The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
\nJuly 3, 2016
\nRomans 13:1-7<\/p>\n
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Who can tell me where these words are from?\u00a0 Of course!\u00a0 They are from our country\u2019s Declaration of Independence.\u00a0 For 240 years these words have been part of the founding principles on which our great country has been built.<\/p>\n
I have only been to three other countries in my entire life (Antigua, the Bahamas and China), but I am convinced that the United States of America is the greatest country on the face of the earth.\u00a0 There is no place I would rather live than right here in the good \u2018ol U.S of A.\u00a0 But I am concerned, my friends.\u00a0 When I look at all of the changes that our country has made in just the past few years and when I listen to the tone of the current presidential campaigns, I cannot help but lift up my eyes to the God of heaven and pray, \u201cLord, have mercy on us!\u201d\u00a0 Did you know that the two presumptive candidates for president are \u201cthe most disliked candidates in history\u201d?\u00a0 According to a May 24, 2016 article in the Bakersfield Californian, \u201cA new CBS\/New York Times poll shows that\u2026more than 57 percent of Americans view Trump unfavorably, and 52 percent don\u2019t think Clinton is any better.\u201d\u00a0 Another article in the New York Times (May 10, 2016) states, \u201cWe have an explosive environment with two extremely negative candidates.\u00a0 This is going to be a race to the bottom.\u00a0 It\u2019s who can drive up the negatives the most.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since this is the weekend that we celebrate our country\u2019s independence and since in my opinion we are at a very precarious time in our country\u2019s history I thought that today would be a very good time for us to look at what God\u2019s Word has to say on the subject of government.\u00a0 For that reason let\u2019s focus our attention this morning on the words of the apostle Paul recorded for us in Romans 13:1-7.\u00a0 Under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit the apostle Paul says to God\u2019s people of old and he says to us, God\u2019s people today, \u201c<\/em>Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.\u00a0 The authorities that exist have been established by God.\u00a0 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.\u00a0 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.\u00a0 Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?\u00a0 Then do what is right and he will commend you.\u00a0 For he is God’s servant to do you good.\u00a0 But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.\u00a0 He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.\u00a0 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.\u00a0 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.\u00a0 Give everyone what you owe him:\u00a0 If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 As we study these words on this Fourth of July weekend let\u2019s study them under the theme:\u00a0 The Authorities that Exist Have Been Established by God.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 There are two points we want to emphasize.\u00a0 First, let\u2019s look at the God-given purpose of government.\u00a0 Then let\u2019s look at the God-given responsibilities of God\u2019s people.<\/p>\n As Christians who believe in the inspiration of the Bible, we cannot simply brush aside the words, \u201cThe authorities that exist have been established by God.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 For 240 years God has blessed us with a form of government that has brought us many advantages\u2014 advantages that billions of people in other parts of the world simply do not have.\u00a0 By the grace of God we live in a nation that has been founded on the guiding principles of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and those God-given \u201cunalienable Rights\u2026Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.\u201d\u00a0 By the grace of God we live in a nation where if we don\u2019t like the individuals who are governing us\u2014 whether on a local level or a national level\u2014 we can vote them out of office and they have to leave.\u00a0 Why God has chosen to establish other forms of government in other nations we can\u2019t say.\u00a0 What we can say is exactly what Paul says here in our text.\u00a0 Whether they realize it or not every <\/strong>government has been \u201cestablished by God.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Therefore, whether they realize it or not every <\/strong>government is \u201cGod\u2019s servant.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Look back over the course of history, my friends.\u00a0 Even pagan governments and God-less empires such as Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Greece and Rome (the empire under which the people who originally read these words were living) all played a role in God\u2019s Plan to establish the glorious eternal Kingdom of His Son!\u00a0 (Pointing to the cross)<\/p>\n \u201cThe authorities that exist have been established by God.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 What does that teach us when it comes to the God-given purpose of a government?\u00a0 Paul answers that question by highlighting two sides of the same coin.\u00a0 Look once again at verses three and four of our text.\u00a0 Paul writes, \u201cFor rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.\u00a0 Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?\u00a0 Then do what is right and he will commend you.\u00a0 For he is God\u2019s servant to do you good.\u00a0 But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.\u00a0 He is God\u2019s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The overriding God-given purpose of human government is to maintain peace and order in society.\u00a0 This means that when we the people are striving to do what is good we should not have to \u201cfear\u201d<\/em> our government.\u00a0 In fact, when we the people are striving to do what is good we should expect our government to \u201ccommend\u201d<\/em> us\u2014 whether that takes the form of allowing us to live our life in peace or whether it takes the form of helping us in our old age through various social programs or whether it takes the form of being there to help us and defend us when we are in trouble.<\/p>\n At the same time, however, the government is also to be \u201cGod\u2019s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoers.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 When someone breaks the law, when someone \u201cdoes wrong,\u201d<\/em> we the people can expect that our government will fulfill its God-given duty to \u201cpunish\u201d<\/em> them.\u00a0 That\u2019s why Paul reminds God\u2019s people in Rome that a Roman soldier \u201cdoes not bear <\/em>(this word can also be translated as \u201cwear\u201d<\/em>) the sword for nothing.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Today we might say that a law enforcement officer does not wear a weapon as a fashion accessory.\u00a0 They wear that weapon to protect the innocent and if necessary to \u201cpunish\u201d<\/em> the \u201cwrongdoer.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Now, we could easily spend hours discussing and debating whether or not our government has either gone way past its God-given role of maintaining peace and order in society or is failing to fulfill its most basic God-given responsibility.\u00a0 But since we don\u2019t have hours to discuss that issue and since that issue is not the focus of this text, let\u2019s turn to the second point we need to emphasize from this portion of Scripture:\u00a0 our God-given responsibilities when it comes to the government that God has established for us.\u00a0 I see two basic responsibilities that God has given to you and to me.<\/p>\n The first responsibility is found in these words, \u201cEveryone must submit himself to the governing authorities\u2026he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 As Christians we don\u2019t have the option of deciding whether or not we are going to \u201csubmit\u201d<\/em> to the governing authorities that God has placed over us.\u00a0 Remember\u2014 these word were originally written to Christians who were living in the completely pagan imperialistic Empire of Rome!\u00a0 And yet, God the Holy Spirit had the apostle Paul tell God\u2019s people that they are to \u201csubmit\u201d<\/em> to the governing authorities.\u00a0 \u201cRebelling\u201d<\/em> against the authorities that God Himself has \u201cestablished\u201d<\/em> is \u201crebelling\u201d<\/em> against God and will bring the appropriate \u201cjudgment.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Crucial to understanding this God-given responsibility is understanding the word that is translated as \u201csubmit.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Very literally this word means \u201cto place oneself under\u201d<\/em> the authority of someone else.\u00a0 It does not <\/strong>mean to \u201cblindly obey\u201d them.\u00a0 Our \u201csubmission\u201d<\/em> to the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d<\/em> that God has placed over us means that we will follow the law\u2014 not just the laws that we like but even the laws that we don\u2019t like.\u00a0 While we can use the political process at our disposal to change or repeal the laws we don\u2019t like we will not be vigilantes.\u00a0 We will not be anarchists.\u00a0 We will not be a part of or give any support to organizations such as BAMN (By Any Means Necessary).\u00a0 That\u2019s the group that organized a counter protest in Sacramento last week and started a riot.\u00a0 As Christians we will strive to set the bar for what it means to be a law-abiding citizen of this great land\u2014 unless!\u00a0 Unless our government requires something of us that clearly contradicts God\u2019s will as it is revealed to us here in His holy Word!\u00a0 In that scenario we follow the example of Peter and the other apostles.\u00a0 When the religious authorities among God\u2019s people gave them \u201cstrict orders not to teach in this name\u201d<\/em> (i.e. Jesus\u2019 name), Peter and the other apostles replied, \u201cWe must obey God rather than men!\u201d<\/em> (Acts 5:29)\u00a0 So while we will strive to be law-abiding citizens, if our own government demands that we do something (or not do something), that we believe something (or not believe something), that we accept something (or not accept something) that violates the Word of our God we must<\/strong> say, \u201cNo!\u201d\u2014 no matter what the consequences might be!<\/p>\n \u201cSubmitting\u201d<\/em> to the \u201cgoverning authorities that God has established\u201d<\/em> over us also means that it is our God-given responsibility to \u201cgive everyone what you owe him.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Look at the closing words of our text.\u00a0 Paul writes, \u201cThis is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God\u2019s servants who give their full time to governing.\u00a0 Give everyone what you owe him:\u00a0 If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n There may be times when we look at how our government spends our tax dollars and we might say to ourselves, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t feel bad about cheating on my taxes because \u2018they\u2019 waste so much money or \u2018they\u2019 use my money for things I don\u2019t support, or\u2026.\u201d\u00a0 If that thought ever crosses our mind or if we have ever committed that sin, then we need to turn to the God who gave us these words of our text and ask Him to forgive us!\u00a0 Then we need to remember that since the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d<\/em> are God\u2019s \u201cservants\u201d<\/em> whether they realize it or not, one day they will be held accountable by God for how they fulfilled the role and carried out the responsibilities that He has given to them.<\/p>\n Then there are those words, \u201cIf you owe\u2026 respect, then (give) respect; if honor, then (give) honor.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s just me, but it seems as though honor and respect are on the verge of extinction.\u00a0 You listen to politicians on both sides of the aisle, you listen to the supporters of both the presumptive presidential candidates and it seems as though honor and respect are foreign concepts!\u00a0 As Christians we cannot fall into that same mud pit.\u00a0 Even if the person we vote for does not win the election we still remember what Paul says here in our text, \u201cthe authorities that exist have been established by God.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Even if the person we vote for does not win the election we still need to conduct ourselves in a way that is worthy of the One whose Name we bear!\u00a0 (Pointing to the cross)<\/p>\n Most of us would probably agree that our country is not perfect.\u00a0 After all, it is both run by and filled with imperfect, mortal, sinful human beings just like you and me. At the same time most of us would probably agree that there is no other place we would rather live.\u00a0 As we celebrate our nation\u2019s 240th<\/sup> birthday this weekend, let\u2019s take this opportunity to rededicate ourselves to what our God says to us concerning the \u201cgoverning authorities\u201d<\/em> that He Himself has \u201cestablished\u201d<\/em> over us.\u00a0 Remembering what God says to us here in Romans 13 will lead us to understand and appreciate the God-given purpose of government.\u00a0 Remembering what God says to us here in Romans 13 will lead us to understand and strive to fulfill the responsibilities that the God of heaven has given to us as His children and as Christian citizens of this great land.<\/p>\n To God be the glory!<\/p>\n Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost July 3, 2016 Romans 13:1-7 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, \u201cWe hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.\u201d Who can tell me where these words are from?\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=693"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":694,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/693\/revisions\/694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}