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Jumpstarter 3 of 10

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Romans Commentary Chapters 9-16  /  Romans 13:1-7 Submit to the Governing Authorities Part Two  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 3
The lesson argues that “positions of authority…will invariably cause a Christian to either directly or indirectly violate Christ’s teachings”; what picture of God’s priorities does that assume (for example, purity of obedience versus influence), and how does that collide with the modern instinct to “get Christians into power” for good outcomes?
Another way to ask: The lesson says having authority will always push Christians to break Jesus’ teachings in some way. What does that say God cares about most—clean obedience or having influence—and how does that challenge the idea of “getting Christians into power” to do good?

Direct Answer Based on the transcript, the lesson assumes God prioritizes faithful obedience to Christ’s teachings over gaining influence through state power, because government work tends to require actions that contradict Jesus (especially returning evil for evil). That directly collides with the modern strategy of pursuing office “for good outcomes,” since the transcript frames the office itself as morally compromising.

Support from Transcript:

  • Bercot states: “Positions of authority in this world will invariably cause a Christian to either directly or indirectly violate Christ’s teachings.”
  • He ties this to Romans 12: Christians must “love their enemies” and “return evil for evil to no one,” but “human governments do return evil for evil.”
  • Tertullian’s questions focus on coercion and punishment as incompatible with a Christian who is “not the avenger of even his own wrongs.”
  • Origen contrasts two kinds of leadership: he urges believers “to rule over churches instead of governments.”
  • Bercot frames leadership gifts as belonging to the church: God expects leaders to use gifts “for the benefit of the kingdom of God, not to rule the kingdoms of this world.”
Discussion Follow-ups If obedience is the priority, what “good outcomes” are Christians tempted to pursue by methods Jesus forbids? How do we tell the difference between serving society and becoming responsible for enforcing unchristlike actions?

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