“Are We, as Christians, Required to Submit to the State?”

Paul in Chapter 13:1-7 speaks of the relationship a Christian ought to have with the civil authorities. In verse one he is exhorting his readers to submit themselves to the governing authorities. All authorities, for Paul, are established by God. Since they are established by God, we need to obey and submit to their authority.

Biblically, this makes sense. Among the Jews, monarchy and civil orders began with God, Yahweh. It was God who selected Saul as the first king of Jews. 1 Samuel 10:1, 24. Samuel the prophet explained to the people the regulations of the kingship, as given by God. David was also selected by God. 1 Samuel 16:7, 12.

Even pagan rulers were used by God for his purpose, first to punish His people by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, Jeremiah 25:9; then to bring them back from captivity through Cyrus, the King of Persia, Isaiah 44:28, both of which happened as foretold by the prophets.

Pagan Emperor Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon also was taught a lesson in humility and he acknowledged the power of the supreme God, who is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. Daniel 4:17.

God is the One who establishes the kingdoms on earth and gives them the authority to rule, is a biblical concept and Paul is reiterating this principle here.

He further states that anyone who rebels against this authority is rebelling against that which God has instituted. Jews had a history of rebellious conduct. They would not submit to any foreign rule. There were innumerable insurgencies and rebellions against the Roman rule by Jews during Paul’s time. This resentment against Roman rule, Paul did not want to be carried over to the Christian church too.

The Temple was grazed to the ground in 70 AD as foretold by Jesus, so that no one stone will stand over the other, Matthew 24:2, mainly because of the repeated insurgencies of the Jews.

Paul saw Roman Empire as a good thing for the world. There was peace in Pax Romania, and there was freedom for Paul to preach in all the towns of Roman Empire. He and his friends were harassed and persecuted by the Jews wherever they went and they were in more than two places saved by Roman authorities. Acts 17:9; Acts 18:16. The tribunal of a pagan Roman magistrate was a safe refuge against a Jewish mob.

Thus, Paul looks at secular governments as divine institutions, which are to be obeyed as these are constituted by God. He urges Christians to pray for kings and those in authority, so that we can have a peaceful and quiet lives. 1 Timothy 2:1,2. In Titus 3:1, he again exhorts Christians to be subject to rulers and authorities. In 1 Peter 2:13-14, Peter also extols the virtue of being submissive to the authorities.

It is the consistent and official teaching of the church that obedience be given to and prayers made for civil powers. Paul particularly wanted the Christian converts to keep away from the insurrections of Jews and Judaism, who would hold no king but God as their king.

Rulers are meant to bring order in society and punish those who do wrong so that others can live in safety. An officer is a servant of God and he wields the sword or authority to punish the wrong doer. But for them society would become a jungle where might is right. So, it is the duty of a citizen, much so a Christian, to obey the rules and be a good citizen, commended by the authorities. Or else they will bring the wrath of the ruler on themselves.

In a society, an ordinary citizen gets some benefits from the rulers, be in a modern democracy or the medieval monarchy or ancient imperial governments. He gets a wide range of services, water, light, sewage cleaning, transport systems, maintenance of a network of roads and so on. Most importantly the State offers protection from foreign aggression and protection of one’s own personal property and family.

Nevertheless, a citizen has duties and responsibilities too to the State. Hence Paul asks his readers to pay taxes, for government needs money to keep the State peaceful and to offer justice to everyone who is aggrieved. Whatever one owes to the State, Paul asks him to pay it, be it taxes, or revenue, or respect or honor that is due to those who are in civil service.

Jesus also taught while he was on earth, to pay to Caesar what is due to him, Matthew 22:21, and he himself paid the taxes. Matthew 17:27. We ought to pay our taxes too and show all the sources of income in our tax calculations. Christians are to have nothing to do with black money or corrupt money. We are rich in our heritage, inheriting eternal life, so there is no need to hoard money the wrong way.

But, you may ask, what if the government is illegal and corrupt and oppressive? Do we still obey it?

I would say that if we can find legal methods to fight for our rights we should do so. As long as our freedom of conscience and freedom to worship our Lord God, Almighty, the way we would want to, in a church, with praise and worship and ability to teach and preach the Bible and render service to the community in the name of Christ, are respected and permitted, we need to obey the government.

In a case where the civil rule or command goes against the rule or command of the Lord, then and then alone we can refuse to oblige the government or our rulers. God and His commands always come first. In all other cases we need to be good citizens, obedient and submissive to authorities and the rules of the country we live in and also pray for those in authority.

As long as the government does not interfere with our walk with God and our obedience to His Word, we can extend our obedience to the government.

In this section, we find Paul to be very pragmatic and sensible so that unnecessary problems are avoided and we have a peaceful existence under lawful authority.