UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 13 – Romans 13 is a most misinterpreted, misunderstood Scripture about the role and duty of civil government. Verses 1-7 reads:
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience sake. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor” (NKJV)
The role of civil government is to protect the citizens from evil. It is to keep safe, from evil, the citizens who are doing “what is good” with freedom and liberty. Those who are doing “what is good” have no fear of civil government. Those who are doing evil, then “be afraid”. The civil government “execute(s) wrath on him who practices evil.”
This may require a police force and judges who will rule honestly without prejudice. This requires money and taxes can be levied to pay for these services. Note, however, that a tithe is 10%, which is payable to God. Any tax, therefore, above 10% is idolatry – worshipping something greater than God. So tax should be under 10%.
Let’s compare civil government with a family.(Ephesians 5:22-33) “The husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church … therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”
The husbands role is to love, cherish and nourish his wife just as Christ does the church. (v 25-29).
What happens if a husband fails to love, cherish and nourish his wife. Assume he commits adultery or physically beats her up etc. Although it does not mention it in this passage in Ephesians 5, we know from other scripture that adultery carried the death sentence. (Leviticus 20:10). In practice many couples seek reconciliation first, and if to no avail, a divorce might happen. In other words if the husband fails in his duty, then after confrontation with still no change, a separation may occur.
Compare this with civil government. Civil government has a very limited role in scripture, one of protection, liberty (freedom) and justice for all. What happens if it is not fulfilling its biblical mandate?
The church is supposed to disciple “nations” (Matthew 28:19). The church is to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) and speak and confront civil government when it is moving away from its biblical calling. John the Baptist confronted Herod when he had his brother’s wife. Nathan confronted King David. The prophets confronted kings with God’s word.
It has been said that our civil government is “in bed” with the Chinese. The Chinese are “raping” our country of mineral resources. Civil government is accused of cherishing and nourishing themselves and their friends to the neglect of their citizens (greed, corruption etc.), causing inflation etc. The list goes on. Is the evil in our land the civil government themselves? Is the civil government abiding by its biblical principles?
What is the church doing about it? Confronting? It appears to be silent. Why does the church not hold government to the constitution eg “the equitable sharing of national resources”, good governance etc.
After confrontation with an evil husband, who refuses to change, the wife can seek separation or divorce. What happens after confrontation with a wayward civil government that refuses to adhere to biblical principles?
Matthew 5:11,12 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.