May 31st, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Living In A Fallen World

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Sovereign Lord, assure me today that Your knowing, caring hand is at the helm of my life, and of the world.

Read Romans 13:1-14

[1] Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. [2] Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. [3] For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. [4] For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. [5] Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. [6] This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. [7] Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. [8] Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. [9] The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” [10] Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. [11] And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. [12] The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. [13] Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. [14] Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry” (Psa. 146:7). Building God’s kingdom means doing God’s work.

Think Further

The 20th century produced some appalling tyrannies. How do we handle this passage in the light of all that deliberately inflicted suffering? Was Dietrich Bonhoeffer right to support the attempt to assassinate Hitler? How do we apply this teaching to 21st century democracies? Trying to relate the Bible to politics today is complex, and formulating simplistic views buttressed by a few proof texts is no help at all. That civil authority, of whatever shape, is ultimately derived from God is a basic teaching of the OT and is reaffirmed in the NT writings. It is the gift of God that human life is social, involving family, kin, local and wider communities, which have and need orderly and just laws and patterns of governance run by some for the benefit of all. However, all of these social and civil authorities are flawed. The Christians of the Roman Empire had no political power; if called upon to act against God’s laws they could simply say no and endure the consequences. But in democracies we have the right and the duty to participate and sometimes peacefully oppose.

Love fulfills the Law—Paul once more refers back to Jesus who summed up the Law quoting Leviticus 19:18 (Matt. 22:39). Loving your neighbor includes paying taxes, honoring authority, keeping the law, voting and contributing to political debate. We do this “understanding the present time” (11), the time between the resurrection and the day when Jesus comes again. Because “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ” and “has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:19), we are active in our world, bringing God’s transforming love into every part of our lives, home, school, work, politics. He works through his church to bring the transformation that began with the resurrection.

Apply

Many Christians avoid contact with politics, or simply conform. Do you have a church group willing to work through political and social issues to help you respond biblically?

Closing prayer

Lord, enable me to be a good and faithful servant of Yours in the world. Help me not to curse the darkness but light candles of hope and help.

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