Daily Devotions
How To Submit to an Evil Government
Reading for November 27th: Romans 11-13
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Romans 13:1
How do you submit to an evil government? How do you pay taxes to those who are only interested stealing all your rights and liberties, to those who arrogantly believe they know what is best for your life (better even than even you do)? How do you respect a leader who is completely self-centered; a crook, a thief, and a liar; rumored to be mentally unstable; bordering on narcissism?
Oh, did you think I was speaking of our country? Wrong. This is a description of the first century world as ruled by Caesar and the Roman Empire. More directly, it was life in Rome at the time Paul wrote this letter to the church in that city. In a few short years after this letter was read by the church, Nero, the emperor in Rome (and who truly was a lunatic!), would do unspeakable things to Christians in the capital. They were about to become food for lions and kindling for fire.
It is in this context that the apostle Paul (who would also die in Rome during this same persecution) exhorted the Christians to submit, pay their taxes, and, most shocking of all, respect these wicked and oppressive leaders.
How could they do this?
They could only do this by following the lead of their Savior. They could find strength and perseverance in the hope of resurrection. A hope that could not be seen (and hope that is seen is not hope, Paul tells us). But a hope that is nonetheless certain and sure because of Jesus' own resurrection (and the Roman letter is literally saturated with this resurrection theme).
This hope sends Paul soaring earlier in the letter, as he asks a series of rhetorical questions:
- "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
- "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?"
- "Who is to condemn?"
- "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"
Nothing. Not Caesar. Not the Empire. Not all of the powers of evil combined. We are more than conquerors!
So render to Caesar the things, that are Caesar's. He can have them. They're worthless anyway. That currency doesn't work where we're going.
Father, keep us from anxious and fearful handwringing, as well as rebellious and disrespectful attitudes and actions against our rulers by grounding our hearts in the sure and certain facts of the Gospel.
