Submit to authority. Romans 13:1-7 V.1. To be a loyal follower of Christ does not mean I have no responsibility to those in authority in the town, state and country where I live. I am called upon as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to submit to the laws of society where I live or in the places I may visit. Sin is lawlessness. Lawlessness is an attitude of spirit that rejects and refuses control apart from one's own self-interest. God Himself has appointed and put in place those who are in authority to stop lawlessness. I may not be pleased with the persons who are in the place of leadership, but I am obligated to pray for them and submit to them. As a result of prayer on their behalf, my loyalty and responsibility to God may not be compromised. Any disobedience to those in authority is only allowable in order to follow my higher loyalty to God and His will - not for my own personal reasons.
V.2. God wants rulers of any kind of government to govern fairly and with justice. Under Nero, Christians were suffering even though in his own way he was seeking to maintain law and order as he saw it. God Himself will avenge those who wrong Christians and others who seek to do what is right, and usually does that through governments. Governments are established by God and have been given divine authority and responsibility. Government is supposed to promote good behavior and punish bad behavior. Our responsibility to government is to pay our taxes and live in a way that is respectful and honorable.
Governments are divine institutions like families and churches. They are intended to be the essential factor in maintaining a safe and balanced society. Without some form of government in all of these there would be violence, chaos and anarchy. The teaching of headship begins here in the public practice of believers. Government authority is ordained by God. Leadership in the assemblies of God's people is raised up by the Holy Spirit of God to rule the people of God in an orderly way. This God-ordained authority is appointed in homes where responsible authority is given to the husband.
V.3. As long as citizens do what is right, we shouldn’t have to fear those in government. Wrong-doers however, should be afraid. If I regard myself above legal authorities in earthly matters, not only will I be guilty of lawlessness as regards to the government, but I will bring judgment from God because I am rejecting what He established. The things that my conscience may dictate are those things that are spiritual. The law cannot control my conscience. Quiet subjection to legal authority is a Christian virtue that should be exemplified by my life and attitude toward governments.
V.4. Those who deal with criminals are called “servants.” Satan will stir up opposition to unjustly oppose the Gospel and those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ. But the general practice of the law of the land is to maintain order among the citizens who live in that place. If, and when, the laws of the land make it impossible to follow the ways and will of the Lord, then it is appropriate for me to leave and seek a place to yield to the Supreme Authority.
V.5. It is part of my Christian testimony to follow the laws of the land so I will not misrepresent the Lord Jesus Christ. I do not have to fear those who enforce laws if I obey those laws. My submission to the laws and law-enforcement officers will be for my own conscience's sake as well as for commonsense fear of those in authority. Our motivation to obey those in authority and the laws of the land, is not only for our conscience’s sake, but is evidence of my submission to God who appointed them.
V.6. In a similar way I am to submit to paying taxes to those who levy them. It is my hope that those funds will be used for the right reasons, but there are those who have been designated to make those decisions. My responsibility is to pay what I owe the country on whose roads I drive, on whose law enforcement officers I depend, on whose armies defend my rights and the place I live, and the servants who work for the well-being of the citizens. Those who levy the dues at the custom office have a God-given right to do that. They will be answerable to God for their actions in enforcing the law or neglecting their responsibility.
I must conscientiously show the appropriate regard and respect for those who hold those offices and those who wear the uniform of designated authority. The "sword" of their authority is evidence of the right they have to enforce the laws they represent. So, I am to regard them with respect. Not only to those are representatives of the government am I to submit with genuine respect, but also to those who are holding a place of honor because of their work, their position and/or their ability. Certain callings in society do deserve a higher honor than others. Those who put themselves in harm’s way as they seek to protect us are deserving of high honor.
V.7. As a Christian I am not to despise them those who hold official offices because my obligation is to do what God wants. If it is necessary to break government laws that contradict God’s authority, I am to do so nonviolently and be prepared to accept the consequences imposed for civil disobedience. As far as the government and me, my responsibility is first, to recognize a government is a divine institution. Even unjust governments must be obeyed as long as it doesn’t go against God’s word. I am to pay taxes and if the time comes when I must disobey the government, I must do that without violence.