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Subtitle: An Exposition of Romans 13:1-7
About the Title: It
cant happen here! How many times have we heard this claim? But it
can
happen here. Many will tell you that it
is happening here. It seems
that almost on a daily basis we are losing our God-given rights. Some
even make the case that there is a direct assault on the Christian
religion because it is the only belief system that is greater than
government and puts limits on governments. Relegating God to a distant
corner of the universe empowers and emboldens governments to do what
they will. In pre-Nazi Germany, many Christians were under the false
assumption that they had to go along with whatever their civil rulers
demanded. For decades before the rise of Hitler, Christians were
subjected to arguments like the following from pastors and theologians:
- The Gospel has absolutely nothing to do with
outward existence but only with eternal life, not with external orders
and institutions which could come in conflict with the secular orders
but only with the heart and its relationship with God.
- The
Gospel frees us from this world, frees us from all questions of this
world, frees us inwardly, also from the questions of public life, also
from the social question. Christianity has no answer to these
questions.
- Once
the Christian understands the moral significance of the state he will
consider obedience to the government to be the highest vocation within
the state. For the authority of the state on the whole, resting as it
does upon authority of the government, is more important than the
elimination of any shortcomings which it might have.
While many Christians might have been opposed to Nazi policies,
they had been conditioned to believe they could not do anything about
them. Much of their thinking was shaped by a misreading of Romans 13
and a misapplication of Matthew 22:21 where Jesus says Render unto
Caesar the things that are Caesars. As with all authority, there are
limits, including limits on civil government. It might also help to
realize that we do not live under Caesar. Our civil rulers took an oath
to uphold the Constitution which is the supreme law of the land.
Neither the president nor the members of Congress are Caesar. If we
have a Caesar, it is the United States Constitution. But even the
Constitution recognizes its own limits and the right of the people to
(1) express their grievances, (2) vote corrupt and oath-breaking rulers
out of office, and (3) change existing laws.
The Bible tells us that civil rulers are ministers of God. The Greek
word translated ministers is the same word used to describe
ministers in a church. There are civil ministers and church
ministers. Both serve as Gods ministers within their jurisdictions. It
is unbiblical to assume that civil rulers are autonomous, that they can
legitimately rule independent of Gods limiting authority of them. It
is a serious mistake to take Pauls instructions in Romans 13 and claim
that civil rulers cannot be challenged by the citizenry.
Notice the use of governing authorities in Romans 13:1. Theres not
just one ruler; there are many. Even Rome had governors and other civil
officials. Our own system of civil government follows the biblical
model of multiple civil rulers with county, state, and national
authorities. American civil government was designed to be decentralized
and limited at all levels. We have a United States Constitution and 50
state constitutions. Its unfortunate that as a nation we have turned
unwarranted and unconstitutional authority over to the national
government to the exclusion of state and county governments.
Civil authorities are to rule in terms of good and evil. There is no
room for tyranny in these words. Those who rule are bound by the same
laws as the rest of us. Thats why there is no divine right of kings in
the Bible. The prophet Nathan challenged King David to do right. Daniel
was not a revolutionary when he opposed the kings law. John the
Baptist rebuked King Herod for his sexual sins. Jesus even called him a
fox. Peter continued to preach, obeying God rather than man, even
though he was commanded to stop by the authorities of his day. Paul
used his Roman citizenship to challenge the Roman Empire. Paul spent a
great deal of time in prison because he was seen as a threat to the
Empire.
To obey Romans 13 is to call our civil officials to uphold their oath
of office, an oath that nearly all of them took by repeating So help
me God!
James Willsons study of Romans 13 is needed more than ever. Whats
most helpful about it is that it was written in a time that is not
muddied by the politics of our day. There are no current or recently
passed politicians named. He sticks to principles based on the Bible.
If we are to save our Republic, then we are bound to heed his
instruction and warnings.
Excerpt
We live in an age and
country of liberal ideas regarding governmentan age when the right of
the people are watched with the utmost sagacity and vigilance. Popular
rights are matters taken for granted, and anything that runs counter to
them is at once rejected. Infidelity attempts to turn this feeling in
behalf of liberty into it own channelto rouse it against the Bible, as
it is favored absolute and irresponsible power;and they avail
themselves, and with no little success, of the mistaken exposition of
the very passage before is. The expositors to whom we have referred
intend to strengthen the arm of any and all civil authoritythese
interpretations the infidel schoolhouse for the overthrow of the
authority of the Bible. Both are met and foiled by one processsimply
by a just analysis of the passage itself.
James Mcleod Willson
Endorsement
Civil government
continue to increase in authority, power, and scope. Too many
Christians are under the false impression that they are obligated to
endure the legislative acts handed down by government officials no
matter how evil they may be. This is a simplistic and dangerous reading
of Paul's instructions in Romans 13. Elected officials are as equally
bound to distinguish between good and evil in the area of civil
government as are unelected citizens. Being a ruler offers no
exemption. James Willson's exposition of Romans 13 is a much needed
antidote to both the advocacy of passivity and rebellion that some are
inclined to take.
Gary DeMar, author and President of American Vision
Author: James M. Willson
About the Author: James M. Willson
was born near Elizabeth, Allegheney County, Pennsylvania on November 17, 1809. He graduated from Union College in 1829. He studied theology under the direction of this father, James R. Willson, and was licensed by the Presbytery, June 5, 1834. He was ordained by the same Presbytery, and installed Pastor of the First Congregation of Philadelphia, November 27, 1834. He was elected Professor of Theology in the Allegheny Seminary, May 31, 1859. He authored numerous pamphlets and books, including Bible Magistracy: or Christ's Dominion over the Nations: With an Examination of the Civil Institutions of the United States and An Essay on Submission to the Powers that Be. James M. Willson died at his residence in Allegheny, August 31, 1866.
Specifications: PDF E-Book, 180 Pages
© 2009 The American Vision, Inc.