When the Wrong Person is in Charge

Romans · Romans 13:1–7 · September 27, 2026

Do Christians have to respect leaders they don’t like?

Followers of Jesus are citizens of heaven. God “has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). But until we’re home, we also live under earthly governments, and that creates a tension every generation has had to work through.

Paul wrote Romans 13 to believers living under the Roman emperor Nero, a ruler who persecuted Christians and whose government would later execute Paul himself. Yet Paul writes: “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God” (Romans 13:1). He calls us to submit “not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience” (13:5), to pay our taxes, and to “give respect and honor to those who are in authority” (13:7).

When is it okay to say no?

Submission is never blind obedience. It’s okay to disobey an authority only when God’s Word is crystal clear about what to do and the authority demands the opposite. When Peter and John were ordered never to speak of Jesus again, they answered, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19–20).

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue, and Daniel kept praying three times a day even when it was outlawed (Daniel 6:10). Notice how they did it: always with respect (“your majesty”), and always willing to accept the consequences.

Three takeaways from Romans 13

1. The goal is to advance the gospel. This passage isn’t about becoming rule-followers. It’s about making Jesus look good. Peter wrote that our honorable lives can silence false accusations: “Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king” (1 Peter 2:17). And Paul urges us to pray “for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives” (1 Timothy 2:2).

2. God is in control of who’s in control. God is never surprised by who comes to power. “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases” (Proverbs 21:1). When a nation goes astray, righteous people get caught in the backwash, as Daniel did. God didn’t always protect him from it, but He protected him in it.

3. Honor the position, even when you can’t honor the person. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t deserve honor, yet Daniel showed him respect, and the king eventually came to confess God. Jesus summed it up: “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 22:21).

As followers of Jesus, we’re His ambassadors. You may be the only picture of Jesus some people ever see.

Life Group questions

Getting to Know You

  1. Who was an authority figure in your life (a teacher, coach, boss, parent, grandparent, or leader) who taught you something that has stuck with you? What did they teach you?

Digging Deeper

  1. This weekend we heard how Daniel was able to thrive despite the pressures of a godless culture and a corrupt leader. What insights can you find in the following verses that could help you thrive, despite the pressures we all face in our world and culture today?

Psalm 119:9-11 (NIV)
1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV)
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV

  1. It’s no surprise to most of us that there is a struggle with the thought of biblical submission to authority, even when we know God is in control. A challenging relationship with an employer, teacher, parent or commanding officer can lead to a lot of frustration, especially when we are called to submit to someone who doesn’t seem to deserve it. How can the following verses help us gain perspective on why biblical submission to authority is not only mandatory, but also essential for us as followers of Jesus?

Hebrews 10:32-36
James 1:2-4
Romans 5:1-5

Can you think of any significant character building lessons you’ve learned in the past when having to deal with a difficult authority figure?

  1. When it comes to figuring out how submission works in real life situations, it’s important to remember that Jesus isn’t asking us to do anything he didn’t do for us first. As you read Matthew 20:20-28, how does Jesus’ teaching and example impact your thoughts on having to submit to authority?

Keeping It Real

  1. Romans 13:5 says “So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience”. Knowing this, will you commit to praying for the authorities above you, despite your personal opinions or/and feelings? Take some time to pray over your authorities as a group.

Scripture references

Romans 13:1–7 · Colossians 1:13 · Matthew 5:3 · Romans 12:1–2 · Acts 4:18–20 · Daniel 3 · Daniel 6:10 · Matthew 22:17–21 · 1 Peter 2:11–17 · 1 Timothy 2:1–4 · Proverbs 21:1 · Ephesians 6:2–3

More from Romans

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