13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Who are those in authority over you? Governors, princes, presidents, congressional bodies, and courts are all seats of authority. St Paul it would appear is talking in particular about these people, or groups of people. But are the authorities placed over us limited to such as these only.
I remember in confirmation class the fourth commandment applied to all those who were set in authority over me. This included my parents (or guardians), police officers, principal, teacher, day care worker, coach, and even pastor. Now I do not want to confuse the two realms of God's reign in the world.
The King should be given his proper authority as St Paul indicates to judge the wicked and provide horrifying punishments if necessary. But likewise, parents should punish and judge their children in order to teach them manors and the difference between right and wrong.
It is under this same idea of authority which led Saul to go to Damascus and persecute the Way. It is this same authority the Church and officials of the church are called to study and teach proper doctrine. This is why Pastors need to meet together and make sure each are preaching and teaching proper doctrine.
This does not mean Pastors or Parents should be locking away or torturing those under their authority, but they should lovingly instruct and discipline those under their authority. All of us are under a civil authority who is there to make sure that we act properly. All of us are also under a church authority, however you maybe affiliated, who is there to help us grow in the truth concerning Jesus Christ.
But all these authorities are given to us by God. It is God who has placed these people into their positions of authority. It is also God who is our ultimate authority. God is our ultimate judge and he will separate the righteous from the unrighteous.
I remember in confirmation class the fourth commandment applied to all those who were set in authority over me. This included my parents (or guardians), police officers, principal, teacher, day care worker, coach, and even pastor. Now I do not want to confuse the two realms of God's reign in the world.
The King should be given his proper authority as St Paul indicates to judge the wicked and provide horrifying punishments if necessary. But likewise, parents should punish and judge their children in order to teach them manors and the difference between right and wrong.
It is under this same idea of authority which led Saul to go to Damascus and persecute the Way. It is this same authority the Church and officials of the church are called to study and teach proper doctrine. This is why Pastors need to meet together and make sure each are preaching and teaching proper doctrine.
This does not mean Pastors or Parents should be locking away or torturing those under their authority, but they should lovingly instruct and discipline those under their authority. All of us are under a civil authority who is there to make sure that we act properly. All of us are also under a church authority, however you maybe affiliated, who is there to help us grow in the truth concerning Jesus Christ.
But all these authorities are given to us by God. It is God who has placed these people into their positions of authority. It is also God who is our ultimate authority. God is our ultimate judge and he will separate the righteous from the unrighteous.
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