Service Times
Sunday School 9:00 am
Worship Service 10:00 am

Location
1624 Broadway Avenue
Sheboygan, WI 53083
920.451.0991

Directions

Search the Bible

“There is no authority except from God,
and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1)

How challenging it can be when the word of God becomes meaningful and interesting as we read it! When we seek to apply verses like these in our own life situations, what an impact they can have. No doubt the Christians in pagan Rome, at the time of Paul, might have seriously pondered and discussed them. Maybe some even mumbling and arguing together about their meaning in imperialistic Rome. How much easier is it for us today to agree, when we read these words, that all authorities are “instituted by God”. Whatever was the showings of colors and banners in the ‘amazing race’ this year, we know that the President of the United States of America, according to the apostle Paul, is now an authority “instituted” by God or for better terms, ‘put there’ by God. As we consider these verses, aren’t we reminded to believe that the God of the apostle Paul is still in the business of appointing (choosing) the perfect candidate to lead this Great Republic?

Having said that, some of us may still be troubled by this particular verse and inclined to think – as a way of interpretation - that the passage is not entirely applicable to historical circumstances of all times, let alone our specific historical moment. Some of the Christians in Rome too might have been a little troubled by what Paul seemed to say. What they argued was the fact that Paul was really saying that, yes, God is in the business of appointing; God is in control of the affairs of man and nothing passes unnoticed in his sight. However, what the passage suggests – they might have continued - is that behind the concept of ‘authority…instituted by God’ there is a much easier truth to grasp. God institutes the ‘idea’ or the concept of ‘institution’, of ‘government’. He does not necessarily choose a ‘particular’ person or candidate for the honorable office of governing a nation. People do, through their God given duty to vote. The concept is that our sovereign Lord gave human beings the ‘need’ and the ‘how’ to establish the role of authority and that’s it. It’s then up to each person/nation to choose who would eventually occupy the prestigious office. By consequence, inevitably, people will make mistakes or be cunningly misled. This is a legitimate interpretation of Romans 13:1 and it make sense, especially when we see in history aberrations in politics, like dictatorship or fanaticism in government. How could God ‘appoint’ Hitler? How could he have looked ‘favorably’ on the Taliban? Yet, to think that God appoints only the ‘structure’ of authority and ‘leaving’ to each nation his own delegate of choice can be disheartening, upsetting and make us feel we are entirely at the mercy of our biased whims and political caprice. Some may be happy with the thought that God is only involved in the business of ‘setting up’, say, the throne for a king, but leaving the choice up to the people, to elect their own ruler. If this is the case, then for some our new President may very well represent a wrong outcome of the majority who expressed their will through the vote.

In the Scripture, the prophet Samuel did not welcome the choice of kingship on the part of Israel. Still God, who agreed with Samuel, about the danger of moving from Theocracy to Monarchy, ‘chose’ Saul as the best King for Israel at the time (I Sam. 9:17). This is a clear example that shows us that God ‘leaving’ his people to the task of choosing does not seem to be entirely supported by the Scripture. It is our opinion, rather, that God is very much awake and truly involved in history (Psalm 121). He does not let crucial moments in history pass by watching motionless and kind of guessing what the outcome will be! In his wisdom and according to his ways – which are not always comprehensible – he takes interest in the evolution of our nations. Through our free-will decisions he even ‘appoints’ or shall we say ‘puts there’ a leader that would reflect  ‘somehow’ his ways.
 
Going back to our text no doubt Rev. Dan Fisher might have had some troubles with it lately. During Sunday morning worship on Sept. 28, 2008, he told his congregation at Trinity Baptist Church how to vote on Nov. 4, sparking a debated argument on: Should preachers weigh in on election from the pulpit? (Sheboygan Press, Wed. Oct. 18, ‘08). We wonder abut his reaction and the how he interprets Romans 13:1 in the light of the stunning and historical event that has happened on election day. Would Dan Fisher support the one that has been elected to be our new President knowing that God might be behind the scenes? Of course he might dismiss the passage altogether implying the God has not at all ‘indicated’ his preference. Again, according to Paul, the authority “has been instituted by God”. The question stands: Who really did ‘appoint’ our President for the most prestigious office?

It seems that there is a returning theme in the Scripture about God raising up or abasing whomever he wants for his purposes, which is often mysterious. He astonishes us with his wisdom, which may run against our set views, preconceived ideas, and logic.

Who would have ever guessed that Esau, which was a first-born, would be rejected and Jacob his brother accepted to receive the blessing of becoming Israel. Not only that, but the Scripture tells us that “the elder will serve the younger” (Gen. 25:23) which was unheard of in that culture (see also, Malachi 1).

Even more ‘amazing’ is the choice of God for a ‘shepherd’ who would fulfill God’s purpose for the restoration of Israel. Of all his servants, which one would God be going to appoint for the task? Ridiculously as it seems to appear God speaks and summons Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28), a pagan King. It is Cyrus the man for the time; he would fulfill God purposes. For Jacob there is no arbitrary appointment of his father Isaac who somehow thinks that Jacob is better suited to receive the blessing instead of Esau. It is God who chooses Cyrus to bring restoration to Israel. With his actions Cyrus will represent the true character of God who is the Redeemer (Isaiah 44:24). What to say about 12 men who received authority by Jesus (Luke 10:19; Matt. 10:1) to preach the gospel in such a way as to revolutionize their world? Who would have ever guessed that the God of the universe would empower those simple men with so much authority?

But the most convincing aspect of God, who never errs, is his ‘choosing’ of each one of us his children. To us, as to his disciples, he “gave us authority to become children of God” (John 1:12). It is obvious that we are speaking here of ‘spiritual authority’ (and we should be extremely cautious about mixing ‘spiritual power’ with ‘political power’ – see on the subject my, “The Politics of religion and the Religion of politics”). Nevertheless, it would be rather strange that our God, who is all capable, would only be capable or willing to be interested in our spiritual lives and leave the rest and components of human relationships solely to us – political lives included.
 
The prayer for our governments and leaders, who have been set to lead us, should be that none of them misuse this God-given-power. ‘With great power comes great responsibility’ (Peter Parker in Spider man, 2002). Let’s gracefully serve him and be his representatives because he has chosen us to be his children.   

To convene that God is involved in our political world not as a spectator, but as a participant, is nothing new or blasphemous.  It is enough to read the prophets and the historical books in the Scripture to realize the degree of input the divinity had. To admit that God is involved in the affairs of men and believe with Paul, that all authorities are instituted by God, does not necessarily mean that the rulers he chooses to govern will at all times reflect his will. There is a great deal of responsibility and free will and many can falter under the burden of governing a nation. This is why we need to support our leaders and pray for them so that we can live in peace.

“Be still and know that I am God!”
(Ps. 46:10)