him with brutal beatings, before crucifying Him (as an enemy of the State).

Christians are in no way required by God to obey and support the mortal governing authorities of man. Christians are only bound to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, [and] like unto it ... love thy neighbour as thyself" (Matthew 22:37-39).

In other words, our loyalty, allegiance, and obedience belong to God, alone.

Now this does not mean, in any way, that Christians should rebel against the State for the sake of rebellion. On the contrary, it is perfectly just for a Christian to obey, in order to avoid the wrath of the State. "Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16)." Our objective as Christians is not to rebel, but to minimize our Earthly entanglements (especially when they detract from the Spirit of Christ).

Certainly we should stay in compliance with public policy, provided we don't do anything that conflicts with God. So do not place yourself in harm's way purposely. Yet all the same ... violating laws that conflicts with God's purpose, can hardly be considered sin.

The Founding of America:

Our Founder's understood and accepted God's lesson of authority completely, and thus declared:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed ...

Yes, power belongs to the people, who "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights." The governing authorities are merely "insitituted among Men." They are not divine, so therefore "their just powers," are derived only from the "consent of the governed."

This does not mean either, that the United States of America is a Christian theocracy. But only that because, "all men are created equal (including governing authorities),"  the "governing authorities" are to submit to the people, who have been "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights!"