Radical Submission

Romans 13 is a fascinating passage.  In the opening verses, Paul reminds us that we should submit ourselves to the governing authorities, especially in the realm of paying taxes.  Now, clearly Paul is not giving the government blanket authority here.  I think other passages of Scripture make it clear that we have to obey God rather than men.  So if the government asks us to sin, we must refuse and make our allegiance to God come first.  But aside from that, we as Christians are to respect, honor, and obey our leaders.

It is fascinating to think about Paul's instructions in their original context.  Remember he is writing to people living in Rome.  Rome is the capital of the world at that point, capital city of an empire that stretches around the known globe.  At the head of that empire, sits an emperor who blasphemously identifies himself as a god.  He is a patron of pagan religion, using government authority to support the worship of multiple false deities.  His city is a cesspool of sin and wickedness, and he is a man of violence, using his legions to ruthlessly and mercilessly conquer, kill, and subdue.  The emperor is certainly no friend of Christianity.  Most likely, he despises Christians and would be quick to persecute them and even kill them.  Yet, Paul tells the Romans that they they must submit to this man's authority.  Why?  Because this ruthless pagan rules by the authority of God and is His agent for punishing evildoers. 

Taken in its original context, we see how radical Paul's instruction is.  It tells us how comprehensive and absolute the instruction is.  As Christians, we should submit to leaders good or evil so long as they do not ask us to violate God's commands.