Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. . . Pay to all what is due to them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
This a timely bit of advice about how Christians should behave in a civil society. Paul was writing from the prosperous city of Corinth, to the church in Rome. Corinth was a bustling port city with bustling port city social ills. Nero was the leader in Rome, and although his full blown persecution hadn’t begun, he was not known as a nice guy.
So Paul is writing the people of Rome that they should be subject to governing authorities. Pay taxes when due, pay respect to whom it’s due, and honor to whom it’s due. Interestingly, Paul is not conditioning his requirement of obedience. He’s not saying that they should pay attention, be good subjects if they agree or if they like the leader. Rather, they should be subject to theleader because he’s the leader. Positional respect, not personal.
Throughout the history of humanity, I suspect this has been one of the most dismissed passages. When Rome burned, and Nero danced, people probably thought this section did not apply. Throughout the world and throughout time, there have been leaders with whom significant portions of the people they govern do not agree.
I don’t believe Paul is saying the governed need to be like lemmings, following evil directions off a cliff. He doesn’t talk about following directives at all. He’s talking about respecting the position. Honoring the position. Honoring the system that holds civil society together, and requires revenue do to so.
People have protested their civil leaders forever. People protested the actions of President Lincoln, to the point of trying to split the country. People protested the actions of President Kennedy, Johnson, Carter. I imagine every single president since Washington has had proponents and vocal opponents who absolutely disagree with the ethics, actions and outlook of the president.
Our current time is no different. And Paul’s counsel is no less relevant than when the people were under Nero. We live in a country where we’ve democratically elected a president that some don’t like. A lot. Some think is criminal, if not morally corrupt. Again, none of this is new. We are not the first people in the arc of history who’ve been led by a civil leader whose actions are called into question by some.
I don’t think Paul is saying we all need to buy MAGA hats. But I do believe we are called, as Christians to respect and honor the position. Paul is effectively making the “Love your Neighbor” commandment relevant even in politics. In the system, respect the position, be a part of the electorate, vote, voice your concerns, honor the position. On a personal level, civil leaders are beloved children of God. Do unto them. Serve Christ in others. We should not be maligning the person, unless we think that Jesus meant, “love your neighbor except if you don’t like them”. Paul’s explanation is the same thing on a civil system level. Respect the position. Be a part, and pay your taxes. Like Jesus, Paul doesn’t give us room to decide whether we’re going to do that. Be subject to governance and respect the positions, except if you don’t agree. Nope.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting we need to love a political leader with whom we disagree, nor respect their actions. Nor vote for them. Nor buy a hat. But I do think Paul remind us that Love your Neighbor applies to systems and leaders. We need to respect the position. And even if we dislike it, as Christians we should never besmirch another Christian. Love your neighbor. Serve Christ in your neighbor.
This morning, I’m thinking about respecting civil positions, and loving my neighbor, even when I don’t agree. I’m thinking about how much harder that is when the systems are on the news, espousing positions I don’t like. Even when the people appear to stand for things I don’t. Especially when the distance between my standards and beliefs appear increasingly far from the people and leaders. But despite that distance, I’m called to love my neighbor. I’m called to be a good citizen of the rulers. I’m called to honor and respect the positions. It’s really hard to do, but when we fall prey to the alternative, things get ugly, very quickly. Love God. Love thy Neighbor. Even your belligerent and loud mouthed neighbors.
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