Yielding to Government - What is Appropriate?

Romans 13

The appropriate response to the grace of God is a life of service to God. This service is seen in the way we contribute to the ministry of Christ, how we cling to what is good, and how we respond with blessing to curses.

Resisting the government is inappropriate as a Christian (13:1-2). This is difficult, especially if we have differing views on what government should look like. Often, it is hard for us to remember that the command to yield to governing authorities is not dependent on government structure. Whether the government that the Christian is living in is a democracy, monarchy, dictatorship, or any other, the Christian must live appropriately. This is controversial but we must remember that the government in the time of Paul (Rome) was not especially a moral system. Christians never stop preaching and living by the word, but their lives are never to be described as rebellious by secular standards. Christians often feel like their rebellion is justified in the United States, so they are willing to rebel and fight. Many have even said things like, “you can take my gun from my cold dead hands”. Many Christians are willing to “die on that hill”.

I believe in the constitution and that we as citizens of the United States of America have the right to make our voices heard in ways lawful by the constitution and bill of rights. The forefathers of this country set up avenues by which its citizens can legally operate. I am also not saying that Christians should not be involved in the military or wars. Only that, we are blessed to live in a country that recognizes free speech, self-defense, private property, right to a fair trial, and fair representation. But at any point that a Christian begins living under a government that does not offer these sorts of acknowledged rights, the Christian must continue operating with godly compliance. This is easier said than done but we at the very least must acknowledge the principle.

The only “hill” that the Christian is willing to die on is the word of God. We will always refuse to do what is immoral and unbiblical. We will always proclaim the gospel, and we will never stop applying the word of God as God would have us to apply it. If we must be imprisoned or executed on these terms, so be it. But when it comes to social, cultural, or legal compliance, we must yield insomuch as it does not contradict the word of God. We will pay the taxes and adhere to the customs. We will fear, respect, and honor those that God has put in their governing authority positions precisely because it is God who put them there.