We must submit ourselves to the governing authorities.

[Romans 13:1-7]

While I try to have a conversation with my wife, there is a topic that I avoid talking about.  In other words, whenever possible, I try to avoid having a conversation with my wife on this subject.  The subject is none other than the separation of church and state.  What does separation of church and state mean?  In 1947, the Supreme Court of the United States proclaimed: ‘We have marked the boundaries of our nation's existence on the basis of the belief that complete separation of state and religion is for the best, both national and religious’ (Internet).  And Americans united by the separation of church and state wrote the following about the 1987 Alabama School trial: ‘America is a nation of people of many different religions and non-religious people.  Government neutrality towards religion is essential to preserving the richness and diversity of religious life.  The provision of the Amendment guarantees this neutrality and guarantees that the government will not show favoritism to any particular religion’ (Internet).  These trial words and Supreme Court proclamations emphasize the separation of church and state.  What do you think?  ‘The Reformed tradition does not insist strongly on the question of the separation of church and state, a view supported by Gresham Machen, who suggests that the church should refrain from engaging in the political arena in a corporate capacity’ (Internet).  The late Prof. Machen, who was a professor at East Westminster, argued that individual Christians abide by state laws, but in politics there must be a strong distinction between individual Christians participating in politics and in the act of faith and community church bodies participating in politics (Internet).

There is a very important confession of faith in our Presbyterian Church.  That is the “Westminster Confession of Faith”.  What is the Westminster Confession of Faith?  The Westminster Confession of Faith is a confession of faith approved by the General Assembly of theologians and pastors gathered in Westminster, England in 1647.  It is a confession of faith enacted and adopted based on Presbyterianism at the Church Council held at Westminster Cathedral for the reform of the Anglican Churches in Scotland, England and Ireland (Internet).  If we look at Chapter 23 of the Westminster Confession of Faith, it says “Of the Civil Magistrate.”  In particular, 23-1 says of the national source and end of authority: “God, the Supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him over the people, for his own glory and the public good: and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil doers” (Internet). 

In today's text, Romans 13:1, the apostle Paul exhorts the saints in Rome to submit to the governing authorities.  What does it mean?  This word means that if the saints in Rome are God-fearing people, they must submit to the government.  Why should we submit to the government?  The reason is that all governments are ordained by God.  Look at Romans 13:1 – “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”  What does it mean?  If applied to us living in the 21st century America, we, as God's people who fear God, must obey the American government that God has ordained.  Of course, you and I are Koreans.  Still, as people who have come to live in the United States, we must obey the US government.  In a way, seeing as Paul says that the Jewish believers in Rome who are receiving this Paul's letter now must submit to the Roman government, we too, as people living in the United States, should submit to the government established by God, even if we are not Americans but Koreans.  I think Paul is telling the saints in Rome to submit to the Roman government that persecutes them.  As a basis for this, I cite Romans 12:14 - “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”  At that time, the saints of the church in Rome could have had people who persecuted them internally, but the Roman government especially persecuted them externally.  In other words, Paul is admonishing the saints in Rome to submit to the Roman government that persecutes them.  Why?  This is because all authority has been ordained by God (13:1).  If we do not submit to God's ordained government and disobey it, we are disobeying God's command, and disobeying God is to bring judgment (v. 2).  Of course, this does not mean that we must submit to the government unconditionally.  In other words, when a government is corrupt and institutes things that are contrary to the Word of God and commands all its citizens to obey, we cannot and must not yield to such an order.  One example would be attempts to institutionalize same-sex marriage.  If same-sex marriage is made a law of the country, what should we do with that law?  It is clearly a country law that goes against God's law (Word), so are we to follow that country's law?  Today's word is that we must submit to the government established by God, but do not go against the laws of the country within the line that does not go against God's laws.

So, what government should we submit to?  Paul gives us the answer in Romans 13:3 – “For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.  Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?  Then do what is right and he will commend you.”  In other words, the government we must obey is, in principle, a government that justly implements retaliation in order to prevent evil and encourage goodness (Park).  In other words, the government that you and I must submit to is a government that does justice.  We must obey the government that distinguishes between good and evil, encourages good deeds and punishes evil deeds.  If the government is corrupt and does not do justice, we cannot submit to such a government.  In other words, if the government is corrupt and unprincipled, promoting evil and preventing good, how can we trust and submit to such a government?  But if a government is, in principle, a government that justly retaliates in order to prevent evil and promote good, then we must submit to such a government.  Submit, but how are we to submit to the just government established by God?  Today's text teaches us three lessons:

First, we must fear and respect the government that God has established. 

Look at Romans 13:3, 7: “ …  Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?  …   if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”  What if we are not afraid of authority?  We will sin.  God has established 4 authorities in this world: (1) He established the government for all citizens; (2) He established the Church for all believers; (3) He established parents for all children, (4) He established masters for all employees (MacArthur).  But, for example, what would happen if the children did not fear the father's authority even at home?  They will surely disobey their father.  The same goes for companies.  If an employee ignores the authority of the boss, he or she will not listen to the boss.  It is the same with the church and the same with the country.  If citizens do not fear those in power in the country, they will disregard public authority and commit crimes of their own accord.  As a result, the country will be in disorder.  That's why Paul says, “if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the word for nothing” (v. 4).  If we do not fear the government and sin, “God’s servant,” that is, government officials established by God to preserve the culture and order of the country, will repay us who do wrong (v. 4) (MacArthur).  It is natural that we will be punished if we break the laws of our country.  And when we break the law, we must be punished so that we fear public authority.  Even if we live in violation of the law, if we do not get punished when we deserve it, we have no choice but to be bold in breaking the law.  Therefore, we must fear and respect the government established by God and follow the laws of the country.

Second, we must submit to the government God has established by doing what is right.

Look at Romans 13:3b – “…  Then do what is right and he will commend you.”  There are principles we need to know in order to obey the government established by God.  In a word, the principle is that doing good is praised, and doing bad is punished.  We must strive to do good in order to submit to the government that God has ordained according to the word of God.  We must do good because we fear God rather than fear the government.  And those who fear God obey the word of God.  What is the word of God?  Ephesians 2:10 is the word of God that we think in relation to the second half of Romans 13:3.  In this verse, the Bible says that the reason why we are made new creatures in Jesus Christ is to do good.  In other words, as God's new creation, we must use our strength to do good.  However, looking at the church these days, it seems that there are two extremes that flow: On the one hand, the church does not do good to society while preaching the gospel, and on the other hand, it does not preach the gospel properly while striving to do good to society.  Of these two, I think the current trend is the second.  It seems that the church is trying to do a lot of good deeds to have a good influence on society, but it seems that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not being spread through words and life.  I don't know now, but in the past, as far as I know, I heard that a Catholic church, does more good deeds for society than the Protestant church.  So, I know that Catholics do a lot of orphanage ministry, and they do a lot of good things in this or that society, such as helping the poor.  However, it seems that Protestant churches have not done good deeds that contribute to society while preaching the gospel.  But how about now?  It seems that we Protestants are trying to do a lot of good deeds by participating in the society.  But for some reason I think that I have forgotten the taste of the gospel.  A balance is needed.  In other words, while preaching the gospel, we must live a life worthy of the gospel.  One of living a worthy life of the gospel is doing good as a new creation in Christ.  I believe that the church should also contribute to society and the country by doing good.

Third, we must submit to the government out of conscience.

Look at Romans 13:5 – “Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.”  Paul says that the motive for obeying the command of the state is not only to escape the wrath of those in power, but to know that it is right in our conscience and to do it truthfully (Park).  For example, what we believe is right and what we must do truthfully is to pay taxes to the country.  Look at verses 6-7: “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.  Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”  Now, Paul is telling the saints in Rome to submit to the Roman government, but knowing that it is right to pay taxes on conscience, and to do it truthfully.  How does this sound to you?  I remember what Dong-gil Kim, professor emeritus at Yonsei University, said a long time ago, whether it was at a rally or a radio broadcast, when he came here in LA.  That word was for us, Christians, to pay taxes to the country.  In the church, we talked about Jesus, but as a citizen, we say, ‘What’s the point of paying taxes to county?’  Isn't it a citizen's responsibility to pay taxes to the country?  Aren't we trying to benefit from the country while trying not to pay taxes?  Is our conscience stricken? 

In Matthew 22:17-21, there is a scene where the Pharisees sent their disciples and the Herodians together to Jesus to see how they would ensnare Jesus.  They went to Jesus and asked: “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (v. 17)  What was Jesus' answer then?  “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's” (v. 21).  But what about us Christians?  Aren't we giving back to God while not paying taxes to the country?  Obviously, Jesus also said to Caesar what is Caesar's, but we, like the Pharisees and other hypocrites, seem to think that if we give offerings only to God, we do not have to pay taxes to the country.  What should we do?  As far as I know, I know that I have to file my tax report by early April, but what will you do with your tax report?

In the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 23-4, it is written about the duty of the church members to those in power: “. It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates, to honor their persons, to pay them tribute and other dues, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience’s sake. …” (Internet).  We must submit to the government established by God.  We must pray for our governments, and we must also fear and respect them.  And we must do good deeds while living in this society.  We must pay taxes to the country.  Therefore, I hope and pray that you and I can glorify God through this.