Title: Payer and the Patriot’s Act
Text: Romans 12:18 – 13:7
FCF: Because Governments derive their authority from God, we ought to pray that they don’t set up themselves up in opposition to him
SO: We cannot love our country more than we love God, because God is the means by which our country is to be loved.
Argument of the passage – Live peacefully (Who doesn’t, except for maybe the rogue Klingon or two…
Let God be God
Let the authorities be in authority
Let the government do God’s work
- Polygraph
Thankfully, God didn’t force me to choose that day. Upon hearing the struggle between God & country in my mind he tried to dismiss it. He just said, “There’s not really any conflict there.” What he simply took as a matter of fact, I still view as a matter of prayer. I never want there to be conflict of those loyalties, because that’s a war that should never be fought. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “We all pray that God is on our side. That is not the question. I am more concerned that we are on God’s side.” On this post-July 4th weekend, I hope that can be our prayer too.
- Being subject to ≠ blind worship of
o Easily twisted into unthinking obedience
o Tension (Heb 11, Rev 13)
o Blind patriotism Robert E. Lee fights for the wrong side
- If it is possible means there may be conflicts
- Our priorities must be God then country, not the other way ‘round
- No Authority apart from God, b/c God is the author of authority
- Not sep. of Church and State - God is God in our civic lives too
- Loving Susan in order to love Rachel
- looking to a far off city.(Heb 11) Citizenship in heaven (Phil 3 20)
- Carrot & Stick
- Governments not perfect
- April 1865
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They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. In my case, only knowing the theory without the reality could have kept me from a really good job.
After September 11th, a lot of us felt our patriotism. Less than a month after the attacks, I found myself ready to work for the federal government I had to get very specific about what exactly that patriotism meant to me. You see, in order to work for where I work, I needed to be polygraphed – hooked up to a lie detector. Before they start taking measurements, they work with you to ask good questions that don’t unnecessarily set off the needles. The guy in charge asked me if I had any questions that I was afraid of answering.
Now, here’s where a little bit of knowledge came in. I knew enough about the Bible to know that when the earliest Christians said their creed was “Jesus is Lord,” it meant that Jesus was Lord, and not Caesar. In a conflict of loyalties, I love my country, but I know my God is bigger and better than even these United States. I was afraid that if he asked me if my highest loyalty was the United States, I’d have to say ‘No.’ God is bigger.
As one who was raised on the notion in Hebrews that we are just aliens and strangers passing through, I didn’t want my theology to be confused with his checklist. But I wouldn’t have been honest if I thought they were unrelated. I am a Christian first, and to deny that Christ has claim even over my political sensibilities is to be setting up a no-go zone for God. That’s not a place where I want to be.
Thankfully, God didn’t force me to choose that day. Upon hearing the struggle between God & country in my mind he tried to dismiss it. He just said, “There’s not really any conflict there.” What he simply took as a matter of fact, I still view as a matter of prayer. I never want there to be conflict of those loyalties, because that’s a war that should never be fought. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “We all pray that God is on our side. That is not the question. I am more concerned that we are on God’s side.” On this post-July 4th weekend, I hope that can be our prayer too.
As far as Scripture goes, the United States doesn’t get a lot of mention. I guess since the country wouldn’t exist for another 1700 years, the Bible gets a pass on this. Even love of country isn’t a big theme in Scripture.
This morning, the text I want to examine this morning does, however, talk about the practical working out of that love for your country. We love our country, we love peace. But if we would have peace with our country, then we must support and be subject to it. But being “subject to” does not mean “blind worship of.”
It’s a passage that can be easily twisted, so I really need you to follow the whole argument this morning in Romans 12:18 – 13:7. You see, the most memorable line is Romans 13:1 – “Be subject to the governing authorities.” And, while it means that – “Do what the government says,” it is important – especially since we are part of the government now – that we understand why we are subject to it. I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch that if you love, you will obey.
But here’s the point of Paul’s argument – you can only obey the government to the extent that you can obey God. Indeed, you can only love your government to the extent that you love God.
Now, please understand that there is a tension in the Bible. Revelation 13 exalts in the government – their Roman government – being brought down. But that same Bible, in Romans 13 is saying to be obedient – and subject to it. If we just read Romans 13:1 (“Be subject to the governing authorities”) as simple patriotic obedience, it can be twisted such that even good men will do bad things.
Robert E. Lee is one of my heroes. He was one of the closest things to a direct descendant of George Washington and that radical type of pre-Civil War liberty-loving abolitionist who thought that slavery was evil. And, if you don’t believe me on that last point, know that just before the end of the Civil War, Robert E. Lee pressed for emancipation of colored troops who fought to preserve South. Just after the Civil War, when a black man came to take Communion at his church and the whole congregation recoiled in horror, Lee embraced the black man, put his coat around him, and stood next to him as he received the elements.
But a narrow reading of Romans 13:1 and blind patriotism to his native country – the State of Virginia – convinced the great Mexican War Hero to fight against the United States. When the War broke out, Lee faced one of those awful times when your loyalties have to be sorted out – when the various authorities compete to see which will be obeyed. For Lee, being subject to Virginia was incompatible with being subject to the United States, and so he had to choose. Again, may God preserve us from such choices.
When Paul begins this passage by saying, “If it is possible” and “insofar as you are able” to live peaceably among all men, he is not saying you get a pass if you just happen to be a Klingon. He is acknowledging that there are times when it is simply not in your power to be at peace with all the authorities in your life.
Ninety-nine times out of hundred, my polygrapher was right. There is no conflict. But for that one percent, you need to know the order of your priorities, because it is possible that they will disagree.
What happens next is that Paul is going to set those priorities for us – and he is unequivocal: God comes first. God is the author of justice; God is the author of liberty. He sets up kings; he is the one who gets first dibs.
God is God. Not man, not government, not me. Our country is subordinate to that. And again remember: when it’s working right, there is no conflict.
God himself doles out justice. He merely delegates that power to government that they might participate with him. That’s the context in which Paul tells us to be subject to the authorities. The end of Romans 12 – you remember that “Vengeance belongs to God” and you do the loving part and overcome evil with good? That all boils down to this – God is in charge of justice. The second half of verse 13 – “For there is no authority apart from God. He created it” the context is clear that God is the reason we can be subject to the authorities – because it’s his.
If you’re looking for separation of church and state, you’re not going to find that here, because God gets to be God in all things – including government. He has claim on our civic lives. If we were to box him out and cordon him off, we are claiming that there is an area in which he is not to be God. We can only love our government insofar as we can love God. We can only be obedient to our government insofar as we are obedient to God. Again, we really only understand the full extent of our loyalties when they conflict.
A while back, I think I shocked some of you when you heard me tell Rachel that I loved mommy more than her. But, I can only love Rachel inasmuch as I love her mom, so the order is clear. That doesn’t diminish my love for Rachel or Jonathan – it just gives them the assurance that Daddy is able to love them because he loves their mom. Susan & I will also make a point of saying that we love God more than each other. You know me too well to think that’s a mean thing. I love Susan dearly. But I can only love her as much as I love God. His love the foundation on which I could possibly love Susan; My love for Susan is the foundation on which I can love my children. My love for my country can only be truly expressed on the foundation of my love for God. If I did not love and honor him, I could not love and honor my country either.
I know that as an alien and stranger looking to a far off city (Heb 11) – as an ambassador of Christ – my country is literally out of this world. Our citizenship is in heaven. (Phil 3:20) But in living for that country, our behavior can be such that we will do better in living for this one. Knowing what country you truly represent is the mark of the great patriot As Christians, we show our loyalty best by keeping our loyalty to God first.
As to the ninety-nine percent of the time, Paul says I’ll give you two good reasons to obey your country. There’s the carrot: you’re loving God by loving the order your country brings. And there’s the stick: Hey – you want peace from the government? Don’t tick them off. There’s no reason. You’ll regret it. By living peaceably – being a good citizen – you avoid both the anger and your conscience.
And, if you’re some looney holed up in a compound out in Texas or Montana because you don’t think Christians aren’t supposed to pay taxes, you need to read Romans.
But, in fairness, governments aren’t perfect either. In The Federalist Papers, Madison argued for good citizens to keep a watchful eye on their government. He understood that governments are composed of men – not gods. If men were angels, he said, we wouldn’t even need a government in the first place.
When they conflict, it is a matter of conscience like it says in verse 5. Your conscience stays with God.
I told you earlier that Robert E. Lee was one of my heroes. There are a lot of reasons to like him. But one of them was that he eventually learned this. I told you that his conscience was opposed to slavery. It was just his misplaced loyalty that put him on the wrong side of the war.
But you know, his love for God ended up trumping his love for either Virginia or the United States, and that ended up saving our country.
In his book April 1865, Jay Winik argues that Lee saved this country. Out in Missouri, there was a bloody guerilla war already on. On April 6th, Lee had to abandon Richmond, and Jefferson Davis essentially ordered the same type of fighting in Virginia. As a general, he was bound to obey the orders of his commander-in-chief. But as a Christian and a gentleman, Lee knew better.
He hated U.S. Grant, but he knew what he had to do. To save Virginia, to save the union, to submit to the God who created them both, he realized it was his duty to surrender. “There is nothing left for me to do but to go see General Grant.” He said, “I would rather die a thousand deaths.” To Grant and Lincoln’s credit, they too realized that vengeance belonged to God alone. So, with charity to all, and malice towards none, Grant humbly accepted that surrender, and in keeping with how God would have treated his enemy, let them retain their horses for their livelihood and their side-arms for their honor.
Had that peace broken down – had Lee kept fighting, historians agree that we’d probably still be fighting today. But in loving God – in following that love in matters of conscience into all areas of life – military, civic, you name it – they loved their country more than life itself.
We can do that too. It is possible in this our country to argue, persuade, and cajole our government into acting as God would have it act. I’m enough of a Baptist to say this doesn’t mean we need pastors as presidents, but we do need godly deeds to be the backbone of our country. We have a pretty good record of keeping that, God be praised. And that has been to this country’s credit.
Let us pray that is always the case.
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Note: The Church’s One Foundation was Robert E. Lee’s favorite hymn.
Long Branch Baptist Church
Halfway, Virginia; est. 1786
Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Enter to Worship
Prelude David Witt
Meditation Psalm 2
Invocation Michael Hollinger
*Opening Hymn #799
“America the Beautiful”
Welcome & Announcements
Morning Prayer [See Insert]
Special Music “Let There Be Peace”
*Hymn #809
“God of our Fathers”
*Responsive Lesson [See Right]
*Hymn #804
“Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory”
Offertory Mr. Witt
*Doxology
*Scripture Romans 12:18 – 13:7
Sermon
“Prayer and the Patriot’s Act”
Invitation Hymn #401
“The Church’s One Foundation”
*Benediction
*Congregational Response
May the grace of Christ our Savior / And the Father’s boundless love
With the Holy Spirit’s favor / Rest upon us from above. Amen.
* Congregation, please stand.
Depart To Serve
RESPONSIVE LESSON
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;
A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. Our citizenship is in heaven, and we await a Savior.
Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. If not, it will return to you.
And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Nu 6:24-26;Pr 16:7;Is 2:4;Mt 5:9;Ro 8:6;Zec 8:16;Jas 3:18;Lk 10:5-6; Heb 11:9-12;
2 Cor 5:20; Phil 3:20; Mt 10:13-15; Ro 15:13;Eze 37:26;1 Th 5:23;Ro 15:33
ROMANS 12:18 – 13:7
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
PRAYER LIST
Debbie Flickinger, Warren Lee, Debbie Grigsby, Corey Keely, Susan Schulz, Martha Puryear, Cindy & Thomas Lee, Irene Griffith.
Long Branch Church, your deacons, the next pastor.
Our President, our Congress, our Court, our Governor, and other elected representatives. Our police, firemen, teachers, and men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan, Our enemies.
Zane, Steve, Jeff, and Bruce – for their families as they serve the Lord in Central Asia.
Let There Be Peace on Earth
by Sy Miller and Bill Jackson
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me;
Let there be peace on earth,
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me,
Let this be the moment now;
With every step I take,
Let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment and live each moment
In peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
7/15: Luke 12:13-21 – The Requirements of a Bigger Barn
7/22: Guest – Bill Matlack
7/29: Guest – Bill Thigpen
*8/5: Guest – Pam Chisholm (Communion Sunday)
8/12: Guest – Keith Kyger
8/19: 1 Cor 1 – On the Merits of Foolishness
8/26: 1 Cor 2 – Tastes Great (but it’s less filling)
9/2: 1 Cor 3 – A Lean, Mean, God Machine
9/9:
9/16: Homecoming!!!!
