On the Misuse of Romans 13 to Silence Dissent and Legitimize Injustice.

On the Misuse of Romans 13 to Silence Dissent and Legitimize Injustice.

Throughout history, Romans 13 has been one of the most misappropriated passages in Christian theology, wielded not as a call to discernment or justice, but as a blunt instrument to silence dissent, sanctify power, and demand obedience to regimes that often stand in direct opposition to the reign of God.

When Paul wrote that “there is no authority except that which God has established” (Romans 13:1), he was not crafting a doctrine of unquestioned submission to state power; rather, he was speaking into a specific political and pastoral context. Yet across centuries, this passage has been weaponized by Christians to baptize tyranny and suppress resistance—from defenders of slavery in the United States to Nazi collaborators in Germany.

Here’s some historical abuses of Romans 13:

Nazi Germany:

During Hitler’s reign, many German Christians invoked Romans 13 to justify their compliance with the Nazi regime. The “German Christian” movement fused nationalist ideology with a distorted theology that proclaimed Hitler as a God-ordained ruler. Meanwhile, dissenters like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who resisted such heresy, were branded as traitors, not only by the state but also by the church.

American Slavery and Segregation:

Slaveholders and segregationists in the U.S. South routinely quoted Romans 13 to claim divine sanction for slavery and Jim Crow laws. Enslaved people were told it was their Christian duty to obey their masters because civil authority was ordained by God. Critics of these injustices were vilified as subversive or anti-Christian.

Apartheid South Africa:

The Dutch Reformed Church, undergirding the apartheid system, used Romans 13 to maintain racial hierarchies and justify state-sponsored oppression. The theological justification of white supremacy relied heavily on the claim that resisting state structures was equivalent to resisting God.

British Loyalists and American Revolutionaries:

Ironically, both sides of the American Revolution invoked biblical justification for their cause. British loyalists used Romans 13 to decry rebellion, while the founding fathers, many of whom were influenced by Enlightenment ideals more than Christian orthodoxy, crafted a new civil religion that largely ignored the prophetic dimensions of Scripture in favor of self-determined liberty.

In each of these examples, Romans 13 was interpreted not in its literary or theological context, but in isolation, used as a divine stamp of approval for existing systems of power. It is a tragic irony that the same passage used to condone Nazi collaboration or support for slavery is still today used in American politics to shut down protest, particularly from Christians who speak out against injustice.

To interpret Romans 13 as an unconditional endorsement of every government or leader is not only bad theology, it is biblically incoherent. Scripture as a whole presents a far more complex view of political power, one that constantly reminds us that all human authority is prone to corruption and must be held accountable.

Here are just a few examples from scripture that contradict how Romans 13 is so often misinterpreted:

1 Samuel 8:

When Israel demands a king, God tells Samuel, “they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as their king” (1 Sam. 8:7). This pivotal passage makes clear that the desire for centralized human authority can represent a turning away from God, not toward God. God allows them a king, but not as an endorsement. Rather, it’s a concession to human stubbornness and their desire to imitate unjust nations. In a country where we vote our leaders into power, this critique of human stubbornness should really be taken more seriously than it is.

Revelation 13:

In stark contrast to Romans 13, Revelation 13 describes earthly rulers as beasts that blaspheme God and persecute the faithful. This apocalyptic vision pulls back the curtain on empire, exposing how political systems can be animated by forces that oppose God’s purposes of justice and peace. It is not a stretch to say that Revelation’s empire critique would consider any Christian justification of oppressive power to be spiritual adultery.

Satan’s Claim in Luke 4:

During Jesus’ temptation, Satan offers him “all the kingdoms of the world,” claiming, “it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want” (Luke 4:6). Jesus does not dispute this claim. The implication is sobering: the structures of power in this world are not automatically righteous or godly. In fact, they may be under the influence of evil.

Prophetic Tradition:

From Moses before Pharaoh to Nathan confronting David, Elijah challenging Ahab, and John the Baptist rebuking Herod, the consistent biblical posture is to speak truth to power, not to sanctify it. Jesus himself called Herod a “fox” and overturned the tables of temple profiteers. The prophets did not preach obedience to unjust leaders; they proclaimed God’s judgment on them.

Romans 13 in Context:

Romans 13 must be read in tandem with Romans 12, where Paul urges believers to “not conform to the pattern of this world” and to “overcome evil with good.” Paul was writing to a persecuted minority in the Roman Empire, advising them to avoid unnecessary conflict with authorities and to be faithful in paying their taxes. He was not giving rulers divine status. His words reflect pastoral concern, not political theology. Nowhere does Paul say that unjust rulers are to be celebrated, obeyed without question, or that dissent is ungodly.

Moreover, just one chapter later, in Romans 14, Paul emphasizes conscience and liberty under God’s lordship. Christians are ultimately accountable to Christ, not Caesar.

In the United States today, Romans 13 continues to be quoted to defend unjust laws and authoritarian rhetoric. But allegiance to Christ demands more than passive acceptance of power, it calls for courageous, discerning resistance when that power is wielded to harm, exclude, or oppress.

Practical Ways to Refute Misuse of Romans 13 Today:

Read Scripture in Community and Context:

Encourage your community to interpret Romans 13 alongside passages like 1 Samuel 8, Revelation 13, and the Gospels. Understanding the whole narrative of Scripture exposes how selective proof-texting distorts God’s heart.

Reclaim the Prophetic Tradition:

Uplift biblical voices who held kings accountable. Reaffirm that dissent rooted in love, truth, and justice is not unfaithful, it is deeply biblical.

Name the Idolatry of Nationalism:

When loyalty to the nation or a political leader overshadows allegiance to Christ, that is idolatry. Christians must name and reject this distortion of faith.

Practice Nonviolent Civil Resistance When Necessary:

Like the Hebrew midwives, Daniel, Peter, and Paul himself (who wrote Romans 13 but also was arrested and ultimately executed for resisting the ways of the empire that conflicted against the ways of Christ), Christians must be willing to speak out about unjust laws and policies in faithful witness to God’s kingdom.

Challenge Theological Gatekeeping:

Speak up when pastors or churches use Romans 13 to suppress justice or silence the oppressed. Ask, “Which kingdom are we serving by remaining silent?”

Follow Jesus, Not Caesar:

Remember that Jesus was unjustly executed by the state. Our Lord was not a friend of empire, he was its victim and its judge. Our faith cannot be co-opted by empire without betraying the crucified Christ.

The misuse of Romans 13 is not merely a theological error, it is a spiritual danger that has enabled atrocities and hindered the witness of the church. It contradicts the broader arc of Scripture, which constantly reminds us that God’s reign is not secured through coercion, but through justice, mercy, and sacrificial love.

In a time when Christian nationalism again distorts the gospel for political gain, we must recommit ourselves to a faith that speaks truth to power, stands with the oppressed, and refuses to give Caesar what belongs to God. We do not worship the state, we follow a crucified Savior who reigns not from a throne of violence, but from a cross of love.

Let us be found faithful to that kingdom.