Romans
13:1-11
The
Paradoxical (Ironic) State of the Christian
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Fortunately, there is clear guidance from the
pen of St. Paul in his letter to the Romans.
Now we
come to our Epistle lesson for this day. Paul places an obligation upon us –
the obligation to obey those who are over us. Paul urges us that obedience to
the officials and to the laws of government are God pleasing as he teaches that
love is the fulfillment of the law.
Paul begins this section with a command. A divine directive. “Each
must be subject to the governing authorities.” v.1
Paul makes it very simple for us. To resist the State is to resist
God. To obey governmental officials is to obey God. Paul is on the side of law
and order. We obey the laws of the State for good order and for sake of a good
conscious.
Now, it is assumed that governmental officials are trustworthy
ministers of justice for all. According to this viewpoint, the State is an order
of God’s creation. It is the Father’s way of executing justice and restraining
evil. Thus, government officials are ministers of God carrying out justice in
society by punishing evildoers.
This teaching from Paul gives Christians a new insight into their
attitude and response to government and its laws. To disobey the laws of the
State is to disobey God who will bring judgment upon offenders.
Yet Paul does not insist on blind obedience. At all costs. If and
when a government is corrupt and discriminates against or persecutes people, it
is because evil powers have taken over and must be resisted.
The apostle reminds us to honor those over us as His
representatives. However, if one of these demands something which God forbids or
forbids something which God demands, we must obey God.
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were ordered to pay homage to
the king, they replied, “O
Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able
to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of
your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not
serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel
3: 16-18)
These Hebrew boys were never promised that the Lord would spare
them.
They knew the Lord was able to intervene. Yet it was not given to
them that deliverance would come. It did not matter. They were willing to suffer and face even
death if the Lord would not adjudicate their situation. Still, they submitted
to a higher authority; the authority of God.
Until Jesus comes, we will be "pilgrims and strangers" in this world. Like those believers in
Rome, we are surrounded by an alien culture. That needs to hear about Jesus.
That needs to see His truth lived out by those who claim to know Him.
Consequently, we submit to those who are masters over us.
So, how do we as Christians live our lives in this present world? These
words of St Paul apply to us. They have helped guide our decisions with respect
to responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. An issue which continues to be on
everyone’s mind these days.
Our driving principle throughout these unprecedented times
continue: “We are given to serve both
faithfully and responsibly in loving service and care for souls and the health
and safety of our members and our neighbors in the world.”
In our present context; the State has never declared that we cannot worship. Had any such an order been
given we are obligated to obey God rather than men. The prophet Daniel is yet
another example of one who courageously defied a king’s edict.
Our Governor’s Order reads: Places
of worship have been at this present time directed to implement strategies for
services held in person with the goal of continuing to slow and contain the
spread of COVID-19, while uplifting each other during this difficult time.[2]
This is an order we can live with. Under the 4th
Commandment we follow the directives of our local health department and the State.
Under the 5th Commandment we implement health and safety protocols
for the good of all.
When providing services in person, places of
worship are encouraged to follow the minimum health and sanitation protocols
while practicing social distancing.[3]
To comply with these directives we now offer two services at 9 and
11 am. We spread out. We wear masks. We
limit our worship service to 100 persons or less. We’ve pulled our hymnals. We don’t pass the
plate or pass the peace. We separate hosts and cups on the credence table.
We continue to broadcast our 9 o’clock service on the radio as
well as live stream our service via social media. We sanitize this room between
services and throughout the week.
We request members register to attend our services so that; in the
event that someone tests positive for Covid-19 and was in our building, we can
conduct reasonable and responsible contact tracing.
We follow these directives for sake of a good conscience and in
loving service toward our neighbor.
Martin Luther speaking on the topic of Christian liberty once
said, “A Christian is a perfectly free
lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of
all, subject of all.”[4]
I.
As a Christian you are free from bondage. “A
Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
In God’s Son is full perfection and fulfillment
of all the requirements of God. As God’s Son Jesus loved perfectly. As God’s
Son Jesus lived perfectly. As God’s Son Jesus fulfilled the will of the Father
perfectly.
On Calvary’s cross we see - THAT GREAT EXCHANGE—
God’s mercy and forgiveness purchased at the cost of His own Son! “For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life.” – John 3:1
In Him we see the contours of how love fulfills
the whole law. Love compels us. “Owe no
one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has
fulfilled the law.” V. 8 –You are to be free of all debt except the debt of
love. The one thing we have over our fellowman is love. For love is the
performance of the law. Love is the fulfillment of the law.
If you truly love your fellowman, you will not
hurt him, steal from him, lie to him or covet what he has. –v.9
If we truly loved God, we would willingly obey
God’s laws. Love is the answer to our delinquency, crime and moral corruption.
The larger problem is, however, where can we get such love? How can we get
people to love each other?
The answer sounds rather elementary yet it
remains so fundamental. We must first experience Christ’s love for us before we
can truly love and serve our neighbor.
“To be a Christian is to
live under the sign of Him who came from heaven down to earth, to live under
the sign of His cross and resurrection, and thus to wait hopefully, patiently,
on this earth, by making it a better place - and to challenge the world, -
through one’s vocation and the church to do the same.” – Gerhard Forde (Where God Meets Man)
II.
As a Christian you are in bondage to everyone. “A
Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.”
Since the fall, man will continue to be self-centered
always tempted to turn away from both God and neighbor alike; to fix his focus
on himself. For this reason we need the Lord’s instruction.
The Law of God is a mirror, which shows us our
sin. But it is also a ruler and a guide; holding up to our vision the loving
service for which we were designed. In love you serve your neighbor.
A summary of the Law is useful. Paul explains, “Love is the fulfilling of the Law.” It
keeps us from getting caught up in “keeping the rules.” Love simply does no wrong to a neighbor. V.10
It is factual. Love does fulfill all
obligations, because love does no harm to anyone but seeks the other’s welfare.
Thus Paul can teach us, Love is patient
and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not
insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at
wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures
all things. Love
never ends. – 1
Corinthians 13:4-8a
You have been designed to love and serve both
God and your neighbor. Our obligations extend beyond the religious sphere to
include the humanity in which we live. In the church we seek mercy. In this
world we seek justice. Both are governed by the Lord’s truth; His integrity, His
Word.
We have obligations to the State, established by
God. Therefore, we ought to be subject, for it is both God-pleasing and useful.
Christians should make the best citizens. Love God. Serve your neighbor. This
is how you live your life as a redeemed child of God; thus becoming a sermon in
shoes.
__________________
Words –1,615
Passive Sentences –7%
Readability – 73.4%
Reading Level –6.1
[1]
Luther’s Seal copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2]
Governor Holcomb’s Indiana Back on Track Order Phase 2 May 4-21,2020
[3]
ibid
[4] ―
Martin Luther, On Christian Liberty
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