Christian Citizens

This month, I've been wrestling through Romans. Let me start by saying how refreshing it is to be able to wrestle with scripture unashamedly, instead of just sitting back and listening to it then bumping along. Back on track, this morning I was reading in Romans 13 about Christian citizenship.

In short, Paul writes two things that caught my eye.

1Everyone 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. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

This wasn't written by a guy who is in some tolerant, God-fearing, fair society. Jews in Rome [at the time] were admired and despised. Some saw them as neighbors, business partners and patrons; others considered them a threat to the Empire. The new sect -- Christians -- were especially peculiar, what with their teaching on the Messiah and the Kingdom of God. The Jewish peolple had been kicked out of Rome and were just coming back (see Wikipedia, etc.) and even had disputes with Gentile believers who were running church affairs in their absence. All of this to illustrate things were neither fair nor rosy.

Fast forward to the 1700s. This idea of Democracy catches on, emphasizing individual and community over a central authority. All of a sudden, everyone has a voice. This philosophy catches on like a wildfire. In government, education and even church, everyone's view is relevant. Spawning from democratic thought came schism in the Catholic church and the revolt of the Americans (as well as revolution worldwide). The democratic ideal became our model.

Now, consider the American civil rights movement. Precipitated by unfair treatment, Dr. King rose as the leading voice for "civil disobedience". He got this idea from Ghandi, and East Indian monk, by the way. By nonviolent disobedience, these civil-rights activists changed the laws and perceptions.

Consider, now the second scripture:

5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

Many throughout history put up with unfair treatment and even torture because they were submitting to the higher authority. The history of the church in the middle-ages is full of corruption because thoughtful people "submitted to governing authority" because it was the God-ordained order. Many Christians felt it was their duty to obey the laws that stirred the civil rights movement because of the role of government. Catholics and protestants fought it out because it was so sanctioned.

We admire the free-spirits and long to assert our freedom today. We are often admonished to do so in light of what's good. But have we lost something of the fear of the Lord and submitting ourselves in our self-determined culture? Have we become authorities unto ourselves, tossed around by the opinions of men because of our democratic ideals? What is the godly model for society? Are we living that out?