Authority Appointed by God
Appointed by God"
by EJM_Missouri
The Lord Reigns
First of all, I can say with absolute certainty that no matter who is in a position of authority, whether they received that authority by election or appointment or force of arms every word of Romans 13:1-8 stands true. I will only quote the first two verses of Romans 13 here, but I strongly advise you to go ahead and read the next six verses too.
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
There is enough in this one statement to fill a book, but right now I want to focus on just one phrase. “There is no authority except from God.” You might look at the world and at some of the really awful people who are in positions of power and authority and wonder how that can possibly be true. Yet nowhere in Scripture is there ever an exception given to this rule. And this is a fundamental principle that is repeated in one way or another all through the Bible. And that means that whoever is in a position of power or authority, even if it is the “basest of men” (Daniel 4:17) you can be sure of one thing - they are there by God’s election -- that person was put into office by God’s appointment.
Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
As Jeremiah says, God gives power to whomever it seems proper for Him to give it to.
Jeremiah 27: 5 'I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me.
Now, nowhere in this is there a promise that God will give power to the one “you” think proper for it to be given to. Nor is there a promise that you will agree with or even like God’s choices. And there is not so much as a hint given in Scripture that God is in any way obligated to consult you on the matter. But what you will find, not only in these texts, but all through the Bible, are emphatic statements that whoever is in a position of authority, that person is in that position by God’s own appointment. As Romans 13:1 says, “the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
In Proverbs 8:15 we read: “By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.”
And so, if all “authorities that exist are appointed by God,” and “there is no authority except from God,” how then should Christians conduct themselves toward that authority?
One thing is for certain, and the Bible is very clear on this -- God has no sympathy for gripers and complainers. Also, there is no place in Christianity for speaking evil of those God has placed in power. Search the New Testament through and through, and you will not find a single political rant in the whole book. Rome was about as corrupt and as oppressive as governments come, and not at all Christian-friendly, but wherever you find Christians coming in contact with the powers that be, they always approach them and speak to them with the utmost respect. So far as it was in their power to do so, Christians sought to live in peace and harmony with whatever government God saw fit to place them under. And in this they were following the example of the great men of God of earlier ages.
Consider Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon. Consider how they conducted themselves toward those in positions of authority. By worldly standards, did they have cause for complaint, to rant and rail against the powers that be? Yes. But you won’t find them wallowing in that mud pit. By the grace of God they rose above the petty and political.
The people of Judah who were carried away to Babylon felt that they had cause for complaint, cause to rant and rail against Babylon and its king. Yet Jeremiah wrote to them to make themselves at peace with their new masters.
Jeremiah 29:4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters-that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
Consider Saul and David. Saul was an evil king, and David anointed by the prophet Samuel to take his place on the throne of Israel. Yet even after God had Samuel anoint David to sit on the throne of Israel, God kept Saul on that throne for many long years. And in all those years David’s conducted toward Saul was most respectful. By worldly standards, did David have cause for complaint, to rant and rail against Saul? Yes. But you won’t find him wallowing in that mud pit. By the grace of God he rose above the petty and political. David understood that it was God who placed Saul on the throne. And when Saul was at last killed in battle, David wrote a most heart felt Psalm as a tribute to him. (2 Samuel 1;17-27).
But now days casting disparaging remarks against those God has placed in office has become the national pastime. It has become a game to dig up ever fault, every slip, to tear people down and bring them to ruin if at all possible. And sadly even Christians have joined in the game. But the Apostle Paul, quoting Exodus 22:28, says “You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.” (Acts 23:5).
And this brings up another point. If it is true of the political world that no authority exists except by God’s appointment, how much more true is that of those appointed to positions of authority in His church of which Jesus Himself is its head, foundation and cornerstone. Paul uttered the above statement when he was rebuked for speaking against the high priest on one occasion as he stood on trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin. The high priest (Ananias) had commanded those standing by Paul to strike him. Paul then verbally lashed out at him saying, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!” At which point the question was put to Paul, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” And that is when Paul said, “I did not know brethren that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.” Think about that. The apostle Paul apologizing for speaking evil of the high priest. Now, by all worldly standards did the apostle Paul have reason to speak harshly of the high priest? Yes. But Paul recognized a standard much higher than that of the worlds.
Peter writes of those who are all too willing “to speak evil of dignitaries,” saying that they are little better than "brute beasts," and will as a consequence receive their just condemnation.
2 Peter 2:10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, …12 But these, like natural brute beasts … speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, …
And Jude echoed the near exact words of Peter when he wrote:
Jude 1:8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. … 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.
For better or worse, for good or evil, our words count. They have an effect on those around us. And the mudslinging political rhetoric so commonplace today are not the kind of words Christians have been bidden to speak. It should not be regarded as a light thing to speak evil of others or to make ourselves judges of their motives or actions. “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.” (James 4:11) For there is only one Judge -- and you are not Him.
In Ecclesiastes we read that we are not to curse the king, not so much as even in our thoughts.
Ecclesiastes 10:20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
And yet, what is the reality?
Jeremiah 20:10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it.
Now you would expect this kind of conduct from the world. But with such plain statements from Scripture, how is it that Christians often lead the way in bringing railing accusations against those put in positions of leadership? Is it that we have forgotten that this is not our home, that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20)? Have we forgotten that we are “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13)? Have we forgotten that we have a higher and holier calling than mere earthly politics?
How about if Christians all decided to do something really radical? Something like what Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1 for example.
1 Timothy 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
Wow!!! We can only imagine. Verse 3 says that “this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” And isn’t that how as Christians we should wish to live and conduct ourselves; in a manner that is “good and acceptable” to “God our Savior”? On the other hand, coming back to Romans 13:2 we find this warning; “whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” Ask yourself this question, and give an honest answer. Which side of this equation do you stand on?
Scripture tells us to “speak evil of on one” and to be “subject to rulers and authorities.” (Titus 3:1,2). Many Christians fail on both parts.
Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
Now notice that Titus 3:1, quoted above, is a single sentence. Therefore it follows that the ones that we are not to speak evil of are the rulers and authorities to which we are to submit ourselves. Peter expands on this, writing:
1 Peter 2:13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-- 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
So far as it is possible to do so without violating the commandments of God, without violating conscience, we are to comply with the requirements of whatever government God has seen fit to put over us. Even if that power, that government, is corrupt and abusive of its powers as Rome was in the apostles day. Why? Because as Peter said, “That by well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”
But there is a boundary beyond which the Christian will not pass. Though ever loyal, though ever polite, courteous, and respectful to authority; and in spite of any threat or enticement to encourage compliance, the true Christian will steadfastly refuse to take a single step beyond the boundaries set by God in His Word. But even this does not give the Christian license to be in any way disrespectful or discourteous in their conduct toward those in authority.
by EJM_Missouri
The Lord Reigns
First of all, I can say with absolute certainty that no matter who is in a position of authority, whether they received that authority by election or appointment or force of arms every word of Romans 13:1-8 stands true. I will only quote the first two verses of Romans 13 here, but I strongly advise you to go ahead and read the next six verses too.
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
There is enough in this one statement to fill a book, but right now I want to focus on just one phrase. “There is no authority except from God.” You might look at the world and at some of the really awful people who are in positions of power and authority and wonder how that can possibly be true. Yet nowhere in Scripture is there ever an exception given to this rule. And this is a fundamental principle that is repeated in one way or another all through the Bible. And that means that whoever is in a position of power or authority, even if it is the “basest of men” (Daniel 4:17) you can be sure of one thing - they are there by God’s election -- that person was put into office by God’s appointment.
Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
As Jeremiah says, God gives power to whomever it seems proper for Him to give it to.
Jeremiah 27: 5 'I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me.
Now, nowhere in this is there a promise that God will give power to the one “you” think proper for it to be given to. Nor is there a promise that you will agree with or even like God’s choices. And there is not so much as a hint given in Scripture that God is in any way obligated to consult you on the matter. But what you will find, not only in these texts, but all through the Bible, are emphatic statements that whoever is in a position of authority, that person is in that position by God’s own appointment. As Romans 13:1 says, “the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
In Proverbs 8:15 we read: “By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.”
And so, if all “authorities that exist are appointed by God,” and “there is no authority except from God,” how then should Christians conduct themselves toward that authority?
One thing is for certain, and the Bible is very clear on this -- God has no sympathy for gripers and complainers. Also, there is no place in Christianity for speaking evil of those God has placed in power. Search the New Testament through and through, and you will not find a single political rant in the whole book. Rome was about as corrupt and as oppressive as governments come, and not at all Christian-friendly, but wherever you find Christians coming in contact with the powers that be, they always approach them and speak to them with the utmost respect. So far as it was in their power to do so, Christians sought to live in peace and harmony with whatever government God saw fit to place them under. And in this they were following the example of the great men of God of earlier ages.
Consider Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon. Consider how they conducted themselves toward those in positions of authority. By worldly standards, did they have cause for complaint, to rant and rail against the powers that be? Yes. But you won’t find them wallowing in that mud pit. By the grace of God they rose above the petty and political.
The people of Judah who were carried away to Babylon felt that they had cause for complaint, cause to rant and rail against Babylon and its king. Yet Jeremiah wrote to them to make themselves at peace with their new masters.
Jeremiah 29:4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters-that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
Consider Saul and David. Saul was an evil king, and David anointed by the prophet Samuel to take his place on the throne of Israel. Yet even after God had Samuel anoint David to sit on the throne of Israel, God kept Saul on that throne for many long years. And in all those years David’s conducted toward Saul was most respectful. By worldly standards, did David have cause for complaint, to rant and rail against Saul? Yes. But you won’t find him wallowing in that mud pit. By the grace of God he rose above the petty and political. David understood that it was God who placed Saul on the throne. And when Saul was at last killed in battle, David wrote a most heart felt Psalm as a tribute to him. (2 Samuel 1;17-27).
But now days casting disparaging remarks against those God has placed in office has become the national pastime. It has become a game to dig up ever fault, every slip, to tear people down and bring them to ruin if at all possible. And sadly even Christians have joined in the game. But the Apostle Paul, quoting Exodus 22:28, says “You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.” (Acts 23:5).
And this brings up another point. If it is true of the political world that no authority exists except by God’s appointment, how much more true is that of those appointed to positions of authority in His church of which Jesus Himself is its head, foundation and cornerstone. Paul uttered the above statement when he was rebuked for speaking against the high priest on one occasion as he stood on trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin. The high priest (Ananias) had commanded those standing by Paul to strike him. Paul then verbally lashed out at him saying, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!” At which point the question was put to Paul, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” And that is when Paul said, “I did not know brethren that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.” Think about that. The apostle Paul apologizing for speaking evil of the high priest. Now, by all worldly standards did the apostle Paul have reason to speak harshly of the high priest? Yes. But Paul recognized a standard much higher than that of the worlds.
Peter writes of those who are all too willing “to speak evil of dignitaries,” saying that they are little better than "brute beasts," and will as a consequence receive their just condemnation.
2 Peter 2:10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, …12 But these, like natural brute beasts … speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, …
And Jude echoed the near exact words of Peter when he wrote:
Jude 1:8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. … 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.
For better or worse, for good or evil, our words count. They have an effect on those around us. And the mudslinging political rhetoric so commonplace today are not the kind of words Christians have been bidden to speak. It should not be regarded as a light thing to speak evil of others or to make ourselves judges of their motives or actions. “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.” (James 4:11) For there is only one Judge -- and you are not Him.
In Ecclesiastes we read that we are not to curse the king, not so much as even in our thoughts.
Ecclesiastes 10:20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
And yet, what is the reality?
Jeremiah 20:10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it.
Now you would expect this kind of conduct from the world. But with such plain statements from Scripture, how is it that Christians often lead the way in bringing railing accusations against those put in positions of leadership? Is it that we have forgotten that this is not our home, that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20)? Have we forgotten that we are “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13)? Have we forgotten that we have a higher and holier calling than mere earthly politics?
How about if Christians all decided to do something really radical? Something like what Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1 for example.
1 Timothy 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
Wow!!! We can only imagine. Verse 3 says that “this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” And isn’t that how as Christians we should wish to live and conduct ourselves; in a manner that is “good and acceptable” to “God our Savior”? On the other hand, coming back to Romans 13:2 we find this warning; “whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” Ask yourself this question, and give an honest answer. Which side of this equation do you stand on?
Scripture tells us to “speak evil of on one” and to be “subject to rulers and authorities.” (Titus 3:1,2). Many Christians fail on both parts.
Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
Now notice that Titus 3:1, quoted above, is a single sentence. Therefore it follows that the ones that we are not to speak evil of are the rulers and authorities to which we are to submit ourselves. Peter expands on this, writing:
1 Peter 2:13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-- 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
So far as it is possible to do so without violating the commandments of God, without violating conscience, we are to comply with the requirements of whatever government God has seen fit to put over us. Even if that power, that government, is corrupt and abusive of its powers as Rome was in the apostles day. Why? Because as Peter said, “That by well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”
But there is a boundary beyond which the Christian will not pass. Though ever loyal, though ever polite, courteous, and respectful to authority; and in spite of any threat or enticement to encourage compliance, the true Christian will steadfastly refuse to take a single step beyond the boundaries set by God in His Word. But even this does not give the Christian license to be in any way disrespectful or discourteous in their conduct toward those in authority.
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