Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. Romans 13:1-2
But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20
We serve a God of order who established the family (Gen. 2:18-24), civil government (Gen. 9:1-7), and the church (Acts 2) as institutions to control our lives. In each of these institution there are authorities to whom we need to submit for God’s will to go forward. Unfortunately human beings have continued to revolt against God and challenges abound for the Godly when authorities are far away from God.
Apostle Paul in the letter to the Romans encourages Christians to be submissive to civil authority drawing from the reality that God allowed their appointment to whatever positions they hold. Subjection or submission involves placing oneself under the authority of another so that he or she does what the authority requires. God will use government, good and bad, to bring the submissive Christian what is good from His perspective (Romans 8:28). Christians who are not submissive should fear because governments have received their powers to punish evildoers from God. Our duty remains that of praying for those in authority to be focused and to have the fear of God so that we may have a peaceful life (1Timothy 2:1-2). Proverbs 21:1 says “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes”.
However from the examples of Apostles Peter and Paul (Acts 4:19-20) submission is not an excuse for disobedience to the word of God. Though Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego where submissive to the Babylonian king that took them into captivity and put in their best, which led to their recognition by the king, they preferred facing the king’s wrath to disobeying God (Daniel 1-3, 6).
Unfortunately people have interpreted the submission to authority’s demand differently; especially when they benefit from the status quo. When it is time to speak again bad government, many shy away for fear of sanctions or being denied benefits they receive from such governments. Also when required to obey God and get denied some opportunities, many will prefer to compromise, hiding under being submissive to authority. Jesus Christ has made us the light and the salt of the world (Matthew 5:13-16), which gives us a responsibility to cause positive change in our environment. We cannot expect acceptance from the world and its government when we stand for Christ. John 15: 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you”
Articles 37-39 of the Articles of our Religion, which we are considering today, address the issue of our relationship as Christians to the authorities that are set by God over us, the institutions representing them and the laws they make. The Articles also emphasize the need to hold firm to things spiritual but to be subject to authorities on things of the world; to own property but show love and concern for those in need; to carry out civil responsibilities including serving in the army if called upon to do so, to testify on oath in Law Courts and at the same time to honour any commitments we enter into. As men and women called out of darkness into His marvelous light, it is expected of us to be men and women of integrity. May the Lord keep you so.
Have a joyful week as you live within the laws of the land and as a man/woman of integrity.
Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
Igein Isemede.