Romans 13:1-5 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Let's put this another way - All those who are in positions of governing authority have been placed there by God himself. This means our President, Senators, the Congress, the Governor, and yes, cops. I primarily want to focus on the cop. If you are a cop your position is God ordained. You do not hold an insignificant job no matter how pointless it may seem at times. If God has established it, then there is a purpose behind that position. The purpose is God's purpose, not your purpose. The position is not there primarily to pamper your career and bank account; it's not there primarily to give you great benefits and a healthy retirement, though none of those things are bad. There is a higher purpose for your calling than to just cater to your interests and immediate needs. What did God intend by the establishment of law enforcement? To answer this we need to continue looking at the rest of the chapter.
(2) Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (3) For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, (4) for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. (5) Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
Paul says that those who resist cops resists that which God himself has appointed. He who would resist what God has appointed resists God himself. Those who resist God incur his judgment, not only in the world to come, but in this world as well. The arm of the law is the arm of God to maintain peace and civility in society.
One may ask the question, "But aren't we supposed to love our enemies, and turn the other cheek when given the back of somebody's hand?" Yes we are, but let us not take that out of context. When Christ gave us the Sermon on the Mount he described the individual Christian life. He did not sanction anarchy in the world, but as Paul says here, he gave us people in authority for our good. In the context of Romans 13 Paul deals specifically with the way in which God exacts vengeance in the world, before Judgment Day. In just the previous chapter he says,
Romans 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
In Romans 13 Paul describes how God takes vengeance upon evil doers in this life. Through those in positions of authority - yes, that means cops.
He says that we do not bear the sword in vain. Now, obviously, 2,000 years ago soldiers did not carry machine guns and hand guns. They carried swords - and the sword was not born without meaning. It had a purpose - to carry out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. I am always fascinated with Latin and Greek words. You could call me a word nut if you will, but I like the Latin Vulgate's term for us. We are - Dei Gladium. You could translate that into - God's Gladiators. Though, that probably sounds a little too harsh for contemporary ears, so I like to stick to the Latin. It sound sophisticated enough.
Without God's restraint on society through the medium of the governing authorities, societies would disintegrate into anarchy and chaos. It is oftentimes seen as being pretty cool in high school to say that you believe in anarchy, but let a society slip into that for half a day and the most ardent anarchist would be calling for peace and order. Society craves civility. It cannot tolerate long standing "Rodney King Riots." It is, I believe, part of what it means to be created in the image of God. We want peace, we desire a cessation from conflict. God is a God of peace and order. To have God's peace or "Shalom" is to have real peace. A rather liberal friend of mine once asked me why more Christians were not participating in the peace rallies against the war in Iraq and Afghanistan because, after all, Christian should be "peace loving" people. Isn't that what Christ was all about? I asked him the simple question - "When you rally for peace is it a peace with God or a peace without God?" He answered as I thought he would, "A peace without God." I said to him, "Then you have your answer. We Christians seek for peace with God. There is no peace without God. In fact, the Bible is very clear, 'There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.'"
Did you notice how Paul said that we are God's servants? In the original Greek the word transliterates to Deacon. We are God's ministers. God has established our position and he is watching over it to perform his good work in society. And what, ultimately, is the end of that good work? It is to allow the gospel to be unhindered as it goes forth into society, being preached by faithful men. Lives being changed and transformed into the image of Christ because peace reigns and evil is constantly put in check by God's ministers. I encourage you, as you reflect upon your position in life, to not lose heart. Your work here is not in vain. If God is in it, it has eternal significance. Let me sign off with these words from Joshua.
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
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