Romans 13 Applied

 I have written more than once that Black Lives Matter has communist and anarchist roots. ANTIFA, an openly anarchist organization, knowingly co-opts BLM “protests” and makes them violent and destructive. These things alone are enough to lead thinking conservatives to decline to support BLM. Some would say these are “political” reasons with no place in Christian dialogue. As it happens, there is good biblical ground for disagreeing with BLM as well.

The Apostle Paul begins Romans chapter 13 with these words: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except by God, and those that exist are put in place by God. So then, the one who resists authority resists the ordinance which is from God, and those who resist will receive condemnation on themselves.” Paul didn’t give us the opportunity to evaluate the quality of the governing authorities; he flatly said we are to be subject – to obey. Lest you think the Apostle had good government in mind, remember who his governing authorities were: the Romans.

Emperor Nero began his reign about the time Paul would have been writing Romans. Nero is the governing authority who is thought to have blamed the Christians for the disastrous fire that ravaged two thirds of Rome in 64 A.D. Whether he blamed them or not, there is no question that he began a vicious campaign to persecute the young sect of believers. For over one hundred years, Christians were marked out for persecution and death in an empire where emperor worship was required.

Paul surely understood that “be subject” did not include false worship, but he gave the command just the same. The verses that follow apply today as much as they did in the first century. “For rulers are not a cause of terror for a good deed, but for bad conduct. So do you want not to be afraid of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from it, for it is God’s servant to you for what is good. But if you do what is bad, be afraid, because it does not bear the sword to no purpose.” A modern translation might sound like this: “There is no need to fear the police if you are doing what is right. However, if you are disobeying the authorities, watch out! They carry Tazers and pistols to maintain civil order.”

Paul continues in Romans 1: “Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.” In other words, we don’t obey the authorities simply because it might be uncomfortable if we get caught; we obey because it’s the right thing to do. No one with a healthy conscience could feel guiltless while burning down neighborhoods, looting stores, and throwing rocks and bullets at the police who are trying to maintain order.

Finally, Paul instructs us to give honor to whom honor is due. Surely this honor does not apply to a man charged with domestic abuse, rape and robbery who is detained by police in the act of violating a restraining order. I agree: it is unfortunate the situation in Milwaukee escalated to the point where an officer believed he was in danger and had to use his weapon. Note that the gun only came to be used after the man broke free from two Tazer shots and continued to his car where he appeared to be retrieving something – perhaps a weapon. For NFL players to honor this man with his name on their jerseys is not just irrational; it is offensive.

I want to be careful here. I suspect the loyal British subjects in proto-America in 1776 might have felt about the rebellious colonists the way I feel about ANTIFA and BLM. However, I do not think there is a moral equivalence. The revolutionary colonists and today’s social justice protesters share the feeling that they suffer injustice under the governing authorities. The main difference is that the colonists spent years writing to the authorities pleading for a redress of their grievances. They did not begin their protest with Molotov cocktails, torches and bullets. They did not burn down their neighbors’ barns and stores. True, there were acts of civil disobedience such as the Boston Tea Party, but large-scale violence did not break out until the authorities began to use it against the protesters. It was at that point that the Founding Fathers resorted to an appeal to what they called “natural law” which assured them the unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – rights they saw as endowed by a gracious Creator God.

I am not convinced that people of color in America are being systematically denied their rights. I admit that there are bigoted people and even communities who make it harder for minorities to achieve success in a material sense. However, there is no system of government that works by design to deny anyone the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I admit that there used to be such laws, but no more. To violently overthrow the government because of perceived oppression is not patriotism; it is vandalism and anarchism. It is also in direct disobedience to the principles Paul outlined in Romans 13.

As believers we must pray for our leaders as Paul recommends to Timothy, “in order that we may live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” There is nothing godly or dignified about BLM and ANTIFA. Let us pray that our leaders can find a way to resolve the horrible unrest in our country without having to resort to “bearing the sword with purpose.” There is one other thing we can do: show the love of Christ to everyone regardless of color, for truly, all lives matter.