Considering The “Resist” Movement In The Light Of God’s Word

The “resist” movement, a political agenda that is being advanced and promoted by some national political leaders — including U.S. Senators and Representatives — to protest a president they do not support — is not biblical.

In fact, it is a form of rebellion toward governing authorities and is in direct opposition to what the Bible teaches about government and those in authority.

In Romans 13:1-7, the New Testament’s classic passage on the role of government, the Apostle Paul makes very clear the principle of taxation, and, as well, the obligation for citizens to submit to authority. Romans 13:1-2, 6-7:

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. (Emphasis added.)

For because of this [government] you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

Citizens, including those who serve in government, are called to render not only taxes, but honor!

To resist God’s ordination of government and His ensuing authorities either passively or aggressively is to dishonor those whom God has placed in authority.

It is to dishonor God Himself, since civil government is His idea in the first place.

Furthermore, for government leaders to themselves lead the way in resisting authority is, at the same time, to suggest that citizens not pay their taxes!

In God’s Word, in this passage, they are listed together: parallel duties, parallel renderings, to undermine one is to undermine the other.

Therefore, for leaders to lead the way in resisting authority is to play with fire.

It is to model rebellion toward the very government God appointed them to serve!

In the Gospel of Matthew, some of Jesus’ adversaries came to Him, and in an attempt to trap Him, they asked, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

He responded by taking a denarius (a Roman coin) and remarking about Caesar’s image on it (cf. v. 19) He said in Matthew 22:21:

“Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”

These two passages serve to underscore God’s principle of rendering: not only in paying taxes to, but honor to all Public Servants.

These passages also underscore the fact that civil government leaders have the biblical right to demand both taxes and honor.

Note Titus 3:1 in this regard, wherein Paul doubles down on this, instructing believers to be good citizens in order, per the earlier context of chapter 2, to have a good witness for Christ:

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed…

Believers should not be named amongst those who resist authority.

This issue will be examined more fully in the upcoming multi-part series, Government and Economics that will soon be published and released.