Romans 13

Being in subjection

Thanks to Richard for his exhortation and passion last week regarding the fear of the Lord in being the best version of ourselves. Choosing to serve the Lord and allowing Him to rule over us!!

And thanks to our Moms who bore us, wiped our noses, changed our diapers, tended us when we were sick, had dinner on the table as we grew up. My mom had to raise 4 boys while Dad was on the road. But the greatest moment for me was the chain reaction of my salvation in 1983. Celebrating 42 years April 30!

Now I understand Mother’s day may be difficult for some of you because your moms were not saved or servants of the Lord, maybe they abandoned you or you are currently estranged.

But for us as believers, our existence is called to a higher authority who will never leave us or forsake us.

Romans 13:1–7 LSB

1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist have been appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists that authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of that authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword in vain, for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of that wrath, but also because of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

For over a century, we’ve learned about the terrible regimes such as Vladimir Lenin who was influenced by Karl Marx to establish the communist Soviet Union in 1917,

Joseph Stalin was raised in an Orthodox Christianity but later embraced atheism and became a a paranoid Jew-hater, joined the Communist Party, taking over for Lenin in 1922 and ruled the Soviet Union for 25 terror-filled years, killing thousands of Jews in the 1930s, including many who’d been his most loyal and trusted comrades.

Benito Mussolini the atheist ruler of Italy, led the National Fascist Party from 1922 to 1943. In that time, he made public attacks on Christianity and the Roman Catholic Church but needing the Catholic vote, he made a treaty with them. On June 10, 1940, he led Italy into World War II, siding with Nazi Germany.

Which leads to Adolf Hitler, a Catholic, who was primarily motivated by the notions of racial purity or Arianism. He believed that the Arian race was the super race and must rule the world. Ironically he relied upon Luther’s theology in presenting his rationale to the German people regarding his slaughter of millions of Jews…

All these regimes were marked by violence, persecution, and the slaughter of millions!

And while Rome was just as corrupt in many ways, they were more focused on virtues such as discipline, duty, and respect for authority, with a strong emphasis on public behavior and the well-being of the state.

But there was plenty of people who followed pagan religions and acted more like they were part of a college frat house with all-night parties and orgies, and all the excesses of exotic food and drink while 20-40% of the slaves who lived in poverty had to clean up the mess!

Kind of sounds like American culture today! Most Americans believe its good to have laws and limits but we are seeing an increase of paid protests to resist civil statues in the name of freedom of speech, burn down cities, destroy property led by politicians who are motivated by taxpayer money to make sure investments in the stock market to secure their families leaving them millions of dollars, hunger for political power, influence using the legacy media platforms, to rent stadiums for their parties, fly first class to Epstein island, and travel on other exotic vacations they can conjure up with an open check book and no accountability!

For decades, this kind of behavior was hidden by the public because everybody with in on it! But with the help of social media, smart phones and instant access we are seeing justice being done.

1 Peter 2:13–17 LSB

Be subject for the sake of the Lord to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do good. For such is the will of God that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as slaves of God. Honor all people, love the brethren, fear God, honor the king.