Please turn with me to Romans 13.  We’re going on in Romans.  Paul has been writing about God’s love - God’s mercy - God grace.  What it means to live by faith in God - individually - together - to live by faith in God in the real time of where we do life.  This morning we’re coming to Paul teaching about how all that relates to the government.  Getting along with the government.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed this but we’re in an election year.  Anybody else pick up on that?  Bernie and Hillary and Trump and Rubio and Cruz and whoever else is left in the Republican field.  Looking at all that, it prompts the age old question:  “Who is the best person for the job and why isn’t that person running?”

President Obama - not too long ago - made the statement:  “There is not a liberal America and a conservative America.  There is the United States of America.”  Which sounds really great.  But, looking at what goes on in the real world of America - the two sides in the presidential election can’t seem to agree on what’s wrong with America.  Let alone the best way to fix America.  Which is a reality of what is true in America.

Last month The Pew Research Center came out with a report focusing on the demographic trends shaping American politics this year and looking down the road a bit - what all those demographics may look like in the years ahead. (1)

Quote - see if this resonates - quote:  “These days Democrats and Republicans no longer stop at disagreeing with each other’s ideas.  Many in each party now deny the other’s facts, doubt each other’s patriotism, can’t stomach each other’s news sources, and bring different value systems to such core social institutions as religion, marriage, and parenthood.  It’s as if they belong not to rival parties but alien tribes.  And their candidates in 2016 might seem to be running for president of different countries.”

There is a growing divide in America.  In 1994 - according to Pew Research - about 2 decades ago the average Democrat and the average Republican were relatively close in the ideological center ground.  By 2014 - the moderate middle has collapsed.  Today, it’s almost non-existent.  The very liberal and the very conservative camps are the polarizing extremes the candidates are appealing to in the primaries.

There’s a growing divide between the extremities - demographically - ideologically - culturally.  One party skews older, whiter, more religious, more conservative - struggling to come to grips with how the tapestry of America is changing.  The other party skews younger, more nonwhite, more liberal, more secular, more immigrant, more LGBT-friendly - sees all that diverse tapestry as a great asset to be embraced.

All that effects who we hang out with and where - who we gravitate towards - how we occupy our time - where we get our news from.  Birds of feather polarize together.

In other words the polarization in American politics is reflective of the polarizing of life in America.  Meaning that as the people go so goes the government.  Government reflects where we’re living our lives.  As dysfunctional as that may be.

Meaning that whoever wins the next election - a huge chunk of America is going to feel totally disenfranchised. 

Coming a little closer to home.  The evangelical church - those of us who hold to salvation only in Jesus and the Bible as the inerrant word of God having the authority over how we do life - those of us who are focused on sharing the gospel with others - the evangelical church in America is today about 7% of the population.  About 22 million of America’s 318 or so million people.

In other words, if we were to add up the average attendance of evangelical churches in most communities or counties or neighborhoods in the US - if we’re living in a typical community - that combined evangelical church attendance is about 5 to 10% of the population.

Doing the math, here in Merced.  It’s about that.

If the trends continue, that 7% shrinks to about 4% in the next 3 decades or about 16 million of about 400 million Americans.  We’re loosing ground.  Big time.  That is way less than being the super majority we’ve been told that we are.

Fitting that reality into the culture and politics around us.  Americans under the age of 35 are 4 times more likely to be atheistic, agnostic, or nonreligious - increasingly antagonistic against Christians.  Not just indifferent.  But hostile.  That secular worldview - what’s there in the Pew Research report - that under 35 secular worldview is increasingly reshaping not only our culture but federal, state, and local governments.  America is already in the top 5 of mission fields in the world.  Within 10 to 20 years or so, we won’t even recognize this country.

Meaning that in a country of polarizing alien tribes and an increasing hostility towards evangelicals - and a growing disconnect with the government - which we’re already feeling - we are going to have an increasingly difficult time relating, not only to the culture around us, but the government that is in the grips of that antagonism against what it means to live by faith following Jesus in America.

We’re together?  As Christians - seeking to live by faith in Jesus - what should be our relationship with government which is growing in distance from our core beliefs and growing in hostility towards followers of Jesus?

Romans 13:1-7 is one of the most important passages in Scripture that deals with our relationship - as Christians - our relationship with the government.  Our citizenship is in heaven.  But, we live here on earth.  We need to get along with the government.  We need to understand that relationship.

As we look at these verses there are three truths we want to focus on.  The first truth is here in verse one:  The truth that Government Is Established By God.

Let’s read verse 1 together:  Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Three things we need to be clear on.  First:  What Paul means by “be subject to the governing authorities.”

We need to remember who Paul is writing to.  The church of Rome which is in… Rome.  Paul is writing this letter in about 57 AD.  The church in Rome was facing some serious persecution from their own government. 

The Roman Empire saw religion as a litmus test for loyalty to the empire.  Christians didn’t go along with that.  They refused to worship the Romans gods.  The Empire saw Christianity as a threat.  To be a Christian was punishable by death.

Rome is the home of the nutcase Nero.  Nero - the Roman Emperor - was depraved - insane.  He burned Rome and blamed the Christians.  At night he lit up his garden parties with Christians burning alive on crosses.  He had Christians arrested and sent to the coliseum to be torn apart by wild animals.  The Apostle Paul was martyred in 68 AD - beheaded at Nero’s command.

In verse 1 Paul is not just making some flippant statement.  This is a statement made with great sensitivity, understanding, and wisdom.  “Let every person - all of us - without exception - even Paul - be subject to the governing authorities.” 

“To be subject to” means to... be subject to.

In Greek the verb is in the middle voice.  Remember this?  3 voices in Greek.  Active meaning… active.  We ourselves are the one’s actively doing it.  Passive meaning… passive.  What’s done to us.  Middle meaning someplace in between that.  Mutual joint participation.  Meaning that God establishes and we cooperate.

To be in subjection is a choice we make.  To obey.  To place ourselves under the authority established by God.  Government - city, county, state, federal - empire.

Second we need to be clear on what Paul means by “authority.”

Jesus comes before Pilate and Pilate says to Jesus, “Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You, and I have the authority to crucify you?”

Jesus replies - what?  “You wouldn’t have authority over Me, unless God gave it to you.”  (John 19:10,11)

Paul’s use of the word “authority” has to do with the function of human government.  Government’s God given right to have influence over our lives - to compel our subjection.  To establish laws - legal boundaries on behavior - to promote and defend what is for the common good.  Authority meaning government doing what government - before God - is suppose to do.

Third, we need to be clear on what Paul means by “those that exist have been instituted by God.”

Whenever this verse gets quoted it seems like there’s a struggle that takes place in our minds and hearts.  It goes something like this:  “Well, if God establishes these governments - then what about people like Stalin and Hitler and Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong-un and so on?  Look at all the terrible things that governments do to their people.  God is a God of love.  Why does He allow all these things to go on?”  Does that sound familiar?

Let’s be honest.  We all could make a really long list of all the things we don’t understand about what God is doing.  Why God allows certain things to happen and not others.  We don’t see all of what God is doing and why.  What about Stalin and Hitler and whoever…?

Paul - since chapter one - Paul has been writing about God Who created everything - including us.  God Who acts in love towards each of us who is messed up - hung up - and often doing our best to be unlovable.  God Who is merciful - meaning God holding back on judging and condemning and toasting us forever because of our sin.  God Who is gracious in that by the work of Jesus on the cross God offers to us an undeserved forever made right relationship with Him that we can receive by faith.

God Who is sovereign - meaning in complete control of everything - the sovereign loving merciful gracious God is working in and through human history - even human government - for His purposes and His glory - which includes for purposes known only to God - His offer of salvation to us.

“...those that exist have been instituted by God” has the idea of God putting these governments into place.  Arranging them according to how He wills to arrange them.  When in human history they exist.  Where on earth they exist.  Who the exist over.  What people groups.  What nations.  None of that is random chance.  Dumb luck.

The Apostle Peter - in his second letter - Peter tells us that God at any time - past - present - future - that God could end evil - could end governments that are misusing God given authority - at any time - poof -  God could bring all of this to an end - set up His government of justice and righteousness.  And yet, God holds back.  Somehow God uses even what is meant as evil - uses it according to His purposes - according to His love and grace and mercy so that everyone will have an opportunity to hear and respond to His Gospel.  (2 Peter 3 - especially 2 Peter 3:9)

Paul’s bottom line point here in verse one is that we need to recognize that God establishes government for His purposes.  He gives it authority.  And that each of us - in one way or another - is to choose to live in subjection to government.

Let’s read together:  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.  Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?  Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval.  For he is God’s servant for your good.  But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain.  For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

God establishes the authority of government.  When we refuse to subject ourselves to government’s authority we’re resisting God.  That’s tough to process.  Isn’t it?

Imagine you’re living in the American colonies back in the late 1700’s.  You haven’t always agreed with King George’s policies.  You’ve been raised a loyal citizen of England.  Years ago you were even born there.  And now there’s talk of revolution.  Not something you really want to go along with.  But as the years are going by taxes are going up.  The government is unresponsive - if not repressive.  Along with everyone else you’re feeling the injustices done to the colonies.  Your heart is in your homeland across the sea but you live in America.  Do you take up arms against the Crown or wait and join with the Red Coats?

Imagine it’s the mid 1800’s and you own a plantation in southern Georgia.  Thousands of acres of cotton, corn, peaches, tobacco.  Lot’s of slaves to do the laboring.  Some people quote the Bible and tell you that owning slaves is immoral.  Of course there were Christian slaves in the Bible too.  Deep down you wonder.  Then a new president gets elected and your state secedes from the union.  War begins.  What do you do?  Free your slaves.  Abandon everything and head north?  Or struggle with your conscience and head off to fight with General Lee?

Or it’s 1936 and you’re a German citizen - a Christian - living in Berlin.  Hitler is a tad eccentric.  He has some strange ideas about the Jews.  But there’s a bright future ahead for Germany.  Good things are happening.  Finally.  But as time goes by you’re pressured to choose between your loyalty to Germany and the approval of your peers - or to advocate for fair treatment of the Jews and others.  Do you stand with the government?  Obey its commands? 

Probably - if we went around this room - we could identify issues that face us here in America today where we have serious questions about what it means - or may soon mean - to be subject to the governing authorities. 

April 15th is coming.  Taxes.

Ray Stedman wrote:  “My income had been so low for a long time that I didn’t have to pay any taxes.  But gradually it caught up and I finally had to pay.  I remember how I resented it.  In fact, when I sent my tax form in I addressed it to, ‘The Infernal Revenue Service.’  They never answered, although they did accept the money.  The next year I had improved my attitude a bit.  I addressed it to ‘The Internal Revenue Service.’  But I have repented from all those sins, and I now hope to pay my taxes cheerfully.”  (3)  

When is resisting government’s authority resisting God?  To resist or not to resist?

The Herodians came to Jesus with a question.  Very familiar.  “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion.  For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God.  Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?  Should we pay the, or should we not?”

It is a politically charged question.  The Herodians were aligned with King Herod.  Who was aligned with the Romans.  Caesar gets paid.  Herod gets paid.  They don’t give a rip about Jesus’ teaching truth or His being swayed by public opinion polls - appearances.  It’s a question of being subject to whom.  “Jesus, are you a loyal subject of the Empire or a revolutionary?”

We know Jesus’ answer.  Knowing their hypocrisy - Jesus has them bring Him a denarius and He shows them the coin - the image on the coin.  “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”  (Mark 12:13-17)

Answer:  “Who are you subject to?”  It’s a question of heart level subjection to Rome or God.

We don’t get to pick and choose our level of subjection or our apathy to the government based on the opinions of our peers or what we see is going on or our political preferences or the current dysfunction of government or whatever we’re teed off about.

Paul has been writing about God’s love and mercy and grace and our need to respond to Who God is and what God has done - to respond choosing  complete heart level subjection.  In the beginning this section of Romans - 12:1 - Paul writes about our being living sacrifices - choosing to stay on the altar - moment by moment choosing to subject our whole lives to God to do with as He wills for His purposes alone.  To God alone be the Glory.

That subjection to God’s authority over our lives - Paul has been teaching - that subjection to God’s authority is to shape every relationship we have.  In the church - our homes - at work - at school - whatever the relationship - even with the government.

When is resisting government’s authority resisting God?  Step one -  before we even get to the question of to resist or not to resist the government we first need to do an honest heart level check of ourselves to see if we’re resisting God.  Are we yielded and sacrificially on the altar?  Is God’s will being done in our lives?  So that we’re in sync with what He’s doing and how He wills for us to respond to government.

That’s step one.  To resist or not to resist step two has to do with what government does.

“Authority” translates a Greek word “exousia” which is sometimes translated “power.”  Meaning that authority and power are related.  Authority - what government is to be doing - being established by God.  Power being the ability to act on that authority.

R.C. Sproul said this, “Power naturally goes with authority.  But authority does not always accompany power.” (4)

Sometimes there’s a disconnect.  Governments have God established authority but sometimes governments misuse their power. 

A while back we planted some fruit trees in our back yard.  We dug holes.  Put the trees in the holes.  Then we filled the holes in with a combination of mulch from our compost pile and dirt.  What we’re hoping is suppose to enrich the soil and help our trees to grow.  Good for the trees.

But what if instead we went to Save Mart and bought some Tide laundry detergent.  And instead of mulch we used a combination of Tide and dirt with our trees.  In the way that God has established things we have the authority over those trees - they being in our back yard and being our trees - and we have the power - the ability - to exercise that God given authority over our tress.

But what happens if we misuse our authority and power and put Tide on the trees.  Not good for the trees.  Would anyone be surprised if our trees died?  Or at least produced some really strange tasting fruit?  Who gets the blame?  God or us?

In other words, there are times when governments step out from under the authority God gives to them.  Nero, Stalin, Hitler, and so on - as government they all had authority established by God - but they acted outside of His authority with a gross abuse of power.

Peter was brought before the Jewish Council in Jerusalem for disobeying the council’s order not to teach about Jesus.  An example of government going beyond its God given authority.  And Peter said what?  “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29 - see also Acts 4:19,20)

Let’s be careful here.  Civil disobedience - resisting government - is well within our rights - especially when a government steps out from under its God given authority - and requires us to do something against God’s will - or requires us not to do something - so that to obey the government would be disobeying God - actually resisting God.

But as long as a government is acting within the will of God we’re to not resist its authority over us.  This may be a stretch for some, but over all, government is a good thing.

Notice how Paul illustrates this truth - verse 3:  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.  Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?  Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval.  For he is God’s servant for your good.  But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain.  For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

The next time we're driving down 99 thinking that that 99 sign is the speed limit (real dangerous if we're on 152) - not that any of us would ever exceed the speed limit.  But just saying, that if we did - wouldn’t we be fearful - constantly checking our rear view mirror - looking for little red lights.

Drive the speed limit and one day an officer might pull us over and say, “You were driving so well I just wanted to congratulate and encourage  you.”  It could happen.  Seems like most police officers would rather being encouraging good citizenship rather than dealing with all the garbage they usually have shoved at them.

Or maybe the IRS might send us a check for an outrageously large amount of money with a note:  "Thank you for your honesty while paying your taxes."  It could happen... 

When we obey civil authority we can sleep at night.  We don’t have to worry about someone breaking down our door with a warrant - dragging us out of bed - and arresting us.

Paul writes that government “...is God’s servant for your good.”  In general government protects us from evil.  Government preserves the peace and security of our communities.  Government has armies and fire departments and police forces and courts of justice.  Government protects us from attacks by enemy powers.  Government protects commerce.  These are good things. 

Then Paul writes - government “is god’s servant for your good… an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”  Which is also a good thing.

God gives government a sword.  That means that government has a God given right to execute justice.  And in some cases - according to the illustration of the sword that Paul uses here - in some cases that means life ending execution.

When is resisting government’s authority resisting God?  Step two is that we need to be really really careful that our resistance isn’t a result of our sinful actions but a God directed response to government operating outside of God established authority.  Government is God’s administrator of justice.

Coming to verse 5.  The third truth about our relationship with government - starting in verse 5:  Government Is A Minister Of God.

Let’s read together:  Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.  For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are the ministers of God, attending to this very thing.  Pay to all what is owed them:  taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Therefore - because government is authority established by God and has power to administrate justice - therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath - because we get punished if we don’t - but also for the sake of conscience. 

Notice that Paul doesn’t say, “Only submit when a Republican is President.”  Or, “Only submit when the Democrats control Congress.”   This may come as a shock, but Democrats can be Christians - and so can Republicans. 

We submit to governmental authority because our conscience - before God - tells us that it’s the right thing to do.  Our relationship with government - always comes back to our relationship with God.  Subjection to government is part of our obedience to God.

Verse 6 - Paul gives us an example of our subjection:  For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are the ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 

The Greek word translated “ministers” is “leitourgoi” or “leitourgia” which is where we get our English word… “liturgy.”  “Liturgy” being a form of public worship.  A liturgist is someone that God uses to serve Him - to act on His behalf - doing what honors God - in a way that glories God.

Public employees - teachers - police - soldiers - Ag. inspectors - mayors - supervisors - they may not see themselves this way - but they’re ministers of God.  They’re serving God while they’re serving the public.  God’s servants deserve to be paid for their work.  God uses us to pay His servants.

Verse 7:  Pay to all what is owed them:  taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

There’s a story about a man who had cheated on his income tax over the years and felt convicted that he’d done so.  So he anonymously sent a cashier’s check for $100 to the IRS with a note that said, “I can’t sleep.  I feel convicted about what I’ve done.  So I’m sending you this check for $100, and if I sill can’t  sleep I’ll send you the rest.”

The bottom line is this:  If we cheat on our taxes we’re cheating God.  When we pay our taxes honestly we're honoring God and respecting those in authority over us.  Honoring government officials - even if it’s only respect for their position - honoring them is honoring God.  Government is a minister of God.  Maybe we need to get more creative in looking for ways to honor people serving in government - honoring those in authority over us.

Thinking through our relationship with government - and wanting to go deeper with this - there are at least two challenges to how we live when we head out there.

First challenge:  All this should challenge us to be more supportive of our brothers and sisters in Jesus who live under the power of governments who are not governing under God’s authority.

There are at least 65 countries - meaning about 85% of the world population - where Christians are being persecuted today.  In a number of those countries our siblings are being - arrested - tortured - martyred - simply because they love Jesus.  Countries where it’s illegal to gather in Jesus’ name.  Illegal to speak of Jesus.  A death sentence to convert to Christianity.  Countries where Bibles and Christian literature and education are scarce and spiritual hunger is insatiable.  Some here have been there.

We need to be challenged to be involved - maybe through Voice of the Martyrs or Open Doors or personal contact.  To let them know that they’re not alone.  That the church outside - is not so distracted by our own comfort - that we care for them - pray for them - are deeply concerned for them.  That we supports them.

It’s so easy for us to slip into a comfortable Christianity while our society slips away from Christ.  We know this.  We’ve heard this.  But, what are doing about it?  It’s so crucial for us as Christians to be engaged in our communities and government.  To vote - to speak out - to work proactively - to pray - to fill out our tax forms honestly - to be model citizens - to be supportive and honoring of those in government who are worthy of honor regardless of what political party they’re affiliated with - to use what freedoms we have to make a difference. 

We do these things - we do them not just because we want to get along better with the government - but because we honor and respect God who establishes government.  And to live this way means that we’re in a place where God uses us - by His power - to be an influence in our community and beyond for Him. 

_____________________

1. “The demographic trends shaping American politics in 2016 and beyond” - Paul Taylor, 01.27.16:  http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/01/27/the-demographic-trends-shaping-american-politics-in-2016-and-beyond/

2. “The Great Evangelical Recession” - John Dickerson, Baker Books, 2013, pages 32-35

3. “Insights On Romans” - Chuck Swindoll, Zondervan, 2010 - pages 270 to 272.  Quote cited on page 272 - “From Guilt To Glory” - Ray Stedman, Word, 1979

4. “The State In Romans” - R.C. Sproul, Ligonier Table Talk, November 1989

5. David Limbaugh, Persecution - How Liberals Are Waging War Against Christianity, page 347

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.