The Proclaimer

God And Civil Law

The most comprehensive treatment in the New Testament of the role that civil government is to play in society and the life of the Christian is found in the first seven verses of Romans chapter thirteen.  I would encourage you to get your Bible and read these seven verses, then read the following observations that outline fundamental truths taught in this text.

1.         God, the Sovereign of the universe, has ordained (appointed) civil government to regulate and administer civil affairs.  It is God who is the “ruler over the nations” (see Psa. 22:28; 1 Chron. 29:11), and as such He rules through civil government.  Since there is “no power (authority) except from God” (v. 1), when civil government ceases to expedite God’s will and acts in rebellion to God, such government ceases to have authority in that rebellion. 

2.         Civil authorities are to enact and administer laws that are for the ultimate well being of the human family.  The grand moral principles revealed in Scripture should be the general guidelines for civil law. Rulers are responsible to implement laws that re-enforce conduct that is “good” (moral, healthy, beneficial) to the citizenry. God expects civil law to protect the innocent and punish the wicked and guilty.

3.         Civil authorities that enforce the law become “servants” or “ministers” of God.  Even though certain civil authorities may themselves be intrinsically evil, God may use them to implement his plan of civil government.  For instance, when Paul wrote his letter to the saints at Rome, the emperor Nero ruled the empire.  Although he was a particularly vile and wicked man, Christians were to submit to his administration in all matters that did not violate the will of God.

4.         Civil authorities may have to employ deadly force (the “sword” – v. 4) in order to maintain tranquility in society. 

5.         Christians are obligated to be good citizens, which not only includes obeying righteous laws, but pay taxes necessary to support the system from which they derive governmental benefits.  We must understand that paying justly owed taxes does not imply that we endorse every use of tax money that is made by the government.  Paul instructs the saints at Rome to pay their taxes (v. 6) even though idolatry was funded from pagan Rome’s treasury. 

6.         Civil government may not, with impunity, provide sanction for immoral conduct.  Just because a particular act is “legalized” by the government doesn’t make it right in God’s sight.  The legalization of abortion in 1973 (Roe v. Wade) did not negate the sacredness of human life (see Gen. 9:6), nor do capricious divorce laws change the fact that fornication is the only just cause for divorce and remarriage (Matt. 5:32; 19:9).  Not only so, no civil sanction of immoral relationships, whether heterosexual or homosexual, will legitimize these licentious unions and make them right in the sight of God.

7.         No Christian can be required to obey a law that violates God’s law, for civil law is always in subjection to divine law.  “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

Any government that abuses its divine appointment to deter evil and re-enforce good will eventually be called into account for its abuse of power.  But so will any person unwilling to subject themselves to those governing authorities ordained of God

                                                                                                       -- Clark Dugger

The Proclaimer