Romans 13: Subjection Does Not Mean Total Obedience --- Part 2

Romans 13: Subjection Does Not Mean Total Obedience --- Part 2

On the previous post, we have established the foundation of earthly exousia (delegated empowerment for moral authority) set in place as God's ordinance on earth. 

We are to be subject to that "governing authorities" (Rom 13:1-2). While the establishment of leadership is from God, the leaders may not be of God because people have the free will to choose their own leaders.

Why does God tell us to be subject to the earthly exousia? The answer lies in verse 3-5.

For 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐝'𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐫. Therefore one must be in subjection, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐝'𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡 but also 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. - Rom 13:3-5

One must read the Bible in context. A text without a context becomes a pretext for a proof text. By reading in context, I do not just mean the context of that chapter or the book itself, i.e. Romans. Because each book falls into the context of a bigger idea, i.e. The New Testament, The New Covenant, the whole Bible, etc.

In other words, if your interpretation for that passage cannot line up with the whole counsel of the Bible (esp the New Covenant), if it is not part of the jigsaw puzzle, then there is a high chance that you need to re-evaluate your interpretation.

In order to understand Romans 13, we not only need to know that Rome was in control at that time (Emperor Nero was in power); we not only need to know that the Jews just came back from exile by Emperor Claudius (Acts 18:2), because the latter feared a potential insurrection due to the disputes between Christians and the Jews.

We not only need to know that Paul was writing the letter to reconcile the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome, but we also need to know the big idea of what 𝐞𝐱𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐚 and 𝐞𝐤𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚 is in the Kingdom of God.

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 𝐎𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦, 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐭 and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞. - Isaiah 9:6-7

The word 'government' here is the word 'rule' and 'dominion'. Sounds familiar? God's original purpose for mankind is to rule and take dominion on earth (Gen 1:26). Since Adam failed to establish God's government (rule and dominion) on earth, Jesus came and brought God's government (Isaiah 9).

Jesus came preaching and demonstrating the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matt 4:23; Matt 12:28). The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit (Rom 14:17). 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝'𝐬 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧) 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡. In other words, the earth should reflect heaven in every arena. This is why Jesus healed the sick and set the captives free on earth, because there is no sickness and captivity in heaven.

God's original intent for mankind 𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐍𝐎𝐓 change. Jesus came to re-present and demonstrate it, before multiplying His seeds (John 12:24) through His death. 𝐀𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (Rom 5:17) and establish His kingdom on earth (Matt 6:10).

This is why we are called the 'church' or '𝐞𝐤𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚' (the called-out ones from the world into the Kingdom) to set His government in place and establish His Kingdom. We are to enforce the law of the Kingdom of God in areas where there isn't, instead of hiding inside the four walls building ministry laws that only work within the church ministries, but ineffective in making an impact in the world. If the church is not continuing with His government, it becomes hell on earth. This church-bound mindset can be traced back to the Roman empire under Constantine. It’s called religion. Unfortunately, many are still stuck there with no revelation on the Kingdom of God and it’s purpose.

With this big idea of government (rule and dominion) in mind, we will look at the overall picture of exousia (delegated authority) that God has intended for believers in the next part, before we talk about the earthly exousia in the earthly governing bodies.