Romans 13:1-10 - by Don Neuendorf
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities...
These are hard verses. I remember having trouble with these verses even when I was a child, long before I could vote. By the time I was 9 years old I could think of a long list of excuses for disrespecting and, consequently, disobeying the authorities...
- What if they're wrong?
- What if they're corrupt?
- What if they just don't know what I know about this?
- What if the rule is unfair?
- What if the rule was not passed properly?
- What if the rule is not enforced the same for everyone?
Need I go on? Pick what rule you dislike - the speed limit, the tax code, the copyright laws - we conveniently skirt the bottom-line issue that Paul raises.
THESE PEOPLE ARE IN THE PLACE GIVEN THEM BY GOD FOR THE GOOD OF SOCIETY.
Ouch. It's hard to believe because we know so many of them are ungodly. Some of them are not Christians at all. Some of them act in immoral ways. The Democrats - the Republicans - take your pick of who you oppose the most - we know all about their problems. But... we forget that Paul was writing as a citizen of Rome, subject to pagan rulers who didn't even bother pretending to be fair or moral.
And yet, there is something more important than even our rights. It is the opportunity we have to obey God and reveal his righteousness to the world. As Christian believers humbly assert the truth, even at risk of mistreatment, our message gains power - and Jesus' name is lifted up.
What is more important than that?