Authorities and Neighbors

It’s safe to say that most of us, Christians and non-Christians alike, don’t expect to open our browsers and see “Romans 13” on the list of trending news.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ appeal to this oft-misunderstood passage has touched off a firestorm of controversy.  

 Romans 13 is one of those uncomfortable passages that can cause progressive Christians to cringe.  Just a chapter before, in Romans 12:2, the apostle Paul tells the church at Rome not to be conformed to this world.  He tells his readers instead to be transformed—so that his original readers, and those of us who come after, “may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  We, ourselves, of our own volition.  With this much we are comfortable. 

 Now, however, Paul seems to be saying just the opposite: “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” (Rom. 13:1).  What do we do with that?

            We easily forget that Paul was a real guy writing to real people.  Paul’s words have authority as Scripture, but his letters also illuminate the lived experiences of first century Christians living in an often-hostile world.  Rulers would come and rulers would go, but Paul’s audience could presume they would remain subjects.  Further, many scholars note that Paul’s special focus on taxes served to protect a Jewish and Jewish Christian population already at risk; Jews paid a distinctive temple tax in lieu of other levies, and many Gentiles already viewed this as tax evasion.[1]  Our opinions may differ regarding the importance of keeping one’s head down, but starting from the historical context helps us begin to envision what Paul and his audience were dealing with.

            Today, however, American Christians are more likely to be the authorities than the oppressed.  Recognizing this truth sheds important new light on Romans 13.  Authority should be “God’s servant for your good” (verse 4).  Does this reflect our conduct as Christians in privileged positions?  What happens when we place ourselves in the position of “God’s servant”?

            Paul’s train of thought in Romans 13:1-10 ends with three remarkable statements.  First, we are told that the one who loves another has fulfilled the law (verse 8).  Then, we are reminded that the Ten Commandments are summed up by the phrase “Love your neighbor as yourself” (verse 9).  Finally, Paul concludes that “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law” (verse 10).

Rulers and ruled, authorities and subjects—love for our neighbor is the standard against which all of us are measured.  Our love for our neighbor is what fulfills the law, and not our taxes or our political allegiance. 

So, then, what does love for our neighbor look like in action?  Jesus provided a pretty clear answer to that question.  As the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 reveals, neighborly love shows mercy.  “Go and do likewise,” Jesus concludes (Luke 10:37).  When our policies fail to fulfill God’s law, our authority has lost its legitimacy.

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[1] See, for example, A. Katherine Grieb, The Story of Romans (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), 124-5.