The noise of the uproar echoed through the streets of Jerusalem. “Bind him with chains”, ordered the Roman Chief Captain… “Who are you and why are they beating you…? What have you done?” he barked. “I can’t hear anything with this crazy crowd!”, he thought to himself. “Bring him into the Castle!”, he directed. After asking to speak to the crowd, the Apostle Paul began to address them in Hebrew, and the commotion calmed down to an attentive silence. Paul explained his background being raised a Pharisee here in Jerusalem, and how he once persecuted Christians. He then went into a detailed account of how Jesus met him on the road to Damascus and changed his heart and focus. His speech went OK until he got to the part where Jesus had told him to go to the Gentiles – then things turned crazy again!
The Chief Captain ordered him to be beaten and scourged until he could figure out what was going on, and a Centurion moved to obey at once… he began to prepare Paul to be scourged. When Paul responded, things got real very quickly… “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?”, he asked. BOOM! That put a new light on things for sure!
The Centurion went at once to advise the Chief Captain to be careful because this man is a Roman! The Chief Captain came back and confirmed this with Paul and the Scripture tells us he was AFRAID – even before any scourging – he was afraid because they had bound him, and he was a Roman. This Biblical account of Paul’s interaction with the Roman authorities is recorded for us in the Book of Acts, chapters 21 and 22.
But the government said…
I bring up this account of Paul before the Roman authorities for an important reason. In our last two articles, I have spoken about limits God gives to people filling leadership roles in the church, and in the family. In both, we said it was required for the officials to be faithful stewards with the authority and position they had been given. In this article, I want to discuss limits God places on officials in the civil government. When I bring up that topic of conversation – especially with many Christians – they often want to point out the first couple verses of Romans 13, which they allege requires unquestioned submission to any and all civil leaders. Sometimes they will even point out that Romans 13 was written when Nero was the Roman Emperor, and he was not a good guy (which I certainly agree he was not!). Let’s take a look at that passage…
“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. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”
Romans 13:1-2
I know the Holy Spirit of God moved men to write all Scripture, but the Apostle Paul was the vessel the Holy Spirit worked through to write the book of Romans – probably not too long before the events recorded in Acts 21 & 22. I found it interesting that the human author of Romans 13 resisted the action they were preparing to take against him (scourging while uncondemned), and pointed out the limits the law required them to observe. Then the Roman authorities (even under Nero – no friend of Christians) were afraid because they had already bound him!
At the very least – I think Christians can learn from this passage that it is OK to ask our officials something like, “Is it lawful for you to do that?” I think if Christians would begin to ask that question of our officials – and then actually have the discussion as to whether it is lawful – we may find an official or two that would be scared they have not stayed within their proper limits. If we were to think and act this way with our officials, I think we could begin to make big strides in a return to our Constitutional form of government.
lawful action?
What determines whether an action being considered by civil government is lawful? Apparently, there was a law in Rome that placed limits on how Roman citizens were treated, and at least we know Centurions and Chief Captains were required to obey. In America, the roles of our officials are defined in the Constitution of the United States. Other documents that are part of our Organic law are the Declaration of Independence and the Northwest Ordinance. God does not give Carte Blanche authority to anyone – especially in America! When we see that our officials are about to do something contrary to the definitions of their roles and responsibilities, let’s follow Paul’s example and ask them if it is lawful for them to do that. Paul, the author of Romans 13, and under Nero, held his government officials accountable to their proper roles and limits. We can do the same thing.
But I don’t want there to be any confusion about Romans 13, and I think we need to understand (and do) what it says! Let’s look at the next 2 verses, which are Romans 13:3-4…
“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
Romans 13:3&4
So here in verses 3 and 4, we find out that our rulers are a minister of God for good! We find out that if we do what is good, we will have the praise of the civil authorities. We only have to be afraid if we were to do that which is evil, because he is a minister of God to execute wrath on those who do evil… this seems to describe someone who is being a faithful steward of the position God has entrusted to him. This is someone who is praising good and punishing evil.
What if they reward evil?
What if the government reverses it? I mean, what if they reward evil, and punish good? Have they not misused their position at that point? Would the Apostle not have asked his, “Is it lawful” question to them at that point? We saw misuse of positions of authority in other jurisdictions in our previous two articles. Do you believe it is lawful for a church official to lead his congregation astray, or a husband to abuse his wife and children? Certainly, the Bible addresses those leaders that call good evil, and evil good, but it does not require submission! Let’s make sure we are holding our officials accountable, asking them if their actions are lawful, and requiring them to stay within their legitimate limits!
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
Isaiah 5:20-23
Sorry to say that these days we have some elected officials in our Federal, state, and city governments that think that they are above the laws of the country at all levels. And that they can do no wrong. But are going after people that either they don’t like are agree with. Are they don’t like their views on things. So they go after them in unlawful manners to make sure they cannot do things they know are what people want. And these officials will do whatever it takes for them to stay in power no matter what. And sorry to say we are seeing this happening now with how the liberals are going after President Trump now. When the facts are and have shown that Trump has not done anything wrong. They hate Trump because they know that they cannot control him. And that he is a threat to their total control and power. So they are doing everything that they can to keep him from office again.
Your comment reminds me of the John Adams quote, ““The interest of the people is one thing: it is the public interest. And where the public interest governs, it is a government of laws and not of men. The interest of a king or of a party is another thing: it is a private interest. And where private interest governs, it is a nation of men and not of laws.” We have moved away from being a nation of laws, and become a nation of men. Our form of government is not supposed to be on the ballot every 2 or 4 years. The laws are supposed to protect all Americans and not be used by either side to attack their political enemies. We need to reclaim our proper form of government, the nation of laws, and then hold our officials accountable to stay within their constitutional limits. Thank you for your comment!
Well said in your last article about being faithful stewards in civil government.
Thank you for that!
Thank you for your kind words and for your comment!