Romans 13 – 14
Verse 13:3 gets into a very difficult subject for many to accept:
You see, if you do the right thing, you have nothing to be worried about from the rulers; but if you do what you know is wrong, the rulers will make sure you pay a price. Would you not rather live with a clear conscience than always have to be looking over your shoulder? Then keep doing what you know to be good and right, and they will publicly honor you.
But what if the leader is morally wrong? Then what, do you keep paying taxes into a corrupt system or break free? This country was founded by men who did not follow this verse and realize the corrupting influence that was destroying the colonies. See how this gets sticky. Also, today you can’t help not mention a recent book that dismisses Jesus as being a story to make good tax payers, which this chapter supports.
Today many in the Christian complain about Obama, and some even have called him the Anti-Christ. I don’t believe that to be the case, but do agree something isn’t right. Does that mean we quit paying taxes? Our system of elections is designed to purge evil every few years. Often we need to be reminded that this is our civic duty and not just submit to the current authority. Look at it this way, if enough people stop paying taxes, the government would default and we would be owned by our creditors, namely China. I would rather have this flawed system than theirs!! So pay your taxes.
Verse 13:10 really is God’s Law in a nutshell:
Does love hurt anyone? Absolutely not. In fact, love achieves everything the law requires.
If we just followed this, and realize it’s not the same “love” as we feel for our spouses or children, but a more compassionate love, then things tend to work smooth. It’s when selfish desires and pride work into the mix that life becomes a problem for all. If we loved someone, we would not care about petty things and focus on serving them, not the other way. Back to spouses; imagine if every marriage was based on this love first!! Divorce lawyers would be out of business!!
Verse 14:5 highlights the point Paul is making in Chapter 14:
There may be a believer who regards one day as more sacred than any other, while another views every day as sacred as the next. In these matters, all must reach their own conclusions and satisfy their own minds.
We get into petty bickering over this and that in scripture. For a while I was convinced that it was a sin to eat pork, while almost all my Christian friends though I was nuts. We turned to Peter’s visions and they said it was ok, I said it was allowing all into the family of Christ. My argument was once we are saved we are obliged to follow the Law.
Boy was I wrong, but the point is during my “belief” no one really should have corrected me since I believe in faith, at the same time I should not have tried to save people to my interpretation. Same goes with drinking, many churches have you believe it’s a sin to drink, while preaching of the disciples drinking with Jesus. But at the same time for many it is a sin and the church is providing sanctuary for those people. The key is read the Bible and let the Holy Spirit guide you. To a person who enjoys a glass of wine or an occasional beer, drinking is not a sin. To an alcoholic, having beer in your fridge while they are visiting you is a sin, since any drink is a sin to them.