THE TENSION OF OUR DUAL CITIZENSHIP

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (Romans 13:1–7)

The entire book of Romans reveals something peculiar about the Christian life: it is a life of constant tension. The Christian lives in two worlds, two realities, which are opposed to one another. The Christian in this age is a new creation in Christ, but is still in many ways the same old broken creature. The Christian is free but you can still hear the broken chains clanking (Romans 7:21-15). The Christian is a citizen of the new world to come therefore he is not to conform to this world (Romans 12:2) but at the same time he must still live in the present world. And so we must learn to live in the tension which is what he is teaching the Romans to do in his instructions about interacting with governmental authorities. The government Paul refers to here is obviously the Roman Government which was NOT Christian nor even Christianized by this point. This is the government that unjustly crucified the Lord Jesus, would eventually behead Paul, crucify Peter upside down, and feed Christians to lions. Yet Paul tells the Roman Chriatians to be good citizens of the Roman Empire, perhaps because it would be too easy for Christians to see the government as the enemy to be resisted – the evil empire, instituted by Satan. If it is evil then it is a hindrance to God's kingdom purposes which can easily become an excuse to rebel. 

But Paul clearly states that all governments are instituted by God including the ones we did not vote for. Is this also true of the Stalins? Hitlers? The Kim-Jong Ils and the Chavez'? Yes – and also the Nebuchadnezzars, the Alexanders, the Caesars of ancient times. In Jeremiah 25:9, God calls Nebuchadnezzar his 'servant' whom he was calling upon to march against Judah. He was the Hitler of his day – put there by God. But this does not mean God is pleased with all those he puts in positions of authority. It does not mean God is responsible for their actions, nor does it mean they are excused for their actions. It simply means no king of the earth, no president or dictator of any nation is above God – no matter how powerful.  God is the supreme authority – second to none. He sets up kings and removes kings. (Dan. 2:21) Therefore, we must be SUBJECT to them. Paul is not saying there isn't ever a time when we must obey God rather than men. (Acts 4:19) What then does it mean to be subject (submit) to civil government? Douglas Moo exapins that to be subject means "to recognize one's subordinate place in a hierarchy established by God. It is to acknowledge that certain institutions or people have been placed over us and have the right to our respect and deference.”

Think of how Scripture teaches wives are to submit to husbands, how church members are to submit to church leaders, and how we submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Submission is not mere obedience to whatever is commanded by those who are in authority. This question comes up with married couples: does submission mean do whatever my husband demands? No! There are limits to their authority and limits to your obligation – same is true in the church and the government. What limits all earthly authority is the heavenly authority of King Jesus who has all authority in heaven and earth! Submission does not mean we should be silent about injustice or about leadership failures or abuses. But it does mean when you speak out, when you confront, challenge that even then you respect their position or office. 

If you have been keeping up with the news then you know about Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk of court who refused to issue marriage licenses because of her Christian convictions.  Many have said she should not be forced to do anything that violates her conscience or religious beliefs. Some have said, she should have resigned if her beliefs keep her from doing her job. A few weeks ago I posted a link to a sermon by Sandy Wilson, pastor of Second Presbyterian in Memphis. His perspective is someone in Kim Davis' situation ought to issue the marriage licenses to same-sex couples, not because he is flimsy on his view of marriage, (he is solidly reformed and holds to the biblical view of marriage) but because he makes the distinction between a Christian approving of something and simply performing a civil function. A biblical case could be made either way. Personally, I agree with Sandy Wilson's perspective and tried to think of the situation in different terms which I offer for your own reflection. What if I was the one who issues building permits in my county and found myself having to decide if I should approve or deny a building permit for an adult entertainment business? In this case I am not giving approval of the business itself, I am only giving permission for them to build a building. So in this case I could issue the permit. 

But at the same time, I am reminded of Martin Luther's famous saying when urged to recant of his teachings at the Diet of Worms: "...to go against conscience is neither right nor safe." I commend Kim Davis for refusing to go against her conscience and would never suggest she disregard her conscience. It may be her conscience is sensitive because it is misinformed...maybe. But I believe she was doing her best to live in the tension and for that I commend her and praise God for her, EVEN if I might have made a different decision were I in her shoes. She sought to appeal her case lawfully and tried to find a way to make it all work in a manner that put her conscience at ease.  She was not trying to disrespect the judge who declared her in contempt of court. And when asked on what authority she was refusing she declared it was on God's authority. She appealed to higher Laws that are not subject to change in the shifting winds of culture. But at the same time I believe the accusation made against other Christian clerks of court as "caving in" or "wimping out" (which I did see alot of on Facebook) is unfair. If they have a clear, biblically informed conscience and they feel issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples does not equal personal approval, then I do not view them as compromising their faith or guilty of sin. 

The point is, living in this tension is not easy and the answers are never simple and are seldom clear. But what is clear according to scripture are two things: 

(1) Jesus is our Supreme Ruler whom we follow above civil rulers. 
(2) Christians are to be noted for their civil obedience and be esteemed as upright citizens. 

As far as it depends on us we must strive to demonstrate what kingdom living is like through our behavior. By this we demonstrate that God's kingdom is about righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. By being such citizens we become the city on the hill. This is just one area among many of how we let the world see the glory of Christ and his kingdom in our lives.

I believe we can expect persecution in the days ahead and I believe that the intolerance of the culture towards genuine Christianity will grow. Meeting for public worship may become a crime one day. If and when it happens we will find great comfort in Jesus' response to Pilate. 

Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. (John 19:10–11).