JESUS, PAUL, AND FAITHFULNESS UNDER AUTHORITY
Jesus and Paul lived under governments far more oppressive and unjust than anything most of us have known. Rome ruled by force, taxed heavily, crucified publicly, and silenced dissent without apology. And yet, when we read the Word of God carefully, something striking appears: neither Jesus nor Paul made political protest the center of their mission.
Jesus lived under Caesar’s authority, under Herod’s corruption, under Pilate’s cowardice. When questioned about taxes, He did not call for rebellion. Instead, He pointed beyond the coin to the greater issue of allegiance. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God (Matthew 22:21). His concern was not Rome’s throne, but the human heart. Jesus did not come to overthrow governments by force; He came to establish a kingdom not built with swords, ballots, or outrage, but with truth, sacrifice, and resurrection life.
When standing before Pilate, Jesus made this unmistakably clear. His kingdom was not sourced from this world, or else His followers would have fought to protect Him (John 18:36). The absence of revolt was not weakness; it was purpose. He submitted to unjust authority without endorsing injustice, trusting the Father to accomplish redemption through obedience rather than rebellion.
Paul followed the same path. He lived as a Roman citizen under emperors who persecuted Christians, imprisoned them, and eventually executed them. Yet Paul did not organize political movements or attempt to reshape Rome through protest. Instead, he instructed believers to live honorably under governing authorities, recognizing that order itself serves a purpose in a fallen world (Romans 13:1-7). His focus was transformation from the inside out, not revolution from the top down.
That does not mean Paul was silent or passive. He appealed to his legal rights when appropriate, even invoking Caesar himself (Acts 25:11). He spoke truth when necessary, but he never confused the Gospel with political power. His mission was clear: preach Christ, plant churches, make disciples, and trust God with the consequences.
Both Jesus and Paul understood something the modern church often forgets: governments rise and fall, but the kingdom of God endures. They did not place their hope in policy, rulers, or public opinion. Their allegiance was settled. Their message was eternal. Their confidence rested in God’s sovereignty, not Rome’s stability.
The call for believers today is not silence, nor blind loyalty, nor fear-driven outrage. It is faithfulness. It is living quietly powerful lives shaped by truth, love, holiness, and courage. When the church confuses the Gospel with political identity, it loses its witness. When it keeps Christ at the center, it becomes unstoppable.
Jesus and Paul did not ignore the world around them; they simply refused to let it distract them from the mission God gave them. And that same call still stands.
BDD
