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Paul closes chapter 12 telling us not to be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. In this chapter he develops the process of how we overcome evil with good by submitting in love to God, the governing authorities, and each other. Christians are people who live in two worlds at once; we live on Earth but our citizenship is in heaven. Our role in this world is to be submissive, supportive, respectful citizens, for we understand that God is ultimately in control. Paul explains that government has a good and right purpose. It provides a system of order. Even bad government is better than anarchy and chaos. If you are blessed to live in a country that provides stability and freedom, be thankful, pray for your leaders and get about the work of spreading the "Good News". If you live in a country without those freedoms, pray that your leadership would recognize God as the cause of their very existence and power. We do not have to approve of leaders who are not honest or moral, but we do have to respect the position of leadership they have been given. We are also called to love them and desire their ultimate "good", which is to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Many Christians have been confused by the first part of Romans 13. As we look at our world today, we see atrocities and persecution inflicted upon innocent people by oppressive governments. Does that mean we must obey and follow these corrupt governments? To understand the answer to this question, let us begin with the words of Jesus in Matthew 22:21, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. " The first part of Jesus' answer reinforced Caesar's authority, laying the basis for the teaching Paul gives in Romans 13:7, "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes pay taxes..." The second part of Jesus' answer draws limits, showing that although the state has legitimate authority, God's is greater. Therefore, those who know God must ultimately obey Him, even if that means disobeying Caesar. Because Christians recognize the state's legitimate authority, they should be the very best citizens. However, sometimes it may be necessary to fulfill that responsibility by opposing the state verbally or by acts of non-compliance when the government strays from its legitimate, God-given function. In most cases this should be done with words, not by coercive power, since the power of the sword is the state's, not ours. When is it necessary for Christians to disobey the state? When the state oversteps its God given responsibility. To discern when that may be takes a great deal of wisdom. We must understand biblical principles and ask for the Holy Spirit to instruct through prayer, our conscience, and other Christians' confirmation of our objections. Governing authorities are not God, and we must give to God what is God's alone, but it takes grace to know the difference. There are at least three areas when we must resist the state. The first is whenever the state forbids the preaching of the gospel or evangelism. God has directed all Christians to evangelize. I take this example from Acts 4:19-20 and 5:29. We also should understand that this will not be easy. Many of the early preachers were arrested and beaten. Some were killed. But they evangelized anyway. In many parts of the world, governments are becoming increasingly intolerant of any public articulation of Christian convictions. Pray for grace to know how to bring God's truth to closed countries and societies. A second biblical basis for resistance is in moral areas affecting Christians. No government has the right to command Christians to perform sinful or non-Christian acts. Government has no God-given right to massacre or enslave its citizens. It has no right to use Christians to advance evil. A third area in which Christians must sometimes disobey the state, but it is a difficult one, is when the state flagrantly ignores righteousness or justice. Those who are affected by or sensitive to these wrongs may feel the need to correct the wrong by more than speaking out. There are times when civil action is right and necessary. However, as soon as we move away from working within the system of government, we can cross the line into wrong responses. The power of the sword has been given to the state to defend its citizens and enforce moral order. That is what the law is about. The power of the sword is ineffective in teaching or making people moral. From where does morality come, then? From God, through the power of His Spirit revealing the truth of Jesus. Morality must work its way into national life through citizens who know, love, and sincerely desire to please God. When that happens, a nation becomes morally strong, and justice becomes a reality. Nations will not become strong by laws but by the character of her citizens. Verse 11 of this chapter propels us into paying our debt of love "understanding the present time." The time is coming when there shall be no more time here on Earth to live out our faith as we know it now. Jonathan Edwards urged us never to lose one moment of time but to improve on each precious moment. We are accountable to God for our time. How can we improve on our time? The answer is summed up in verses 8-10 and the commandment Jesus gave, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Luke 10:27) Do we as Christians truly take hold of that command? Do we pray and ask God for the strength to make that love a reality in our lives? What would the church look like if it woke up and responded to an unbelieving world with that kind of love? Are we awake to this unique moment to live for God and witness to others about His grace? Will you and I wake up, put on the 'armor of light', and begin to live and share the gospel? That is the greatest demonstration of love. People are dying eternally who do not know the forgiving blood of the Savior. Paul reminds us we have fewer days now to love others and serve Christ because Jesus Christ's return is closer today than yesterday. The revival that took place in the American colonies under the preaching of godly men was called the "Great Awakening." After hearing these men preach, people who thought of themselves as Christians woke up to the fact that they did not have a living, ongoing personal relationship with God. Once awakened , they heard the gospel and believed it. After believing, they gave evidence in their lives that they were spiritually regenerated or born again. We are in need of another "Great Awakening" in many parts of the world today. Let each of us commit our
lives to fulfill the purpose that God has planned for us. Now is the
time to touch the world by His love. Now is the time to take off the
'grave cloths' and truly count ourselves dead to sin and be clothed
with the risen Lord Jesus Christ! One day when our time is finished
here on Earth, we will stand before God, covered by the precious blood
of Jesus. Let us live our lives now gratefully praising Him as we will
into eternity!
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