Today I posted something on Facebook to help me deal with the part of scripture that I struggle with the most, Romans 13:1-7.
There are a LOT of scriptures that are difficult for me; things that call me towards Christ likeness yet cause my flesh to throw temper tantrums. There are things that I recognize as true about the world that I don't want to be true. And then there's Romans 13:1-7.
Deep in my heart there is a wall I've drawn around my principles and values. Many of them are immovable as a result. I will not budge on X, Y, or Z because I know these things to be true and if I violate them then I violate my soul. There's a traitor in their midst. I recognize the sovereignty of God and His scripture, his very words to us. And so I have troubles.
Here it is:
Romans 13:1-5
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 judgement on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from the fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
(6 and 7 are on taxes and what is owed people)
What does this mean to those under a cruel and oppressive government? At what point are we, as Christians, allowed or permitted to rebel...violently?
The more I read of the Bible, the more I think that the Amish and Quakers may have the right of it. In the face of abuse, intolerance, oppression, war, you do the good works that God has told you to do. You do not respond with rebellion. You give honor, respect, and anything asked of you even to a tyrant.
It grates against me. I don't like it. Even now as I write this there is rebellion in my heart to the concept. It hurts, but I know that feeling for what it is. It's a dark root that I have yet to pull out.
Look, I'm not telling you what to believe. I don't necessarily have any answers. I just coined on Facebook a saying I'm sure to repeat til my dying day. "I don't have answers unless it's to questions regarding the random trivia in my head. Other than that I have questions. Lots of questions." I would love for someone to come along and tell me why I'm wrong on this.
As I look at the scriptures, however, I don't see a single place (yet) that endorses rebellion against any form of government, tyrannical or not. I think of the Old Testament where the Children of Israel are in bondage to Egypt. I'm sure there were bloody uprisings every now and then because...well...they were humans. Was a bloody uprising what freed them? No. It was in God's timing and God's way. We've got the Medes, the Persians, the Babylonians who all come and dominate Israel. God even has a prophet who tells the people, "Just accept it! This is God's judgement!". Were their bloody uprisings? I'm sure there were..because...humans. But, again, was that that what freed them? Never. It was in God's timing and God's way.
My mind naturally turns next to the Revolutionary War and, given Romans 13:1-7, were the revolutionaries right in overthrowing the British empire? By God's standard, available for all to read, was it right? The British King was in authority and they rebelled against that authority. They rebelled against the authority God had established, because God establishes all authorities. And I recognize that I'm taking the tack of many Loyalists at the time who felt that it was exactly that. I value our American heritage and history more than most people realize. Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Henry, Hancock, Adams, so many of them are basically protestant versions of saints in my head, but I have to question this. Are we better off? Sure. However, were we right biblically?
Jesus never preached rebellion and the Romans were significant oppressors at the time. Within 20 years after his death, if I remember correctly, they destroyed the temple. Constantly we are told to just do good, help the weak, the poor, the stranger, and the widow but never called to take up the sword. Turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile, give a man who demands your cloak your outer garment as well, do as the Samaritan; all of these are references to doing good to an oppressor. We are called to pray for and bless those in authority. The Bible instructs us, if we are slaves, to not try to escape but work all the more diligently for our master as we would the Lord himself.
I'm conflicted and need opinions on this, especially those which are grounded in scripture. It's easy to get off on "Well, surely God doesn't expect us to submit to THIS" and not deal with the call to submission itself.
I'm teachable. I'm willing to hear even that which disagrees with me, in fact I welcome it.
Pax,
W
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