Does Romans 13 Demand Blind Obedience? A Christian Case for Resisting Injustice
does romans 13 demand blind obedience?
A Christian Case for Resisting Injustice
“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself”
Does romans 13 require blind obedience?
I’ve been concerned for some time now about a trend that I see in the church. Some Christians believe it is their God ordained duty to support the government no matter what they do or say. They will quote Romans 13 where it says…
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. Romans 13:1,2
As a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, I live just a couple of miles from where Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot and killed. And it’s painful to hear some Christians side with the government, quoting Romans 13 as justification for their actions. They are quick to believe the government’s account of what happened, even in light of video footage that contradicts those accounts. And they believe that the Bible requires their support.
Even before the events in Minneapolis, I was concerned with this “law and order” support in light of the bombing of boats off the shores of Venezuela and Mexico and other questionable actions by our government.
I’m all for the rule of law and arresting criminals, but people are being arrested, detained, shipped off - even killed - without legal representation and due process of the law.
Authority comes with a Responsibility
In a recent article in Christianity Today, staff editor, Bonnie Kristian wrote:
Authority is a responsibility, not an excuse. It requires higher standards, not slapdash work and slipshod ethics. Authority is a duty, not a license.
“Authority is a responsibility, not an excuse. It requires higher standards, not slapdash work and slipshod ethics. Authority is a duty, not a license.”
There is so much scripture to support her view. And it’s not only true for politicians but for pastors, business owners and all leaders. They shouldn't be excused from accountability because of their position but be held to the highest standard as an example to all.
For example, Jesus commanded his followers to NOT lead like the people of his day. He said…
You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them (dominate), and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Matthew 20:25,26
The apostle Paul told his disciple,Timothy, that the elders of his church should be above reproach and have a good reputation with outsiders (1 Timothy 3:2,7)
And Paul referenced Jesus as his example in his letter to a first century church.
Jesus…being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,... Philippians 2:6,7
Biblical Examples of Disobedience
So, you see… leaders should be our example. They should exhibit a moral authority, not just an unquestioned judicial authority. And when they go wrong, they need to be confronted about their wrong not blindly followed.
If submitting to “law and order” was the ultimate fulfillment of God’s will, Jesus never would have left the tomb on Easter morning as the guards stood by his tomb.
If submitting to “law and order” was always God’s will, then Peter and the disciples never would have continued preaching the gospel when told not to. Acts 5:29
If submitting to religious elders was the right thing to do then why did Jesus walk away from them when they attempted to push him off a cliff and stone him? Luke 4:30
And if submitting to church leaders was always right then Paul would never have told Timothy to confront leaders who were living a life of sin. 1 Timothy 5:20
When the government promotes blatant lies about events and robs people of their basic human rights and dignity, when they uphold injustices and reject accountability, the right response is to call out and resist their behavior, not support it or turn a blind eye to it.
Even the military code says not to obey illegal commands. Under the Manual for Courts-Martial, service members have a duty to disobey "manifestly" or "patently" illegal orders, for example, those violating the Constitution, U.S. law, or international laws of war.
Driving a Spoke in the Wheels of Injustice
Martin Luther King Jr. said,
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
And Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who radically resisted Nazi Germany, put it strikingly with these words…
We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.
Silence in the face of evil is itself evil; God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil; God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
Bonhoeffer said it is the Christians responsibility to:
Question the government
Help the victims of the injustices of the government
Stop the unjust machinery of the government
I’m writing this post as a plea to believers who think they are doing God’s will to support our government no matter what they do or say.
We are called to pray for our leaders and support them as they seek justice and do good. But when they do wrong, we are to confront them.
Thanks for considering this.
RELATED POST: Jesus Disobeyed the Bible
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