The Church and Civil Authorities

MEMORY SELECTION: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” —Acts 5:29

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Romans 13:1-10

THE Apostle Paul, in Hebrews 13:13,14, states, “Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” And again, in Hebrews 11:13, speaking of the Lord’s faithful servants of the past, he states, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

These faithful ones of old were examples to us who are endeavoring to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. They were strangers in a foreign land. This means that they accepted the conditions and situations that they found there. They were grateful for the measure of safety and protection afforded them in that land. But above all, being strangers implies that they did not become involved in the civil or civic affairs of that land. Being pilgrims implies that they considered their position here on earth as transitory and were not interested in securing substantial portions of this world’s goods.

In our lesson for today the Apostle Paul is bringing to our attention what the Christians’ conduct should be while living as pilgrims and strangers under the governments of this world.

In the first verse of the 13th chapter of Romans the apostle states, “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.” This statement acknowledges that the great God of the universe is all powerful and is completely in charge of earth’s affairs, in the sense that during Satan’s reign of sin and darkness the institutions and conditions in this earth exist because God permits them to do so. This also recognizes that everything was by God’s design.

When Jesus appeared before Pilate he confirmed the thought of God’s ability to exercise his overruling power in earth’s affairs. The incident is recorded in John 19:8-11, “When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.” The attitude of Jesus in this and in all things was, “Not my will, but Thine, be done.” He fully trusted in the Heavenly Father that all that was permitted to come to him was for his eternal good.—Heb. 5:8,9

The same attitude must prevail in the hearts of the foot step followers of Jesus. (Rom. 8:28) And so the Christian should be submissive to the higher powers as long as Christian principles are not violated. The apostle’s instructions follow, “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; honor to whom honor.” (Rom. 13:6,7) All of this the Christian should do with the attitude of being a guest in a strange land.

The footstep followers of Jesus are subject to a higher law than the rules and regulations of civil authorities, and it is this higher law that should govern their conduct in all places and situations. The apostle states the matter thus: “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”—Rom. 13:8-10

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