• In 2020 did you perceive it was a double standard around the country that churches were shut-down or limited in services allowed, yet bars, restaurants, big box stores and malls were deemed essential, so not nearly as affected?
BODY
• As Christians, I believe there are some critical questions we should consider, pray over, and prepare ourselves.
• I also believe, most would agree we live in turbulent times!
• We’ve experienced some unprecedented events that have challenged our freedoms.
• I’d like us to examine Romans 13:1-7 (read from my bible) stand with me as we honor God while reading His word.
• If your first thought was our current federal government, and you thought “wait, what?” well I am right there with you.
A couple of thoughts to begin with, about this passage:
• This is arguably one of Paul’s most controversial passages.
• How do we apply it in our world today?
A couple of weeks ago, I was having lunch with a friend and our conversation turned to “the state of the union” as we see it.
In the middle of our lament, he opened up Romans 13:1.
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
v.2-7
Our initial reaction might be one of:
• Ok God’s got this. He is in control
• Or, I’ve got nothing to worry about
• Or even, whatever happens is God ordained.
• We can back this up with Scripture:
o Matthew 6:25 “therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”
o Philippians 4:6 “be anxious for nothing, but in everything prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
o John 14:27 “peace I leave you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.
These are comforting words in such times of uncertainty.
For people of a certain age, we don’t worry so much about ourselves, but the world that we are leaving our children and grandchildren.
Back to this lunch conversation I had with my friend. He read Romans 13:1 and
Almost immediately my mind went to:
John 19
For me, this is one of the most powerful passages in all of scripture.
John 19:10-11 (read from my bible)
So, if we are to take Romans 13:1 as Gods Word, as we should, then Paul is telling us that Pontius Pilot has been appointed in authority, by God Himself.
Wow, that is just too deep for my shallow mind!
Let’s transition away from this for just a moment.
• I’ll read Romans 13:1-5 again.
Before Jesus says to Pilot what was recorded in John 19, He says these words in the Garden of Gethsemane when he is arrested:
• Matthew 26:53
o “or, do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?”
o Again, he was submitting to the authorities.
? However, here’s the rub: Jesus knew scriptures had to be fulfilled!
I also believe we are seeing scripture being fulfilled in our world today.
Let’s assume this fact:
All governments around the world have been appointed by God, then it would clearer for me to understand:
Revelations 13:3 NLT “I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery-but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. Repeat: The whole world.
Here’s the irony of Pauls’ writing of Romans 13:1.
Paul was imprisoned numerous times for preaching Gods word in violation of Roman law!
Obviously, he wasn’t being submissive in everything to the governing authorities!
Maybe what Paul is saying is that up until the point where man puts himself above God, are we to submit to governing authorities.
Let’s look at some examples of civil disobedience in scripture:
Acts 4:13-20 these are the rulers, elders and scribes(from bible)
Acts 5:27-32 again high priests and rulers (read from bible)
There are many others, but let’s look at one more:
Daniel 3: 5,12 (set it up and read from bible)
I was reading in my Founders Bible, because I wanted to learn what our Founding Fathers believed about Romans 13:1
The first thing I learned was that some scholars (probably English) believed that the United States was born out of violation of NT principles that are found in Romans 13. History records that the American Revolutionary War was not started as an offensive war, but rather a defensive war. All accounts were that we were trying to make the separation from England peacefully, when we were attacked.
There is a ton of history to unbox there, but my point is this:
Our Founding Fathers were sensitive to Gods word in attempting a peaceful separation from England.
CLOSING
• It would be difficult to argue that we are not facing troubling times!
• When Paul wrote Romans, Nero was the Emperor. He was a tyrant among tyrants.
• Paul knew what a corrupt and ungodly government looked like. He saw it up close and personal. In fact Nero was responsible for both Peter and Paul’s death.
• Gods’ word commands us to respect authority, but not placing any authority above Him!
• There is a musical term called “resolution”. The simple explanation is “return to where you started”.
• So I’ll ask again:
o In 2020 did you perceive it a double-standard around the country that churches were shut-down or very limited in services, yet bars, restaurants, big box stores and malls were deemed essentials, so not as nearly affected?
o Here’s what Hebrews 10:25 tells us about the essentiality of the church:
? Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
? …and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.
