Romans 13:3 –
For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
This chapter is an interesting one since it touches on many subjects that are tough these days. Verse 6 says “pay your taxes”, something we all should do and most hate to do. How many of us “respect and honor” the IRS or the current congress? Verse 8 says “owe nothing to anyone”, does that include our homes, cars, tv’s or cell phones? Then verse 13 says “don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness”! Paul is asking a lot in this chapter paying taxes, not going into debt, not partying and to top it off loving everyone!
We go back to the authorities and this verse. How many times have you been driving along and a police officer pulls in behind you. Are you calm and relaxed or does panic set in? Did you do something to break the law and you are sure he is going to pull you over? Do you have something in the car that you shouldn’t? Were you coming back from a night of “wild parties?” If you “do what is right” there is nothing to worry about and you can be at peace.
Think about verse 6 and how it works with this one, if you pay your taxes than the “tax collectors” will have no reason to harass you. I must say today we all live in fear of the “IRS audit” not because we are doing wrong, but because the tax code is so complex that no one can reasonably comply with it 100%. Now look at 8 again and if you kept out of debt and paid your current bills, there would be no fear of the sheriff seizing your home or car. We are slaves to the lender (Proverbs 22:7) and therefore authorities have power enforcing this lien. Verse 13 goes to several areas of respect for authority like noise late into the night, public drunkenness, drunk driving and just plain stupidity! All are showing no respect to authority.
Should we question authority? When they are wrong by all means yes! But how do you define wrong and how far do you question authority? A perfect example is the Occupy Wall Street movement, one which right now is considered the lunatic fringe, with increasing violence, crime, littering and health concerns. Also, it doesn’t help that all groups that are upset about anything, or just looking to party or fight are glomming on to this movement.
What was the initial protest? The protest message is against the rampant greed and fraud on Wall Street, which can be highlighted in the current banking problems. Here is a place where the “authorities” have been asleep at the wheel and the people felt the need to rise up. Is it right how they are doing it? No, but what the core protest is about in necessary to bring to light. So this becomes a difficult as a Christian, do we support the protests because of the rampant corruption and fraud from greed or reject them because of the mixed messages and total lack of respect for the law? Do these protest conflict with this verse?