Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. Romans 13:3-5
Yesterday’s devotions touched upon verse 1 and it generated some interesting discussion. I think we need to be very careful, though, in how we rebel against authority. Romans 13:1 states that existing authorities were established by God. That means George Bush, Barack Obama, Saddam Hussein, and Muammar Ghadaffi were all established by God, like it or not. How they use (or abuse) authority is very different. If they make a law requiring you to do something that goes against God’s laws, then you are not obligated to do it.
A very real example is about ready to surface on the national scene. The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) will nullify virtually all federal and state limitations on abortion (nullifying laws restricting government funding of abortion, nullifying laws prohibiting abortions in public hospitals, and nullifying laws requiring that girls and women seeking abortion receive certain information on matters such as fetal development and alternatives to abortion). President Obama has stated clearly that he will sign the bill into law.
Obviously, God-fearing men and women (and others) should really be bothered by such a law. It will require sacrifice as many may lose their jobs for refusing to perform these abortions in a hospital setting. Many will be ostracized for “not getting with the program.” Entire hospitals could shut down as a result. While there are clear instances when we should disobey those in authority, we must also realize that those actions may have dire consequences (fines, imprisonment, and even death).
Again, I call on my Brothers and Sisters in Christ to pray for those in authority by name.