Chris Hume is joined by Pastor Timothy Decker on this episode of The Lancaster Patriot Podcast. Decker is the author of the forthcoming book, A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13. On this episode, Decker gives a brief overview of his book, and then he and Hume interact with various aspects of civil justice, the law of God, and the civil magistrate.
Audio available on Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts.
We have to understand that when we sit down at the table to discuss Romans 13 or the role of the civil government in protecting its citizens we do not sit down with a clean slate so to speak. We all have certain things that we presuppose to be true and we are sometimes unaware of exactly what we are presupposing to be true that upon closer examination just might not be true.
For instance, some presuppose that the civil government does not have a duty to protect its citizens and some presuppose that the civil government does have a duty to protect its citizens.
We will agree that both positions could be wrong but never can both positions be right at the same time because they conflict, so which position is true?
The first thing we need to agree on is government and what it is.
Government in the United States is that form of fundamental rules and principles by which a nation or state is governed, or by which individual “MEMBERS” of a “body politic” are to “regulate” their social actions. It is the regulation, restraint, supervision, or control that is exercised upon the individual “MEMBERS” [i.e. citizens] of an organized jural society by those invested with authority. Government is the act of exercising supreme “political power or control” over the members. This is the legal definition of the term “government” provided in Black’s Law Dictionary, 5th. Edition.
As you can see the government is ordained and established by the people freely associated together in a “body politic” in which the government regulates the social actions of the political community’s citizens or members.
If the government does protect its citizens members what is the cost to the citizen in consideration for the protection that governments provide?
“Protection draws with it subjection and subjection protection. The protection of an individual [citizen member] by government is on condition of his SUBMISSION to the laws, and such submission on the other hand entitles the individual [citizen member] to the protection of the Government.” Maxim of Law
Can we agree that the price a citizen must pay in consideration for the government’s protection would be the citizens’ obedience [i.e. allegiance] to the government and its civil laws?
Did Paul in Romans 13 state that God’s people are to be subject to the government’s civil laws?
He said God’s people are to be subject to the higher powers when the higher powers are acting as ministers of God to God’s people for their good. Paul said that if God’s people do that which is good we shall have praise for the same but if we do that which is evil we should be afraid for the “rulers” barest not the sword in vain for he (the ruler )is the minister of God [an avenger] to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
I think Paul is referring to the Royal law (James 2:8) aka the perfect law of liberty (James 2:12) or the common or criminal law that pertains to all people without their consent, not the civil law that pertains solely to citizens and inhabitants who have established a domicile within the jurisdiction of the civil government. The civil law requires the “consent” of those governed by it.
Remember the government derives its just powers from the “consent” of the governed. Without this consent, the government’s only duty is to secure to the free people their Creator-give right to life, liberty, and property.
In Romans 13: 8 Paul says we are to “owe” no man anything but to love one another and in doing so we have fulfilled the law – i.e. the royal law. Citizens aka members of the political community OWE their allegiance to the civil government and have a duty to obey all its civil laws.
What is a citizen?
A citizen is one who, under the Constitution and laws of the United States, or of a particular state, is a MEMBER of the “political community” OWING allegiance and being entitled to the enjoyment of full civil rights.
How does a free-born man become a “member” of the political community owing allegiance to the civil government of that political community?
What is a member? A “member” is one of the persons constituting a family, partnership, [political] association, corporation, court, legislature, or the like.
How does a free-born man become a member of a political community owing allegiance to the government thereof when all men are created and born equally free and independent of government?
Citizenship is based on a man’s intent and action to become a citizen. Intent means the desire, resolve, or determination with which a person “acts.” It presupposes knowledge of all the material facts concerning what one is about to do.
Intention is a determination to act in a certain way or to do a certain thing. Meaning; will; purpose; and design. When were we determined to act and when did we act in a certain way to obtain citizenship in the United States? What action did we take?
Perhaps we can discuss citizenship and how a man becomes a citizen of the United States owing allegiance to the civil government thereof.
I just can’t remember ever taking a determined action to become a citizen of the United States.
I do know Paul said in Ephesians 2:19 that we are no more strangers and sojourners but fellow citizens with the saints and [members] of the household of God in the Kingdom of Heaven. And remember Peter addressed God’s people as “sojourners” in the world. (1 Peter 1:1).
Abraham also confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth and wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God(Hebrews 11:8-16
If “citizenship” is a status then it appears to me that our status of citizenship as God’s people is of the Kingdom of Heaven and on this earth we are but strangers and pilgrims.