Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.
Romans 12:21-13:1

Can we start by acknowledging that nobody hears “be subject to governing authorities” theoretically, especially after weeks marked by dueling parades and protests across the globe? 

Some read Paul’s words and want to put the protesters in their place. Others are eager to dismiss them as outdated. We all bring our experiences, politics, and preferred media sources to these words, which have also sadly historically been used to control people.

British clergy used them to chastise American colonists. German Christians used them against those who resisted the Nazis. Martin Luther King Jr. had them hurled at him—along with stones.

The temptation is to take these words simplistically, literally, and insist on no exceptions—or to ignore them entirely. I want to suggest neither path leads to the kind of peace that Paul seeks.

Paul begins: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) Paul knows evil. He’s been beaten, falsely accused, and imprisoned. So when he insists the way of Jesus rejects vengeance and dehumanization, his words carry weight. Evil is overcome through goodness and generosity.

Paul doesn’t say we get to ignore the government. God designed authority—it is not inherently illegitimate or evil. Surely we can all agree that chaos is are not God’s intent. Human authority exists under God’s authority. Government is meant to be a gift.

But “ordered by God” is not the same as “endorsed by God.” 

When government works well, it promotes justice and holds wrongdoers accountable—including itself. In Romans 13, Paul calls governing authorities God’s servants. In Revelation 13, those same powers are depicted as monstrous. 

Scripture is filled with leaders and nations rebuked and judged by God. Paul himself was unjustly beaten and imprisoned without trial in Philippi. He didn’t accept it quietly. He publicly asserted his rights as a Roman citizen and challenged the authorities. Clearly, Paul is not saying everything governments do is just. More likely, he’s saying subjection should be our default posture—but not our only one.

Here are a few thoughts that help me discern when to submit and when to resist.

“Be subject” does not mean worship. The Greek word for “subject” is likely a military term—voluntarily arranging oneself under another in rank. It implies order, not inferiority. But Paul doesn’t say “obey” or “worship.” Our worship and obedience belong first to God. And when we must choose between the two, we choose God.

Daniel is a beautiful example. Taken into exile, ordered to work for the king who just conquered his country, Daniel participated in the training and accepted a Babylonian name. But he asked for and received permission to keep Jewish dietary laws. Later, when prayer to any god but the king was forbidden, Daniel continued praying to God—openly—and accepted the consequences, which included a night with hungry lions.

When asked about paying taxes to Rome, Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Government can demand our money and service. But our ultimate allegiance belongs to God.

“Be subject” does not mean to be silent. The Roman believers had no voice or power. But we have a First Amendment right to speak. When our government acts unjustly or contradicts the way of Jesus, we owe a debt of love to our neighbors to speak and advocate for God’s Kingdom. We can pray for leaders, name oppressive systems, cast vision for just laws, and disagree—if we do it respectfully, nonviolently, and in ways that reflect the character of Christ.

But “be subject” does mean “be subject.” If Kingdom values are not at stake, we are to be good citizens. We pay taxes, fulfill civic duties, and as Paul says, “Owe no one anything, except to love one another.” (Romans 13:8) If our conscience demands civil disobedience, we accept the consequences graciously.

Romans 13 is not the only or even the definitive word on how people of faith engage civil authority. Scripture gives us plenty of examples: midwives in Egypt, Elijah’s confrontations with Ahab, Esther’s courage, David’s restraint toward Saul. Jesus went with the soldiers who came to arrest him.

What is unambiguous in the New Testament is our call to reject violence, vengeance, and evil—hard stop. 

And we need to be consistent in how we live out the Jesus Way. We can’t use Romans 13 to defend leaders we like and Revelation 13 to oppose those we don’t. We can’t decry political protests in one situation and applaud them in another. With the help of other Jesus followers, we seek to submit ourselves first to Jesus—even when it conflicts with our ideology or preferences.

There are no simple answers to navigating today’s complex realities. But it’s no accident Paul ends this section of his letter with a command to love, not harm, our neighbor. He’s echoing Jesus, who, when asked the greatest commandment, did not say “Obey the authorities.” 

Love is the law we are bound to—and the one we can always be subject to without hesitation.