Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

The relationship between the church and the state has always been a thorny one

Persecution and brutal treatment

Nero

Fire in AD64 that burned nearly three quarters of the city of Rome, with a rumor that Nero had started it, either for his own amusement or so that he could enlarge his palace

Nero, to stop this rumor from spreading, accused the Christians in Rome of setting the fire, since they were regarded as a small insignificant offshoot of Judaism

Fierce persecution broke out and Nero tortured and killed numerous Christians by setting them on fire, covering them with the hides of beasts so that dogs would maul them to death, nailing them to crosses, or using them as torches to light his evening bonfires.

Domitian - AD 81-96

Nero

Domitian was an emperor who declared himself “Dominus Deus” - Lord and God

Alliance and integration

Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome in AD380

Began an era of “Christendom”

The Church was under the control of the state

The church was willing to use coercive state power structures to bring about the church’s mission

Current politicizing

It’s hard to tell for some people where their faith in Jesus begins and their political allegiance ends

This is concerning because it seems apparent that there are many people who have confused the hope of the gospel and the kingdom of God with the political movement within our country either direction.

In essence, there are far too many Christians who are putting all of their hope in a human government instead of the kingdom of God and the mission of Jesus.

I love this country and want it to administer justice and righteousness, but I also recognize that ultimately, this nation is not the kingdom.

My hope and my trust is in something that is totally separate from the United States of America.

Question: How should Christians relate to the government under which they live?

Liberals democrats think Jesus was essentially a liberal

The kingdom of Jesus is not limited to any nation, nor is it defined by any national border

In , Paul deals with this question in a way that may fail to satisfy some of the questions that we want addressed, but it will cause us to change our categories of thinking and start asking different questions.

Conservative republicans think Jesus was a republican

I.

Setup

In , Paul had forbidden Christians from taking vengeance on their enemies, because he had called his readers to leave justice to God and love their enemies like God does, and in so doing show the kind of kindness and love that brings people to repentance.

s and love that brings people to repentance.

In essence, Paul had given a certain definition of the mission of God as well as the primary means that we accomplish it; the mission of God is to reconcile people to himself, and he does that through love and kindness, and so our mission is likewise to participate in reconciling people to God, and we do that by loving people, even and especially our enemies.

But this raises two very important questions:

How does God work out his justice?

To which Paul replies that God’s wrath is administered through civil government.

When Paul says that it is God’s ju

How should Christians relate to that government?

In short, Paul’s answer is to submit to it with honor and respect.

But Paul has a twist that will realign our questions and our concerns.

I. Christians owe honor and respect to governing authorities

Romans 13:1-

Christians must be subject to governing authorities

This is sticky - our minds are immediately flooded by myriad questions

What if we live under an unjust and tyrannical government?

What if the government instructs and commands us to disregard commands of God?

What if the government is illegitimate?

What if the state has failed in its duty?

Paul is not trying to cover every conceivable situation

It is clear from Paul’s life and from biblical teaching that we must obey God rather than man if ever there is a conflict

Peter responds to the order not to preach about Jesus to people: “We must obey God rather than men.”

He is speaking as the essence and ideal of government, and the responsibility of Christians who live under it

What does “be subject” mean”

Not the same thing as “obedience”

Submission will often mean obedience, but we must be careful to pay attention to what Paul says, as it does not always refer to “obedience”

- Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ

Be subject to every fellow worker and laborer

Submission means humbly accepting a posture of respect and honor

Authority all comes from God

Every ruler governs only because God has allowed them to

This implies two important truths

Their office and position is one of dignity and honor

Their calling is high and they are accountable to God for how they lead because their leadership is subordinate leadership

To resist the authorities in their God-given authority is to resist God

They exist to create order, not chaos

Authorities exist to enforce justice

They do not bear the sword in vain - they have great punitive capacities

They punish evil and reward good

They are servants of God

Therefore: if we desire to live in peace with the government, we ought to do what is right

Additional reason and check for submission: conscience

We live in subjection to government not only because we fear punishment, but because it is right

Interestingly, Paul bringing conscience into the discussion makes two important points

We live in subjection to government not only because we fear punishment, but because it is right

Our conscience establishes a boundary of our obedience to government

Conscience = conviction of right and wrong, which is a standard that we draw from God

Leon Morris:

Conscience at one and the same time obliges us to be obedient and sets a limit to that obedience.

Christians must give authorities their due

Taxes to carry out the work God has commissioned them for

Respect and honor as servants of God carrying out the task he has commissioned them for

APPLICATION

Pay your taxes honestly and fairly

Honor and respect government regardless of your political affiliation

This is not because a person or government is in themselves worthy of respect, but rather because their position and role has the dignity of being ordained by God himself

Pray for leaders

Clement of Alexandria toward the end of the first century wrote a letter to the church in Corinth

This was after several incredibly brutal persecutions of the church by Roman authorities - Nero and Clement

Nero had burned down a large section of the city of Rome and blamed it on Christians, resulting in widespread persecution

Nero

Thou, Lord and Master, hast given them the power of sovereignty through Thine excellent and unspeakable might, that we knowing the glory and honour which Thou hast given them may submit ourselves unto them, in nothing resisting Thy will.

Grant unto them therefore, O Lord, health, peace, concord, stability, that they may administer the government which Thou hast given them without failure.

2For Thou, O heavenly Master, King of the ages, givest to the sons of men glory and honour and power over all things that are upon the earth.

Do Thou, Lord, direct their counsel according to that which is good and well-pleasing in Thy sight, that, administering in peace and gentleness with godliness the power which Thou hast given them, they may obtain Thy favour.

Pray for them on two levels

Personal - blessing, health, stability, protection

Blessing, health, peace, stability

Wisdom, fairness and

Governmental - wisdom, justice, fairness in their leadership

Critique ideas and opinions instead of people

Most disagreement in our culture comes down to character attacks

It is not a disrespect to disagree with ideas, but it is disrespectful to attack a person