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Romans 13: The Relationship Between Christianity and Government

Romans 13: The Relationship Between Christianity and Government. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Introduction.

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Romans 13: The Relationship Between Christianity and Government

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  1. Romans 13: The Relationship Between Christianity and Government Paul’s Letter to the Romans

  2. Introduction • When guidelines are laid down for the behaviour of Christians towards those who are outside the fellowship, it is natural that something should be said about the Christian’s relation to the secular authorities – municipal, provincial, imperial. • This subject became specially acute during the decade following the writing of this letter. Paul's Letter to the Romans

  3. Qualified Statements? • Judaism was collegiolicita(assembly allowed) • Gallio (51 AD?) in Acts 18:12-17 (indifferent) • Was Paul’s experience of Roman justice fairly favourable (and so v6 and v3?) • But: Jesus was a convicted felon (Tacitus simply refers to this as proving his point of Christian wickedness). • Cf Acts 17:6-9. • Cf Mark 12:17 • But what if the authorities are unrighteous? Paul's Letter to the Romans

  4. Government over Rome • Nero! • Fiddled while Rome burned (at his order) • Blamed Christians • Persecuted Christians • Friendly Government? Paul's Letter to the Romans

  5. What should our attitude be towards Authority? • Do we enjoy authority being over us? • If we struggle with God’s authority… • how do we respond to imperfect authority? • Any Authority? • Life on my terms please! • I don’t want to be vulnerable • I don’t trust ______________ • Cynicism is a poison that says we can arrogantly trust our own self defense mechanisms more than we can trust God. Paul's Letter to the Romans

  6. Cynicism? • Are we trying to win the world over to see the light we have found, or are we dismissing, ripping, tearing, or otherwise “writing off” the opposition? • Can God work through the wrong, even a bad leader? • Nebuchadnezzar – Daniel 4:34-37 • Cyrus – 2 Chron 36:22-23 • Pontius Pilate • Even Gallio! • Who is REALLY running this show? • We are called to be ambassadors of Love and Mercy Paul's Letter to the Romans

  7. Radical Subordination • Being Subject does NOT call for blind obedience • No human authority is absolute (soldier may legally deny an illegal order) • Biblically informed conscience places limits on legitimate government! • Paul demanded Due Process • Peter refused to stop preaching • Willing to accept consequences of disobedience • They resisted WITHIN the bounds of the government, • and in so doing – God’s will – corrupt empire falls – church rises • Motivated by Christian witness Paul's Letter to the Romans

  8. 5 tricky points on civic submission! • Everyone must submit? (v1a) “Let every person…” • There is no authority that God has not established? (v1b) “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” • To rebel against [human] authority is to rebel against God? (v2) “Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” • “Rulers hold no terror for those who do right”? (v3) No terror for those who trust God! • “If you do wrong…he does not bear the sword for nothing” [but for righteous judgement]? (v4) “For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.” Paul's Letter to the Romans

  9. J.W.Allen: • [This chapter] “contains what are perhaps the most important words ever written for the history of political thought. Yet it would be a gross mistake to suppose that men, at any time, took their political opinions from St Paul.” • Ref: A History of Political Thought in the Sixteenth Century Paul's Letter to the Romans

  10. The extent of submission • Submit to the authorities (v5) • Because of possible punishment v5a • Because of your conscience v5b • How does our conscience call us to submit? • Which form of resistance accomplishes more? • Disorderly • Within the system? • Nero’s persecution (and that of his successors) led to MANY conversions • Similarly, pay your taxes (v6) • Submit in all ways: taxes, revenue, respect, honour… Paul's Letter to the Romans

  11. Righteous Disobedience • Better than civil disobedience! • When the truth is on your side, and you are willing to pay the price • When your message is not clouded by hate or cynicism, but rather clothed in Christ • Able to be used by God who raises and decimates leaders, nations, and governments as he sees fit. Paul's Letter to the Romans

  12. Love, for the Day is near (8-14) • Submission means mutual love (v8) • The Law is summed up in the injunction to love your neighbour (vv9-10) • “Understanding the present time” • We need to show our love and do it actively! Being proud, that the resistive efforts of Christendom have changed the world for the better, time and time again! • An expectation of the imminent return of Christ? (“the time… the day… the hour”) Paul's Letter to the Romans

  13. “For Christians to gain the respect, if not always the approval, of those who define culture, they must first get their own house in order. Surveys have shown that Christians are divorcing at the same rate as non-Christians. So much for “family values.” People who say they are Christians are getting abortions at a rate as high, or higher, as those who profess a different faith or none at all. How can a spiritually dysfunctional church hope to speak truth to an even more dysfunctional culture when it has lost its moral compass and compromised its message by allowing internal rot.” • Cal Thomas, LA Times, 1994 Paul's Letter to the Romans

  14. In view of what is about to happen… • Put aside the deeds of darkness (v12) • Behave decently, as in the daytime (v13) • Orgies, drunkenness, debauchery, dissension, jealousy: normal (?) sins combined with sins of a community in conflict? Paul's Letter to the Romans

  15. A return to ch 8? • “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh”. • Gal 3:27, 5:16 ; Eph 4:24 • In the footsteps of the master we can find the pathway to change our world – again. Paul's Letter to the Romans

  16. Agenda for remainder of this class • Chapter 14 (4/20) • Chapter 15 (& 16) (4/27) • Reading & Discussion Session (5/4) • Reading & Discussion Session (if needed) (5/11) Paul's Letter to the Romans

  17. Survey • Summer Classes? • Return in Fall? • Topics of Interest? Paul's Letter to the Romans

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