Romans 13:5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
This is Paul’s summarizing statement about how to relate to authorities. Christians ought to submit to authorities in order not to be punished. We do not want to break the laws and be fined or imprisoned because they will harm our witness, involvement in ministry, and put those around us in jeopardy. Now, as we read this, we should keep in mind that Paul spent a significant part of his ministry years in prison or confinement of some type. He knew what is was like to be punished by government authorities. He was imprisoned for preaching the gospel and not for crimes like theft or murder. If we preach the gospel, we should expect the government to create problems for us. Even in so-called Christian countries, the government can create roadblocks to effective mission and evangelism. The modern church has figured out ways to get around this and will continue to be creative in the future. Nothing can stop the gospel from going out, even regulations, taxes, fines, or imprisonment. We may need to change our methods, but we are on God’s side.
Christians should submit to authorities also as a matter of conscience. This means that we see the value of government and what its purpose in this world is and so we choose to follow the laws of society. We choose to accept the directives of our authorities because we see that these directives will produce the best results for us, our families, and the mission of God. Going against these directives, if they are righteous and agree with the Bible, is going against God’s plan for societies. The condition is always if the laws are just.
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