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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Romans 13:1-7
This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Perhaps there is no volatile subject over the past several decades than entering into a discussion about government, especially at the federal level. The matter has become divisive to the point of regular sinful behavior from people on either side of the political coin, many of which profess to be Christian believers. Unfortunately, worldly conceptual beliefs have trumped what God’s word has to say about approaching governing authorities and that’s just the way Satan wants it to be. The more distracted we are infighting and focused on things that are not eternal, the better. We can’t spread the Gospel when we are consumed with anger and one-up-man-ship against an opposing political party.
So where do you sit on this matter?
Are you in the fray of political battles, either on the Democrat or Republican side of issues? Have you pushed aside, insulted, or flat out excommunicated family or friends because you differ with their political viewpoints?
If so, the start of a new year offers you a chance to step back and perhaps adopt a new attitude...and the word of God is ready to help you get there. Look again at today’s scripture passage as we continue our study of the Book of Romans with the first seven verses of chapter 13.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Submit to governing authorities and be subject to them.
That’s God’s command to us. Period.
Why?
Because He establishes all authorities that govern. They are in that position because He has instituted it.
In other words, no one gets into power on their own accord. Their election is a gift from God.
And with that great blessing comes great responsibility and with that responsibility comes great accountability. Governing officials who are put in place by God will ultimately answer to Him for what they do during their time of governing.
Now, this is counter to the way the world sees things, right?
The world would have us believe that the matter of putting people into positions of government is in our hands, the hands of the voter. After all, that’s the way of democracy. But democracy is a man-made concept of government. It isn’t scriptural, that’s for sure.
For we saw how God informs us in this passage. It’s not about us. It’s all about Him and we are to submit to governing authorities just as we are expected to submit to Him. God is not just asking us to trust everything to Him. He is demanding it and anyone who fails to comply with His demand is asking for His judgment. He has better things for us to be doing than wading into fights every day about what’s going on in government because current events are just that...current. They will one day be just a distant memory.
To make my point, I want you to write down the top ten political issues of the 1970’s or even the 1980’s. Go ahead and add the ten most polarizing political figures during those decades. If you get five items down in either category without doing any research then you’re better than the majority.
You see, events come and go. Issues change as do governing officials.
But our Lord, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Going back to Romans, think about the context in which Paul wrote these words. The Roman empire ruled and reigned during this period. It was absolutely oppressive, so much so that the widely held belief among the Israelites was that the long prophesied Messiah was going to be a powerful warrior who would vanquish the Romans and free God’s people from their tyranny.
But God didn’t send the Messiah to meet the demands of His people. He sent the Messiah to be the King of kings and Lord of lords because He wanted to establish His Son in authority over all things in heaven and on earth, no matter what worldly governing authorities were in place. He established the Romans into power just as He had the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, and the Greeks before them. None of the Roman predecessors saw their empires sustain. They all faded off into history and it didn’t take long for the Roman empire to join them.
Before that would happen, God was telling His people to submit to the Roman rule, not rebel against it. They were to pay whatever taxes were imposed on them. All of it was under God’s institution and purview. He had placed the Romans in power and He would hold them accountable if they failed to allow Him to instruct and advise them on how He wanted them to rule. The people were to keep their focus and trust on God and God alone.
Friends, this is God’s message to us as we begin this new year. Stop getting bogged down in political wars and start investing that effort in developing a more trusting attitude in God, focusing your efforts and energy in spreading the Gospel instead of political vitriol.
God establishes governing authorities. God holds authorities accountable for the gift of governing He has provided.
Submit to His authority and trust the things He does.
You’ll never go wrong when you do, no matter the circumstances.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
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