What is a Government?

By Michael Wells
Posted Monday, April 12, 2004

Romans 13:1-3 “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same.” A just government has the moral authority from God to punish an unjust government. However, the passage can be confusing. I write from Nepal, where it is illegal to become a Christian, illegal to baptize, and illegal to preach. This Scripture passage was used by the Communists for years to manipulate Christians to come under their absolute authority via subjection. Rebellion against communism was said to be rebellion against God. As I have mentioned before, we Christians stand and fall on our definitions. What exactly is a “governing authority” that gets its authority from God? I have been in numerous countries where the “government” is nothing more than a mob imposing its wicked will upon the people. “Laws” are passed that are nothing more than excuses to steal from the poor. “Taxes” are imposed to take even more. Every angle is worked to take and take and take. In some distorted way these crooks seek to decriminalize their behavior by seizing power and naming themselves “elected” officials. The role of government in the Bible is to protect the people through laws that are of benefit to all, not to support a band of immoral thieves. Solomon is the greatest example of a governing authority that was established by God; he sought wisdom to help and guide the people. Punishment was meted out in the light of this wisdom. I do not think a criminal can demand subjection on the basis of having biblical authority to do so, when he does not fit the definition of a governing authority. Well, amen, I know many have had to suffer under such criminals. Though they are not true government and we are not bound as Christians to be in subjection to them, we are bound to love, pray for, and bless our enemies, as well as bless the criminal, give to them that ask, and go the second mile. However, the action taken is not out of compulsion from the belief that they are a government. Rather, it is out of something much higher, the life of Christ within.