Discuss Paul's teaching on civic responsibility and show how we can apply three of the instances in our daily living.

Answer Details

Paul's teaching on civic responsibility (Romans 13:1-7) and its application

Paul teaches that the Christian has definite duties toward the state, because civil authority is part of God's order for society.

• Submission to governing authorities: "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." To resist lawful authority is therefore to resist God's ordinance and to bring judgement on oneself.
• The purpose of government: rulers are God's servants, a terror not to good works but to evil. The ruler "does not bear the sword in vain" but is God's minister to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. The good citizen who does right need not fear the authority.
• Obedience for conscience' sake: believers should be subject not only to avoid punishment but also for the sake of conscience, knowing it is right before God.
• Payment of taxes and dues: "Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour."
• Love as the fulfilling of the law: Paul adds that owing no one anything except to love, for love does no harm to a neighbour, fulfils the whole law.

Application of three instances to daily living

1. Obeying the laws of the land: keeping constitutional laws, traffic regulations and civic rules, and cooperating with lawful authority rather than engaging in crime, riots or rebellion.
2. Honest payment of taxes and dues: paying taxes, rates, electricity and other bills faithfully, and refusing tax evasion and fraud, so that the government can provide public services.
3. Giving honour and respect to leaders: respecting rulers, teachers, employers and elders, praying for those in authority, and rejecting bribery and corruption while serving the community sincerely.