Week 7, Day 4
Today’s Reading: Romans 15:1-16:27
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
In chapter 13 of Romans, Paul expresses the responsibilities that we have toward the government. The first thing to consider is that God has established the government (Romans 13:1). I am afraid that we sometimes think that this passage was written to the United States in the 20th or 21st century. But, Paul’s instructions here apply to all people, in all forms of government. Christians are not allowed to be rebellious against the government, unless that government requires that they stop being faithful to God in some way (Acts 5:27-29).
Paul shows us that the government has been given authority. We have to be willing to submit to authority to be pleasing to God, and one type of authority instituted by God is the government of the land. We may not always agree with what the government has done, or is doing, but that does not mean that we are free to be disobedient, and rebellious against the government. In fact, Paul tells us that those who oppose the authority of the government will receive condemnation upon themselves (Romans 13:2).
The idea of submitting to authority seems to be one that many people struggle with in our society today. As a whole, it seems that more and more people are moving away from having the type of respect for authority figures that they should have. In the school system, most discipline methods have been taken away from teachers, making it nearly impossible for them to control those who have lost respect for their position. The same thing is happening in many homes. Children are not taught to respect authority, instead being allowed to run the household, and control all the actions of the whole family. The mentality found in homes, and in schools has bled over into society as well. Many children have no respect for those that are in positions of authority, which is why we see so many news stories about kids that are disrespectful to the police, and to the judges that they come before. With the mass of society moving away from having respect for authority, is it any wonder that the problem has also worked its way into the Lord’s church? Even Christian parents seem to have trouble teaching their children to respect them and other adults.
Perhaps the worst thing is that this attitude will also affect the way that people treat God and His word. Those who have no respect for authority when it comes to the people around them will have no respect for authority when it comes to what God is telling them to do. Why should they have to listen to the Bible? After all, they think everything revolves around them! They will just do what they want to do do. They will do what feels right to them. They will do what makes them feel good.
Parents have no right to tell children what to do. Teachers have no right to tell students what to do. Policemen have no right to tell citizens what to do. And God has no right to tell anyone what to do. That seems to be the mentality of far too many people. God demands that we show respect for authority. This chapter tells us to show respect to the authority of the government. Do we do that? Even when it is difficult to do? Giving God the respect that is due Him requires that we show respect to the governing authorities over us!
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