Society and State: Servants for Your Good Romans 12:17–21; Romans 13:1–10 Big Idea: God establishes governing authority for the good of people, but Christians give their ultimate allegiance to Christ and seek the good of their neighbours. establishes authority for our good God instituted the state, not particular rulers, to promote the well-being of all people. Authority is a stewardship, not a possession. Those who govern are called to use authority for the good of the people they serve. Romans 13 describes rulers as God's servants for your good. This means Christians can: cooperate with government defend the weak care for the poor promote justice, righteousness and truth pay taxes obey laws that do not conflict with God's Word pray for those in authority. Key thought: God establishes the responsibility of authority; rulers must steward that authority for the good of people. Christians are called to —but not blindly. Romans 13 calls Christians to be subject to governing authorities, but Scripture does not teach that human government has unlimited authority. Examples of faithful resistance include: The Hebrew midwives refusing Pharaoh's command to kill the Hebrew boys. Peter and the apostles declaring, “We must obey God rather than human beings.” Jesus' command: “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” The question isn't simply: “Do I agree with this law?” A more serious question is: “Does this actually conflict with the Word of God—and who gets to decide that?” Therefore, Christians should be slow to claim that a law gives them permission to disobey. Key thought: Christian submission is neither blind obedience nor impulsive rebellion. Fulfils the Law The MB Confession says: “The primary allegiance of all Christians is to Christ's kingdom, not the state or society.” The distinction between responsibility and allegiance is important. We can be responsible citizens. We can vote, pay taxes, serve our communities and participate in public life. But allegiance belongs to Christ. Christians must resist the temptation to give the state the devotion that belongs to God. Key thought: We can be deeply committed to the good of our country without making our country our god. Don't make the do the work of the church. The church is not called to create a Christian nation. The government is not responsible for making Canada Christian. Christians can participate in government and seek justice through political involvement, but the mission of the church cannot be outsourced to the state. The church has its own calling: proclaim Christ make disciples embody reconciliation care for neighbours seek the well-being of all people be faithful witnesses in the world. Key thought: We don't need to take over the government in order for the church to be faithful. The is love of neighbour Romans 13 doesn't ultimately end with politics. It ends with love. “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Paul's concern isn't simply whether Christians understand authority correctly. It's whether we are actually doing good to our neighbours. This brings us back to Romans 12: Don't repay evil for evil. Live at peace with everyone as far as it depends on you. Don't seek revenge. Feed your enemy when they are hungry. Give them something to drink when they are thirsty. Don't be overcome by evil; overcome evil with good. So perhaps the question isn't only: “Are our leaders doing their job?” It is also: “Am I doing mine?” Takeaway: As followers of Jesus: We respect authority without worshipping it. We participate in society without making politics our identity. We resist injustice without becoming people who repay evil with evil. We seek the good of our neighbours because our allegiance belongs to Christ. 10 Discussion Questions to wrestle with: What stood out to you most from the sermon, and why? Romans 13 says that governing authority is established by God and that rulers are to be “God's servants for your good.” What difference does it make to think of political authority as a stewardship rather than a personal possession? What do you think is the difference between respecting/submitting to authority and blindly obeying authority? 4.The sermon distinguished between responsibility and allegiance. What does it mean for a Christian to be a responsible Canadian while having their ultimate allegiance to Christ? Going Deeper Why do you think Christians can be tempted to give the state or a political movement the kind of devotion that belongs only to God? The sermon suggested that Christians should be slow to decide that a law conflicts with God's Word. Why might that kind of humility be important? What dangers exist when Christians make those decisions too quickly? How should Christians respond when they strongly disagree with a political leader or government? What would it look like to disagree without being overcome by evil? The sermon argued that the church should not try to make the government do the work God has given the church. What is the church's unique role in society? What happens when we confuse the church's mission with a political agenda? Personal Application Romans 13:8–10 brings the discussion of government back to loving our neighbours. Who are some of the neighbours God has placed around you whom you may find difficult to love, understand or respect? “Pretty easy to complain about authorities not doing their job, but have I done mine?” Where might God be calling you to take greater responsibility for the good of your community, rather than simply criticizing those in authority? Closing Question If our ultimate allegiance is to Christ, what is one way that should change how you participate in society this week?