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37 sats \ 1 reply \ @kepford OP 25 Mar \ parent \ on: Jesus On Economics - Libertarian Christian Institute econ
That's fair. To that point I go back to the idea of state power vs. hierarchy. I think it is hard to read the Bible and leave with a view that anything that places itself above God is legitimate. Are these authorities "ministers of God" or is that just what they should be. Like many passages I think we might be asking to much of these verses.
Personally I apply this passage in that I need to submit to the state in most things as God has allowed it to exist. I know this is a temporary situation and God's justice will be done in the end. Obviously there are times when we should or must resist or go against the state, but I believe I must be prepared to accept the consequences of that decision. I pray for the rulers over me. I don't hate them. They are not my enemy. The system is however. It is not God's system. Its a fallen world where Satan roams about seeking to destroy.
I'm always reminded of when the children of Israel asked for a king like the other nations. God makes it clear that this is a rejection of Him, not Samuel. During this time God's people lived under the authority of judges and were advised by the prophets.
Here's where I think modern Christians read to much into Romans 13. I don't think this is Paul saying this is God's system. Its hard to see that. It is for me. I have a hard time believing you can have a "Christian" state. Christ does not share his throne with men. But, if Jesus didn't overthrow Roman with military force it makes it hard for me to say we should do this. I can accept that the state is legit if by that it is meant that its existence is above me. I reject the idea that its God's ideal form of governance.
I hold to "No king but Christ". But its not my place to overthrow the rulers of this world. I pray that Christ would overthrow their hearts, that they would seek to be stewards of his will and live by Romans 13.
I definitely agree that Romans 13 can be abused to justify all sorts of ill advised government interventions, as well as your point about human kings vs. God's rule.
A passage that I've actually used in my teaching is 1 Samuel 8:10-18
10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11 He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men[a] and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
I use it to teach that people have had a love hate relationship with their government and taxes since the dawn of time :)
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