The Role of the State as a Keeper of Justice

How does the Bible explain the State’s role as a keeper of justice? One of the few places we see the Scriptures directly talk about the God-given responsibility of the State is in Romans 13:3-4: “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, 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.”

Even though Christians believe it is God’s role to bring ultimate justice in the end, the State has the responsibility to promote justice on earth until that final day comes. States are called to, insofar as is possible, secure the peace and safety of citizens who do good so that they can enjoy the freedom to worship God in peace.

Because this is God’s vision for the State, the Church should encourage nation-states to protect those who “do good” according to Romans 13. Surely God-fearing Christians are on Paul’s mind as he writes this. But what if a State persecutes Christians for worshiping God or represses the freedom of other image bearers when they are simply seeking to practice to their own religion? In that case, it is our obligation to speak up on behalf of our fellow Christians or image bearers. The church should seek to bring good into the world by encouraging the State on the one hand to prize what is good and, on other hand, to push back what is evil.

Of course, there are zero nation-states on earth who perfectly promote the good. Some nations are surely closer to what Paul envisioned when he penned Romans 13 than others. But clearly there are a number of current regimes who make it their habit to perpetrate evil against the church. How should Christians respond then?

How a follower of Jesus answers this question depends on which nation-state that Christian finds themselves in. If you live in a country where persecution is happening to you, to your church, or to other believers around you, you are called to endure this suffering non-violently. The call of Jesus for you is found in Rom 12:14 & 17: “bless those who persecute you” and “do not repay evil for evil.” You are instructed to trust in God who is the eventual bringer of redemptive justice. Because of the assurance you have been given that God will wipe every tear from your eyes when he sets the world to rights, you are free to love those who hate you.

But what if you are outside of those nation-states where Christians or other image bearers are being persecuted? In that case, you are called to pray for your brothers and sisters. You are called to relieve their burdens financially and physically if possible. You are called to advocate for your brothers and sisters in Christ - to call the States of the world to rise up to and fulfill their Romans 13:3-4 calling to be “God's servant for good.” The Church of Jesus is called to be a voice for the voiceless, encouraging the State to protect those who do good and to punish those who do evil.

The Luke Alliance is one way to stand in solidarity with the persecuted church. It’s one way to stand against a rising authoritarianism in China that is perpetrating evil on the church of Jesus Christ. Join with us so that together we can stand with our persecuted brothers and sisters.

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Corey Jackson is the founder and president of The Luke Alliance and Senior Pastor of Trinity Park Church.