Government was designed by God to represent Him in a way that promotes good for people and punishes the evil of people...

This week, we have been addressing the question of whether or not followers of Jesus should be involved in government in general. More specifically, I would like us to address the origins of government. In other words, is government a human endeavor invented by humans? Or is government something that comes from God that humans are to be involved in? Where did government come from?

We looked at Genesis 9:5-7 and discovered the foundational principles for the establishment of government. We saw the Lord delegate to human beings throughout history the responsibility to carry out the punishment of evil and to protect the common good of society. One of the purposes of government is that government has been given the responsibility to punish evil and encourage good.

We then looked at Romans 13:1-5, where we saw Paul reinforce the reality that followers of Jesus are to practice a lifestyle of submission to government.  In Romans 13:1-2, we see Paul reveal that we must submit to government because God designed government as an authority over us. Government derives its authority because of the fact that it is established and put into place by the Lord Himself. And because of that reality, as citizens, we should be subject to the government and obey the laws of the government.

Paul also stated that the very act of opposing government is to place ourselves in opposition to God. When we choose to oppose the government that choice places us in a position to be punished and judged by government as God’s instrument of justice on earth. Then, in Romans 13:3-5, we discovered that we are to practice a lifestyle of submission to government in that government’s divine design and purpose is to punish evil and promote justice on earth. Government was put into place by God as an intermediary, or representative, of God to promote justice for those who do well and to punish evil by responding with righteousness and justice to wrongdoing and injustice.

Government was divinely designed by God to execute justice and defend the weak. In addition, a purpose of government is to create structures that execute swift punishment for crime so as to be a deterrent to crime. In addition, another purpose of government is to promote the good of the people who are under that government. Governments have been designed by God in such a way that they have a responsibility to safeguard and promote human liberty.

And as a result we are to submit to government, whether good or bad, because ultimately, all governments are placed into authority by God as His representative on earth. However, when government attempts to force us to disobey God we are to choose to disobey government and obey God. And our attitude in expressing civil disobedience is just as important as the act of disobedience itself. If we refuse to obey government for religious reasons, we should not be rebellious in our attitude and be prepared to accept whatever consequences that the government imposes.

Today, we see Paul provide us a third reason why followers of Jesus are to practice a lifestyle of submission to government in Romans 13:6-7. Let’s look at it together:

For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

In these verses, we see Paul reveal for us the reality that we are to practice a lifestyle of submission to government by fulfilling our responsibilities. Paul reveals for us four different ways that we as followers of Jesus are to fulfill our responsibilities to government. First, we are to pay our taxes. We are to pay our taxes to whom it is due; local, state, and federal. Jesus Himself conveyed our responsibility to pay taxes when questioned by the religious leaders of the day in Matthew 22:17-21. Second, we are to pay customs to whom it is due. An example of a custom would be the fees at an airport that are charged by the government; or a fishing or hunting license.

But notice that Paul calls us to fulfill our responsibilities to the government not only with our finances. We are also to fulfill our responsibilities to our government with a proper attitude. Paul states that we are to have an attitude of healthy fear toward our government. What Paul is conveying by this phrase is that we are to recognize and follow in submission and obedience the authority that God has placed over us in government.

And Paul continues by stating that we are to do so in a way that honors and respects those in authority over us in government. While we may not agree with those in authority over us in terms of their policy positions or stands on different social, political, and moral issues, we are to treat them with the respect and honor that their position of authority deserves. This includes those in politics; law enforcement, such as police officers; or public safety, such as fireman.

And it is here that we discover the timeless answer to the questions “Where did the idea of government come from? And what are the responsibilities of government?” And that timeless answer is this: Government was designed by God to represent Him in a way that promotes good for people and punishes the evil of people.

God, who is sovereign over all nations, created the institution of government to represent Him in a way that punishes evil and encourages good. God created government for all humanity as all humanity is responsible and accountable to Him. God designed government to serve the people and seek the good of the people, not the good of the rulers of the people.

God designs and establishes all governments, even though some governments do not follow His commands or desires. And because of that reality, we are to be subject to the government and obey the laws of the government, unless those laws attempt to compel us to directly violate the message and teachings of Jesus.

However, while government was designed by God to represent Him in a way that promotes good for people and punishes the evil of people, government was never designed to be the object that we place our ultimate hope in. Government was never designed to be a vehicle that fundamentally changes human hearts. And government cannot rescue someone from the selfishness and rebellion that separates them from God.

Now a natural question that arises is “Well Dave, if what you have said is true: If government was designed by God to represent Him in a way that promotes good for people and punishes the evil of people; then how are we supposed to engage government and politics in the culture we are in today? How are we supposed to engage in government and politics in the current toxic cultural and climate that we find ourselves in?

That is a great question. And next week, we will spend our time together answering that question...