Who is in charge?
by Neil Bergmann
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Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God (Romans 13:1).
Read Romans 13:1–7
In today’s reading, Christians are encouraged to see their governing authorities as part of God’s care for God’s people. I don’t think this is a hard ask for us in Australia and New Zealand. We don’t necessarily agree with everything that our local, state or national government decides; however, the government acts in the way it believes is best for our country. In our democracy, governments are elected when their intended policies and programs align with those of the majority of the population.
How does this same passage apply if you are a Christian in a country where dissent results in imprisonment and even execution, where elections, if they are held at all, are not fair and free, or where governing authorities are corrupt and where some groups in the population are persecuted? What about those countries in which Christians are not free to openly practise their faith? Surely such governing authorities have not been established by God.
I think Paul provides some guidance in this passage. If the governing authorities uphold what is good and punish what is wrong, then they are God’s agents. If those who do God’s will are punished and those who do evil are rewarded, then the government has not been established by God.
How can we support our God-established governing authorities? We should obey the laws of the land. We should pay our share of taxes. We should give our governing authorities the respect and honour that they deserve both in private and in public. Either individually or corporately as a church, we can participate in the political process by making submissions to government inquiries or reviews of proposed legislation.
Finally, we can pray for our governing authorities in our private prayers, but especially in our public prayers. This is one visible mark of the honour and respect they deserve, and I’m sure it is a real and tangible encouragement to our parliamentarians, councillors and public servants for the work that they do.
Lord, empower your servants in our governments and councils with humility, wisdom, honesty, compassion and courage. Amen.
Neil Bergmann worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Rochedale, Queensland. He enjoys being part of the monthly Messy Church worship, which provides a welcoming, interactive and intergenerational form of church.
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