Theme
Scripture
“1 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. 2 Consequently,
whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has
instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 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. 4 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. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only
because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This
is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who
give their full time to governing. 7 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 [NIV]
There is little dissent that we are living in a time when
governments the world over are in a state of flux and the subjects or citizens
of those governments are beginning to rise and be heard. Some will be active in
politics doing analysis, working to secure their ideal candidate for some office,
protesting some election or policy, or actively engaging in disruption through
anarchistic tactics. Elsewhere, the reign of the government is dictatorial,
sometimes harsh, and the governed can do nothings but submit. There are still
places where national equanimity seems to be the public perception, like Japan,
some Scandinavian countries and smaller isle nations.
In all of this, Christians find themselves the world over under
the counsel from Romans above. There is no exception to the opening statement
of Romans 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. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against
the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who
do so will bring judgment on themselves.”
How does the individual Christian then live the first two verses
and reconcile verse 7? For instance, a Christian is called to subject
themselves to the governing authority but what if they disagree with the person
who is the highest position of that authority? How do they subject themselves and
give respect and honor? Let’s take the recent events since Nov 9, 2016, the
presidential elections here in the United States. Clearly, a much-divided campaign
through the primaries from both political parties; though to be honest the one
party with 17 candidates was initially more volatile than the other; but, the
other is now well known to have purchased the allegiances to name a specific
nominee to the general election. In both cases, the overall vehemence shown towards
the parties from the among themselves was truly characteristic of the
individual voter and citizen. What followed the election on 2016 will be held
in the annals of history for some time to come. But, you, the reader, if you
are a Christian, how did you personally reconcile your own comportment when
faced with the election results? How have you been a light unto the world in the
first year?
To a certain extent, rebellion seems to be an inherent trait
or characteristic of humankind since Eve talked Adam into going against his own
conscience back in the Garden of Eden. Sometimes, rebelling against something
is required by GOD, in fact, the first Christians who took the lead in preaching
the gospel rebelled against their own leadership and faced consequences but
refused to cease and desist in their preaching of Christ and his resurrection.
Other times, rebellion has not worked out well for those who were called to be
GOD’s people. We only have to look at the punitive 40 years exile in the
wilderness because of the rebellion of some of the generation who escaped Egypt
through the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. GOD’s punishment to the whole of
HIS people was that they would not be delivered to the Promised Land until
every last person from that generation had literally died! There are many
instances of rebellion that are counterintuitive.
But, today, how do we rebel in the issues of our own
government today while still maintaining a clean conscience regarding Romans 13?
And to the point of this article, as a Christian are we obliged to react in any
way even to rebel? When strong minded individuals pressure with comments like ‘it
is your civic duty’ how does the Christian respond?
There are those among the body of Christ who remain disconnected
altogether from the ‘political’ process while others are on the other extreme,
so fully engaged it consumes their mental, emotional, physical and strategic
beings even to questionable language, actions, causes that could and does ‘stumble’
those looking on from within and without the Christian community. As Christians
we include such statements from scripture like Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee,
O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to
do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” [KJV] as example
of how we should act.
Some translations use the word ‘lowly’ others ‘prudent’ and
others ‘modest’ where ‘humbly’ is used in Micah in the King James.
For the Christian we have a few scriptures in the New
Testament that call us to behave in a humble, prudent, modest and lowly way. For
instance, Phil 4:8. [For a complete discussion of Phil 4:8 please see the
series posted here from February 2017 http://lightwritingmatters.blogspot.com/2017/02/draw-close-to-god-part-one.html
]
We are privileged to live in a country whose founding
documents were not willy-nilly thrown together but were crafted from the sage
of men who’d been witness to the circumstances foisted upon the citizens of the
King of England in the New World that later became the freed United States of
America. They lived under the unnecessary burden of a monarchy removed by an
entire ocean from the seat of the government. They also had intimate knowledge
of the conditions people lived who were subject to other kinds of governments.
The founders wanted the freedom they knew was self-evident FREEDOM. In its nascent
form this longing and passion for freedom was culturally understood by the
first citizens of the new nation. In the ensuing years, this concept of FREEDOM
was challenged many times over and even as recently as the last century in this
country additional amendments of the Constitution had to be made law with the
focal point being FREEDOM DUE EVERY citizen reflecting equal protection and rights.
To sum up this article, as a citizen, but more importantly a
Christian citizen, what is our obligation [the
one thing that shines and causes anyone who observes us to recognize we live
our faith in all things] when something happens within the government which
does not set well with us? Do we protest? If we protest -- and protest is legal
in this country, in fact, the 1st amendment provides the right to
peaceable assembly and to petition the government for redress of grievances -- do
we protest with anger and assault with words or instruments causing injury or
death? Peaceable assembly was specifically used in the constitution. Peaceable
assembly is an option for Christians who feel they should be involved civically.
Do we opine publicly, or among friends and family in such a
way as to both subvert the government or our Christian responsibilities? Paul
used this line of reasoning when those in his day objected to his attitude
towards ‘heathens’ as to what they ate and did not eat. But, it was a huge
discussion between the free Christian and the converted Christian from the
Jewish faith. It was in fact tantamount to a subverting of the governing
religious body in Jerusalem. His statement in 1 Corinthians the 10th
chapter was a large discussion on this but please consider his attitude when
push came to shove.
““I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not
everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not
everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but
the good of others.” Vs 23,24
“If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go,
eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.28 But
if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat
it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I
am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my
freedom being judged by another’s conscience?30 If I take part in the
meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God
for?
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do
it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to
stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—” Vs 27-32
Notice, Paul acknowledges that his right is his own to
exercise whether it sits well with others or not asking the question why his
freedom should be judged by another’s conscience – yet he quickly acknowledges
we do all things to GOD but should not cause anyone to stumble, no matter who.
How does this compare with our attitude toward political discord?
Easily, just because we have the right to do as our conscience dictates it may
not be beneficial to anyone but one’s self and our obligation to GOD is to not
stumble someone else because of our liberty/freedom in CHRIST. If our actions
or reputation are considered out of nature with compassionate Christianity,
then for the sake of all, including the ‘church of GOD’, we should refrain.
Where respect is due, give respect. Where honor is due, give
honor. Ultimately, GOD is due absolute respect and honor and our actions should
reflect our Christian reverence to GOD, first and foremost. †
©Lightwritingmatters
2015
Bibles Designations
KJV – King James Version
NIV – New International Version
NWT – New World Translation
ASV -- American Standard Version
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©Lightwritingmatters 2015 |
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