Good Morning Friends,
“Everyone must submit himself 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,
he who 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 he will
commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if
you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear
the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent 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 because of conscience. This is
also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their
full time to governing.” (Romans 13:1-8)
If you were to ask President Obama, Governor
Kitzhaber, Mayor Manning, or any of the other government authorities across the
country, most would tell you that they are servants of the people. They have
the idea that the people put them in office and their ultimate responsibility
is to the people.
Politicians and leaders who believe that are
wrong! Although they may have been elected by a vote of the people, it is God
they are ultimately to be serving. The people will pass judgment on how they
did in their governing responsibilities, but that judgment is not the one that
counts. God will pass judgment, too, on how they fulfilled their
responsibility, and that’s the ultimate judgment.
You may have a case all ready to lay out
about how wicked some particular governing authority is and think that case
somehow releases you from submitting to them. Before you start down that road,
consider who the governing authority was when Paul wrote to the Romans. It was Nero!
Compared to Nero, any case about wickedness in government pales. He had already
begun his murderous rampage against the Christians and it would get worse in
the years ahead. Yet, in spite of his wickedness, Paul told the Romans to
submit to him and regard him as the servant of God!
It’s good to consider our responsibilities to
those in positions of leadership in our government. Submit, don’t rebel, do
what’s right, pay your taxes. Those aren’t just the marks of a good citizen,
they are also to be the marks of a Christian. Praying for those in authority is
another biblical idea. Their responsibility is great – and they’ll answer to
God as to how they fulfilled it.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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