July 10

Submission to Authority

                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.  Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.  For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, busy with this very thing.  Pay to all what is due 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.

Romans 13:1-7

             

            Everything within me chafes at this passage, in large part because I have heard it used to manipulate believers and promote injustice.  Being a Gen-Xer, I resist authority.  Being an Alaskan, I resist authority.  Being an American, I look at the ways that our political parties leverage suffering and pain into political gains and losses and I resist authority. 

            I think about all of the examples in scripture of people who fought against authorities.  Moses killed a man, ran away from punishment and then returned to defy Pharaoh.  Every Judge was leading a rebellion.  David was in open war against King Saul.  Daniel defied royal decrees multiple times.  Jesus healed on the sabbath when that was forbidden.  Peter and John actually said to the lawmakers that they should listen to the call of God rather than the laws of men.  Paul, the author of Romans, defied his local authorities by appealing to higher authorities.  History is filled with men and women who defied the law, the state or even the church in order to fight injustices and bring God’s kingdom to earth.

            And yet here is Paul, writing to encourage us to be subject to the local governments, filled with corruption and injustice as they are.  He is writing in a time that was less concerned about human rights than today.  He is writing to a people who have no voice and no chance at power.  He is writing from prison to a church that would be persecuted for their beliefs…and he does not advise them to rebel.  He does not advise them to protest.  He tells them to submit and be subject to the authorities.

            Before this becomes a meditation on how we are to support whatever political party is in power, or how other biblical passages encourage us to be instruments of change…let me take a different approach.  Our political power structure is not a monarchy, passed on through the generations of royalty.  It is not a military dictatorship where whoever controls the guns, controls the laws.  It is a system based on the voice and will of the people.  Representation is elected at every level.  Laws are passed and policies are changed based on the voices that our leaders hear.  When we choose not to participate, the only voices that are out there are from those with money and power.  When those who are focused on justice and holiness remain silent, only the unjust remain to be heard.

            Maybe being subject to authorities in our modern world does include respect and prayer for our leaders, even if they are from opposing philosophies.  But it also includes participation and involvement in the policy-making process.  Is there something going on in our country that shouts “Injustice,” to you?  Don’t just like and share.  Don’t just send thoughts and prayers.  Don’t just complain to the people who have the same beliefs as you and mock those who are different.

            Learn how advocacy works.  Add your voice to issues that mean a lot to you.  Would Medicaid getting cut make life significantly harder?  Let your representation know.  Would legalized marijuana make your child’s life significantly better?  Let your representation know.  Does the eradication of Down’s Syndrome through abortion that some countries have adopted make you sick to your stomach?  Figure out why.  Figure out how to articulate your objections so that you can have constructive conversations with people who disagree.

            Our voices can be powerful tools of justice if we learn how to use them.  Our children’s stories can be powerful testimonies that make our nation the best version of itself.  But in order for those things to be true, we have to actually engage in the process instead of washing our hands of the entire system.  

A moment to reflect:

If someone were to ask you why social services for the disabled are important, what would you say?  What would your key points be?