My seminary years span a lengthy period. I studied at Asbury Theological Seminary from 1973-1976. Not having graduated, I decided to continue my studies at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary from 1980-1991 [part-time, commuting].
The seminary experience is a very heady, theological and competitive environment. If various theological perspectives are present – as was true of PTS – then these debates can become quite passionate. However, engaging in these debates sharpens one’s thinking and forces students to think about the subjects they are studying.
The following passage would be fodder for a vigorous debate among theologians. [I have quoted The New American Standard Version which is held to be highly faithful to the original languages.]
ROMANS 13:1-7
Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.
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The crux of these verses is: God establishes and maintains all systems of authority and His people should therefore honor and obey these systems.
Let’s begin the debate:
But what if systems of government become corrupt and evil?
Good question! Fortunately, we have a first century case of this being true. From 54-68 A.D., the Roman Empire was led by Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. [You remember this from high school, right?] Some suggest that this ruler actually started the great fire in Rome in hopes of clearing land where he intended to build his planned ‘Golden House’. Tacitus claims Nero seized Christians as scapegoats for the fire and had them burned alive, seemingly motivated not by public justice, but personal cruelty. Nero was eventually declared a public enemy and condemned to death. He fled Rome, and on 9 June AD 68 committed suicide. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nero]
So, what happened to Christians during this oppressive time?
Many died on burning crosses along the roads that led to Rome. Many more became the subject of sport in the Colosseum fighting lions to the death!
Did God deal with this situation and deliver the New Testament Church?
Yes, He did!
During the reign of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great (306–337 AD), Christianity began to transition to the dominant religion of the Roman Empire.
Did this affect Christians? Yes. It actually gave them a posture of favor!
But what about the 238 years between Nero and Constantine?
The Church suffered continual and intense persecution.
How did the Church survive these intense times of opposition?
Christians continued to meet in homes, in catacombs, and in other secret places to avoid oppression. [For instance, this is when the ‘sign of the fish’ was used by believers to protect their secret gatherings. The fish symbol is based on a Greek acronym for the phrase Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior. In Greek, the phrase is Ίησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ. When we take the first letter from each word in that phrase, we have ΙΧΘΥΣ, which happens to be the Greek word for “fish”. [https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-fish-symbol.html]
This sign of a fish
often marked the way to secret Christian gatherings.
Didn’t these early Christians violate the Roman laws by continuing to meet in secret?
They did.
How did they justify this breaking of the law?
They believed that they were adhering to a greater law! Let’s also remember that many suffered – even to death – for their civil disobedience!
Are there modern day examples of this kind of situation?
Many!!!!!
Cite an example.
Christians in many countries – for example, China – often feel compelled to meet in secret places to avoid the punishment and persecution that would pursue them if they were exposed.
But are Christian people suffering as a result of these unjust governments?
Indeed they are!
To what extent? Pastors are imprisoned. Churches are burned. Christian’s homes are burned. Christians are subjected to rape, beatings, destruction of property and death!
So, to bring this to an end, in spite of the direct counsel that the Apostle Paul gives in his theological testament [Romans], there are times when believers who are faced with an unjust government may choose to break the law in order to maintain a higher commitment to their faith?
So it seems.
Is there a final word?
Yes! A very important one. If they are caught disobeying their government, they must submit to the governing authorities and willingly accept the punishment. If there are legitimate ways to dispute their situation, they may feel free to use those systems – although the likelihood of finding justice in a corrupted system is minimal.
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Oh Lord of the Church,
Be near to the millions who live in countries that exhibit oppression of those who follow You! Be remarkably present to them in their secret gatherings. Give them courage as they seek to maintain their faith in the midst of oppression! When/if they suffer, grant them grace to stand firm in their faith – even if it costs them their life!
Sovereign God, speak to the hearts of the leaders of these spiritually oppressive countries. You confronted the greatest enemy of the New Testament Church and turned him into the fruitful innovator that we know as the Apostle Paul! Do this again! Convert the oppressors! Convince the corrupt!
Give wisdom to those who are faced with corrupt governmental systems! Help them to exercise their rights fearlessly and accept the consequences gladly. Strengthen the Church Triumphant even in the face of corrupt systems and leaders!
For the Kingdom’s sake. Amen
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