Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction:
Open your Bibles to Romans 13
While you find your spot, let me address something I have seen a lot of lately that concerns me.
This country is divided now more than we have been in a very long time.
We will allow anyone and anything to divide us these days.
Right now, I could divide this room over what sports team to root for
I’ve got friends and family all over the United States
Some of them can’t stand the current president
Some of them think he’s the greatest thing ever
I’m not going to tell you who thinks what, because if I did, some of you wouldn’t like them
In fact, some of you may be mad at me now, because I have friends and family on both sides
What is disturbing, though, is the level to which we seem to be willing to hate those we don’t agree with
For four years while President Trump was in office, I saw people refuse to call him the president
I saw constant and flagrant disrespect towards the highest elected official in our country
And I saw many Trump supporters who were upset by this
But now, many of the same people that were upset that Trump was disrespected are now being disrespectful of the Biden administration
I saw a bumper sticker the other day wishing for malice towards the president and towards anyone that voted for him
And on the same car was a sticker about Jesus
And in seeing these things, I couldn’t help but think of our discussion in Romans
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to live transformed lives
Our lives should look vastly different than they did before we met Jesus
Our lives should look radically different from the lives of others around us
We are called to love and give sacrificially for the sake of the Gospel and the advance of God’s Kingdom
Last week, we were talking about how our love...
must be more than lip service
It must be giving and happy not to receive
requires us to be peacemakers among warmongers
The things that Christ calls us to in love are simple, but they are not easy
But you and I are called to be different.
And as we continue in Romans this morning, we’re going to see this includes the way we handle those in authority over us
Pray, invite the church to be seated
*LISTENING GUIDES OUT
Last week, we were challenged in our text to love those that hate us and persecute us
This isn’t something that you and I have had to experience a lot of in the U.S.
It is something that is normal, though, for followers of Jesus
Jesus told us that we should expect people to hate us because of Him
Should it really be shocking, then, that it happens more and more?
And one major source of persecution historically is government
This is why the Pilgrims came to the New World
It is why the early church scattered from Jerusalem
Persecution against Christians often has come from the hands of government authority
And based on that sentiment, the human side of me says to fight fire with fire
Shouldn’t we fight for our rights as our greatest priority?
Isn’t it right for us to disparage those with unbiblical opinions or worldviews different than our own?
Isn’t it okay for us to be disrespectful and mocking of those in government that we didn’t vote for or don’t agree with?
In human reasoning, all of these things see like logical, normal responses
And yet, what we find is that Christ again calls us to a place of surrender.
There are three ways Christ calls us to a difficult surrender in regards to government authority.
Let’s look at them one by one.
Verse 1:
The first hard call to surrender this morning is this:
God puts men in authority, and we must be subject to them
God is the sovereign King of the universe!
All authority comes from Him
If someone has authority, it is only because God granted that authority to them
Those that are in authority are also accountable to God for how they use that authority
But you and I are also accountable: for the way that we respond in subjection to them
This doesn’t mean we need to obey laws and orders that are contrary to Scripture
There are strong examples in Scripture that show this isn’t the case
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
This does mean, though, that we need to remain humble and Christ-honoring in showing respect to our leaders, even when standing against an immoral law.
Failing to respect your leaders and authorities is a rejection of God’s sovereignty because...
God put them in that place
His Name is put to shame by you when you rebel
In general, doing good will bring no rebuke from authorities
We should be less concerned with who is in authority and more concerned with doing good and not evil.
Evil is always punished
Even a despot ruler that punishes evil is a minister of God when he doe it.
Let’s continue, verse 5
The next hard call to surrender this morning is this:
Respectful submission to authority glorifies God in loving witness
Being obedient and submissive will keep you out of trouble, but it also exalts the name of Christ when His people are good citizens.
When we obey, even what we think is unfair, we open doors for the Gospel and avoid being a stumbling block
God’s people have often seen unfair taxation by governments
Rome
European governments
Our first response as Americans towards something like this is to fight and to pitch a fit about it
Christ calls us to a different response
Did Jesus ask if the tax was fair?
Did he ask if it was warranted?
Did he ask if we agree with it?
But what Jesus commands us to do is the same thing that Paul says here: PAY THE TAX!
Remember:
God put these people in authority
They will be held accountable for their actions by God: Vengeance is His!
Regardless of their intent, God is serving His purposes in allowing them to act in what they say and do.
Paying what is owed in taxes and customs and honoring those in authority is Christ-honoring
A Christian is to be a man of his word
Pay your bills, debts, and taxes promptly
Don’t leave room for critique!
Be a good citizen!
Paying your taxes and debts, being a good citizen is a way that we show love to our neighbors
Think of what the world sees when Christians fail to do these things...
at best, bad witnesses (we defame Christ’s Name)
untrustworthy people (We don’t do what we say)
rebellious and selfish (unwilling to do our part)
Jesus said that loving others is the second greatest commandment
The entirety of God’s law is built on loving God and loving others
Even if we disagree with our leaders, being disrespectful, rebellious, and dismissive of them defames the name of Christ
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