Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: Mark 12:13-17

Theme: The Believer owes his or her highest allegiance to Jesus Christ, but we must also give forebearence to the state in temporal areas of life.

The Bible teaches us that God has established every government in the world that has ever or now exists.

And by implication, it means that God has de-established every government that has fallen.

“Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.

15 By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; 16 by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.”

(Proverbs 8:14–16, NIV84)

“He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.

He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”

(Daniel 2:21, NIV84)

“Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals, 14 even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD.

15 “Or if I send wild beasts through that country and they leave it childless and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it because of the beasts, 16 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters.

They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate.

17 “Or if I bring a sword against that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass throughout the land,’ and I kill its men and their animals, 18 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters.

They alone would be saved.”

(Ezekiel 14:13–18, NIV84)

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.

The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

(Romans 13:1–2, NIV84)

Passages like these, and our text in Mark’s Gospel have huge implications for us.

How do we relate to the civil authorities whether we live in Boston or Bagdad, Northern Ireland or North Korea.

How shall believers relate to the civil authorities?

The issue is immense and the implications are breathtaking.

There are implications here for war and peace.

There are implications for presidents and prime ministers; dictators and despots

There are implications for laws and law enforcement.

There are implications for political activism and civil disobedience.

There are implications for elections and lobbying.

There are implications for voting and paying taxes.

There are implications for speed limits, seat belt and child car seat laws.

This is not a small text.

The question is: How is the Christian supposed to respond to governmental authority, and especially toward governmental authority when it is seemingly at odds with our faith?

What part of our life belongs to Caesar and what part of our life belongs to God? Let me share with you three observations: Our Debt, Our Dilemma, and The Demand

I. THE DEBT: CHRISTIANS ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF CIVIL BUREAUCRACY

1. most of us have — more than likely — complained about our taxes or our government

a. but at the same time taxes and government bureaucracy provide us many, many benefits

1) fire and police protection

2) roads and water and sewers

3) courts and judges where — more times than not — justice is fairly dispensed

4) our military protects us and provides security from foreign enemies

2. and though we may sometimes complain about it, the multi-tiered bureaucracy of local, state and national government — which we call Federalism — provide our society with order and stability

a. society needs structure or it will eventually digress into a state of anarchy where we become like Israel in the time of the Judges where everyone did as he saw fit

b to that end God established civil government as a divinely ordained institution

3. in His simple statement “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s,” Jesus lays down the believer’s basic relationship to the state

a. from Jesus’ statement and the bible’s instructions, we arrive at two fundamental principles

A. FIRST, CIVIL AUTHORITY IS AN EXTENSION OF GOD’S AUTHORITY

1. this does not mean that the State is divine (even when they attempt to act that way), but that as an institution of political authority it is ordained of God and we are to submit to it

“Everyone must submit himself 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, NIV)

a. when you think about it, that statement has huge ramifications for us

ILLUS.

It means that AOC is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Donald Trump is President of the United States because they’ve been established in hose positions by God.

So God is 1) in control and has a plan, or 2) has one really weird since of humor.

Of course there is a third possibility ... they both represent God’s judgment upon a nation because of national sin.

(But that doesn’t play well in the press and so we usually keep that opinion to ourselves).

2. it is by God’s will that governing authorities are appointed to maintain order, encourage well-doing, and punish wrong-doing

“For he is God's servant to do you good.

But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.

He is God's servant, an agent of to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”

(Romans 13:4, NIV)

a. government is meant to be good and beneficial

1) it is good for society that everyone does not do what is right in their own eyes

2) anarchy is worse then even bad government

B. SECOND, OBEDIENCE TO THE STATE CARRIES WITH IT RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP

1. one of those responsibilities is obeying the laws of the land

a. Paul maintains that if we are disobedient to civil authority it is as though we are being disobedient to God Himself

“Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

(Romans 13:2, NIV84)

ILLUS.

Think about that the next time you decide to do 70mph in a 55-mile-per-hour zone!

b. there are times when laws seem terribly intrusive ... what right does the government have to tell me I must wear a seat belt, I must observe the speed limit, I must stop at stop signs

ILLUS.

Did you know that America’s first fatal traffic accident between to automobiles (“horseless carriages”) occurred in Kansas City?

Two drivers came to an intersection, both assuming the other would yield the right of way.

Neither did and one of the drivers died.

From that incident came some of the nation’s first traffic laws.

2. secondly, we ought to be involved in the political process

ILLUS.

James Garfield, our 20th President spoke to this issue.

Listen to one of my favorite political quotes.

He delivered it on July 4th while a congressman on the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876: “Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress.

If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption.

If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature.

... If the next centennial does not find us a great nation ... it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.”

3. another of those responsibilities is paying taxes for the services provided by the State

“This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.

7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

(Romans 13:6–7, NIV84)

4. the last responsibility of the Christian citizen is to keep all those in authority in our prayers

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,” (1 Timothy 2:1–3, NIV84)

a. there is no qualification as to whether-or-not they’re good authorities or bad authorities ... we are to pray for them

II.

THE DILEMMA: CHRISTIANS ARE CITIZENS OF A MORE SIGNIFICANT KINGDOM

1. the early Christians emphasized that their true citizenship was not on earth but in heaven

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,” (Ephesians 2:19, NIV84)

“But our citizenship is in heaven.

And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,” (Philippians 3:20, NIV84)

a. this is not our future state, but it is a present condition

b. in Hebrews, the apostle Paul tells us that Abraham was a pilgrim of faith who understood that his citizenship in this world was only temporary