Romans 13:1-14
Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (v. 2) I posted last year (see the first link below) about the then-upcoming Presidential election (November 2020) and how one side would be deeply troubled and the other side joyfully elated. But I suspected back then that our government would move on in good order, whether Trump was re-elected or Biden was newly elected. I could not imagine at all anything like January 6 happening in our country – that it could have even been planned or that the “riot” could not be controlled or that deaths would result. It left Carol and me in shock, watching the television reports in real time. Clearly the “demonstrators” were resisting our Constitutional authorities (…what God has appointed…) and are now in process to receive their judicially determined justice. Paul’s words are playing out in our own day.
See also: July 5 / Romans 13:1-7; July 6 / Romans 13:8-14
The first part of today’s reading, v. 1-7, is an area where I have much difficulty. Especially reading the news and listening to some Christian and even evangelical voices. I have lost so much respect for Franklin Graham and others who have identified themselves with a political leader instead of God.
What guides me is the second half, v. 7-14, which focuses on loving one another, for that fulfills the law. Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love actively works for their good.
For the sake of peace and unity, I generally don’t respond to your politically leaning posts, but I cannot sit idly by here. Please do not misunderstand me; I do not in any way condone any of the violent activity of January 6. But let’s not call out one side while conveniently ignoring the behavior of the other side. You make no mention of all the rioting, looting, arson, and murder that was driven by the left but called “mostly peaceful protests” all summer long last year, choosing to focus instead entirely on the events of January 6. What about the attacks on the federal building in Portland, OR? Or the “autonomous zone” in Seattle, WA? Couldn’t those just as well be called “insurrections”? But the media chose a side long ago, and you fall in line.
I don’t disagree with your point, that we should in fact submit to authorities and that resisting authority will incur judgement. Paul is right about that, of course. But that goes for everyone, not just those on one side of the fence. But — shock of shocks — some seem to be interested in pursuing accountability only for one side. Let’s not be so partisan ourselves.
My apologies for this late response, but we were out of town all day and I am just now replying to my e-mail messages.
John is correct – my comments this morning could clearly be read as more partisan than I had intended. I did not think about Democrats or Republicans in what I said – I had in mind the individuals who took it upon themselves to do what they did; as I read Paul’s second verse, the individuals who stormed the Capitol on January 6 stood out in my mind as prominently resisting authorities that God had appointed.
Beyond that, I don’t think that you can go back through nearly three years of my comments and find any one single comment that was not even-handed toward both parties. I have done my best to stay completely apolitical in my comments. I also try to diminish political discussions within the larger church body. That is my intent; John was correct to call me out on today’s comment.
Truly, “for the sake of peace and unity”, my apologies to John and to the rest of you for those partisan comments earlier today. And further apologies for my delayed response.
It occurs to me that Romans 13:1-7 was probably cited (to no avail) by King George III to the American colonists in 1776, to which the colonists could have replied that their leaders derive their authority from the consent of the governed. Seriously, I think Paul is simply saying that Christianity is not a political movement, it is a spiritual movement guided by faith. A few centuries later, Augustine will develop that more in his book about the City of God.
Since God made each of us, we all belong solely to God. Therefore, anyone who exerts authority over us must have derived that authority from our owner, God. However, this only implies that God allowed that authority to be exerted over us, not that He approves of it. In this same sense, God “authorizes” (allows) holocausts and slavery to happen. That doesn’t mean He gives His approval. It certainly doesn’t mean that anyone anywhere in authority has Divine Right to do whatever he wants to me. God might allow it, but the authority will have to answer to God for his actions also.
Just to be clear, I am not a revolutionary (perhaps in 1776 though).
Good points, Lou. Christianity is not a political movement. (FYI: My father’s ancestors were loyalists and left for Canada, my father is first generation back, haha.)