How Christians Respond in a Tense World

I have so enjoyed preaching through the book of Romans these past Sundays.  Walking through it together as a church has been truly life-changing.  In the next couple of weeks, we will be approaching Romans 13.  It is a rich chapter with a lot going on, and I felt like this thought would be worth sharing with you all.

It doesn’t take long to scroll through the news or social media to feel that tension, anger, fear, and division seem to be everywhere. Institutions are questioned, leaders are criticized, and trust feels fragile. In moments like these, Christians often ask:  How are we supposed to respond?

Romans 13:1–7 gives us a starting place—not an easy one, but a necessary one.

God and Authority

Paul begins with a statement that feels uncomfortable in almost every generation:

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” (Romans 13:1)

This doesn’t mean every leader is good or every decision is right. Paul wrote these words under the Roman Empire—hardly a model of justice or righteousness. Yet he reminds believers of a bigger truth: God is sovereign even when leadership is flawed.

Submission here isn’t about blind loyalty or silence. It’s about recognizing that chaos and anarchy are not God’s design. Order (however imperfect) is preferable to lawlessness. Christians are called to live as people who respect structure, seek peace, and trust that God remains at work behind the scenes.

Our Witness Matters

Paul goes on to describe governing authorities as servants meant to restrain evil and promote good. While reality doesn’t always reflect that ideal, the heart of this passage points us to our public witness.

How we speak.How we post.How we disagree.How we respond when we’re frustrated or disappointed.

All of it reflects something about who we believe is truly in control.

It’s easy to mirror the outrage of the world. It’s harder (but far more Christlike) to respond with humility, restraint, and wisdom. Christians are not called to be the loudest voices in the room, but faithful ones.

Obedience with Discernment

Romans 13 does not mean Christians never question authority or resist injustice. Scripture is clear that when human authority directly contradicts God’s commands, obedience to God comes first. But that posture should always be marked by prayer, discernment, and love—not reactionary anger or fear.

Too often, our responses are shaped more by headlines than by Scripture.

Living Differently in a Divided Time

Paul ends this section by calling believers to pay what is owed—taxes, respect, honor. In other words, be the kind of citizens who make society better, not more broken.

In times of division:

• We choose respect over contempt.

• We choose prayer over panic.

• We choose faith over fear.

• We choose love over winning arguments.

Our hope has never been in governments or leaders. Our hope is in Christ.

A Better Question

Instead of asking, “Whose side are you on?”

Maybe the better question is, “Do people see Jesus in how I respond?”

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Abe