by jimwalton » Sat Feb 17, 2018 11:24 pm
Your question is very broad. A person could write on those 8 verses for dozens of pages. I've seen books on those 8 verses. what is it you want to know? I'll speak generally, and you can follow it up with questions as you wish.
The structures (government) were created by God. Order is preferable to anarchy. But the powers have sinned and are fallen. Despite their fallen condition, governments cannot fully escape the providential sovereignty of God. He is still able to use them for His good. We should submit to them as much as is reasonably and spiritually possible.
Government was designed to reward good and prosecute evil, to bring justice to society and work for fairness to all. We should all be responsibly engaged in politics to increase justice, morality, compassion, security, prosperity, and freedom for all.
We cannot assume just because someone is in power that God put him or her there. That is not what the text teaches. We should give to Caesar what is Caesar's (Mt. 22.21). Governmental authorities should get only what is *due* to them. The early Christian martyrs' defining act was to defy authorities both formally and face-to-face. While we are instructed to submit and obey, it is not always in the service of justice and God to do so blindly. The Christian who willfully subjects himself to government still retains his moral independence and judgment. The authority of government is not self-justifying. Government was established by God to bring order to society, but the text doesn't say that whatever the government does or asks of its citizens is good. In his ordering God does not approve of what government does. Nor does He take the responsibility for what they do. Paul is not arguing for the divine right of kings or government, but for government and order. Nor does he oppose here revolution for a change of government, but he does oppose all lawlessness and disorder.
That should get us started. There is so much more to say without a specific angle or question coming from you. If you want to talk more, let me know.
Your question is very broad. A person could write on those 8 verses for dozens of pages. I've seen books on those 8 verses. what is it you want to know? I'll speak generally, and you can follow it up with questions as you wish.
The structures (government) were created by God. Order is preferable to anarchy. But the powers have sinned and are fallen. Despite their fallen condition, governments cannot fully escape the providential sovereignty of God. He is still able to use them for His good. We should submit to them as much as is reasonably and spiritually possible.
Government was designed to reward good and prosecute evil, to bring justice to society and work for fairness to all. We should all be responsibly engaged in politics to increase justice, morality, compassion, security, prosperity, and freedom for all.
We cannot assume just because someone is in power that God put him or her there. That is not what the text teaches. We should give to Caesar what is Caesar's (Mt. 22.21). Governmental authorities should get only what is *due* to them. The early Christian martyrs' defining act was to defy authorities both formally and face-to-face. While we are instructed to submit and obey, it is not always in the service of justice and God to do so blindly. The Christian who willfully subjects himself to government still retains his moral independence and judgment. The authority of government is not self-justifying. Government was established by God to bring order to society, but the text doesn't say that whatever the government does or asks of its citizens is good. In his ordering God does not approve of what government does. Nor does He take the responsibility for what they do. Paul is not arguing for the divine right of kings or government, but for government and order. Nor does he oppose here revolution for a change of government, but he does oppose all lawlessness and disorder.
That should get us started. There is so much more to say without a specific angle or question coming from you. If you want to talk more, let me know.