ROMANS 13
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. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 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, 4 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. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to 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. – Romans 13:1-7
ROMANS 13 BE SUBJECT TO AUTHORITY
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As God’s children, we are expected to obey authorities
It is God who appointed these people to rule over us
If we resist their leadership, we are also defying God
Be subject to your leaders as God has given you
If you cannot obey such authorities whom you see
How much more can you follow God who is unseen?
In this letter, Paul admonishes the Christian church to obey authorities. He emphasizes the truth that these people who were placed in their positions of leadership were sanctioned by God himself. So, if we do not obey what they require, we are also defying God in the same manner. Years ago, I wrote another essay about the same following verses and I came up with comments that it would be crazy to follow corrupt and repressive leaders. Paul clearly states God’s sovereignty and power in this letter to the Roman church. As subordinates, we are required to follow those in authority over us. If God allowed them to be in that position, he has his reasons. Unless we are asked to do something that is totally against God’s commands, we ought to follow our leaders.
REFLECTION
- Why do you think obedience to authority has now been compromised by many?
