Romans 13:1-2 ::

Romans 13:1-2 in the TNIV and Message translations

"Question Authority." It's a popular bumper sticker and the mantra of at least one American generation, if not all of them. Defying the government is a part of our national history. Most of our heroes did it, from George Washington to Martin Luther King. Complaining about the government, protesting it and influencing it are a national pastime and even a source of pride.

The Apostle Paul is quite clear: submission to authority is a mark of following Christ. Not only that, but we are to consider those in authority to have been placed there by God himself. And these words are from a man who was severely persecuted by his government. So how do we--we Americans, the few people in human history who have defied our rulers and lived to tell about it--how do we read this text? How do we appropriately honor and submit to those in authority over us? What if we think they're wrong?