Monday, July 2, 2012

“Rebels and Patriots” (Romans 13:1–7) Independence Day Weekend July 1st, ‘12




1.             Sanctify us in the truth, O Lord, Your Word is Truth.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.  The message from God’s Word is taken from Romans 13, it’s entitled, “Rebels & Patriots,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ. 
2.             On this Independence Day weekend let’s consider a time 236 years ago. A new document sat awaiting some of the most well-known men in North America. The writing of Thomas Jefferson had withstood the suggestions and complaints of the Continental Congress. All it needed was the signatures of the delegates. Imagine yourself in line ready to make your mark. What thoughts are on your mind? Do you think of the fighting that started over a year ago? Do you worry about pledging your life, possessions, and your “sacred honor” to the cause of independence from Great Britain? Are you excited or afraid? Hold those thoughts. The line is long, people are moving slowly, and you have time to wait. While waiting, return, if you will, to today’s text.
3.             Paul says in Romans 13, “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” (v 1). This sounds simple. You’re a person, I’m a person. Next, governing authorities. Even if you live outside any city limits, you don’t live outside the rule of any of these authorities. Here in the United States, we have mayors and city councils, township officials, county or parish administrators, governors and state legislatures, a president and a congress. Add to this the judiciary, from city judges to the chief justice of the Supreme Court. We haven’t even gotten to the various appointed bureaucrats, nor the assorted law-enforcement officers, constables, FBI agents, etc...
4.             Through Paul, the Holy Spirit reminds us that the offices these men and women hold have been instituted by God. Because God doesn’t govern the world face-to-face—since that would destroy all of us sinful people—he established what we call his, “kingdom of the left.” He waves his sword in the face of those who consider criminal activities, often scaring them into obedience. Others, more foolish, challenge this rule. They rob; they assault; they threaten and intimidate; they destroy property; sometimes they even kill. For them, God’s sword is more than a threat. He gives authority to ordinary people to take extraordinary means. These governing authorities are to use God’s sword. Even the taking of another’s life is condoned, so long as it’s justly done in the carrying out of this office.
5.             This is what Paul means when he says in Romans 13:2, “Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” It’s not only the courtroom dramas where murderers hear their fate. It’s the little everyday things. The 8 sided sign reads “STOP.” If you don’t stop, don’t complain about the police officer writing the ticket. The sign beside the highway may read 55, 60, or 70. But, if your speedometer reads faster than the sign, don’t complain about the police officer writing a ticket.  While you sit beside the road, angry, others drive past. They aren’t worried about being the next person pulled over. They came to a complete stop. They used their turn signal, didn’t block the passing lane, or kept a law that you broke. They aren’t afraid because “Rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong” (v 3). Just as much as protecting us from thieves, murderers, or terrorists, each of your governing authorities “is God’s servant to do you good” (v 4).
6.             As you receive your ticket for coasting through the stop sign, maybe, either in fear of God or “because of conscience” (v 5), you imagine if the intersection hadn’t been empty. Instead, a van of Little Leaguers, a couple of young girls on bicycles, or an ambulance were there. The authority of your government wanted to make that intersection safe for everyone.  If we all did as we pleased, the chaos would be great. Either we would tremble in our homes or we would be out in oversize vehicles, speeding, cutting off, or crashing through others. God’s servants for your good don’t want this to happen.
7.             Now there are times when government decisions are crazy, even sinful. Strange projects are funded with taxes you’ve paid. Wars against people who never bothered you drain tax coffers you filled. Laws allow behavior that we know is sinful. In parts of our nation people can legally indulge in sexual sins. They can gamble themselves into poverty. By federal court decisions they can even end the lives of unborn children in every state of the union. But, if the government doesn’t compel us to sin, then “it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience” (v 5). Remember that Paul was looking at a pagan Roman government as his example of authority. Already, some areas faced government persecution of Christians. But, Paul would appeal to this pagan government and its Caesar. He wouldn’t attempt a jailbreak, even if unjustly held for more than a year. Finally, Paul would bare his neck to the executioner’s sword for the crimes of believing in Christ and spreading the Gospel.
8.             Paul wasn’t the only one. The martyrs’ lists from the church’s first few centuries show person after person who accepted arrest and conviction. They allowed sinful officials to exercise authority even when it meant death. They answered the summons to the cross or the arena floor.  Finally, stood the One Martyr Supreme to whom they all pointed—Jesus Christ. To this Jesus, the Father gave “all authority.” But according to his human nature, Jesus submitted to the authorities. He bore witness of obedience—martyr means “witness”—witness of obedience to the Father and to divinely given authority.
9.             Christ’s perfect obedience brings forgiveness for our imperfect, unwilling submission. He was charged the synagogue tax in Capernaum (Mt 17:24–27), which he paid. He submitted to the whole Law—moral, ceremonial, and civil—that he himself handed down on Sinai. He loved God with all his heart, mind, and soul. He loved his neighbor as himself. Jesus allowed the authorities to arrest him. He endured the trial of the Jewish council, even if it was held in violation of its own laws. He humbled himself before Pilate, but also reminded Pilate that even Rome only ruled by divine permission in Jn 19:11.  Satan gave Jesus opportunity to rebel against the authorities. Imagine him whispering in Jesus’ ear, “You’re in charge. You have the real authority. Show them who rules!” And that’s exactly what Jesus did. He showed to all that his Father ruled. Jesus submitted perfectly to his Father’s will, obeying both God’s command and the will of God exercised through human authority. In so doing, he who was tempted as we are but yet remained “without sin” is able to “sympathize with our weaknesses” (Heb 4:15). He also paid for our sinful disregard of authority.
10.                     From all eternity, the Son pledged allegiance to the Father. This loyalty Jesus displayed also as a man, honoring earthly authority and obeying its laws. This perfect citizen of heaven and earth now gives citizenship rights to us. In Baptism, we’ve immigrated from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of Christ.
11.                     All authority in heaven and on earth” belongs to Jesus (Mt 28:18). All creation, believing or not, is subject to his rule. Yet because we’re forgiven through the blood of his Son, God blesses us also with citizenship in His church. While the Law still terrifies us in our sin, the Gospel draws us closer to our Savior. This forgiveness of sins leads Christians into submission to the rule of Christ because we know that his rule is perfect and for our good. He’s the King who gave his life for his people. We also “submit . . . to the governing authorities” (v 1), we can pledge allegiance to our nation’s flag because we’re loyal to the One who rules all nations.
12.                     In a situation that was the opposite of the American Revolution, Jesus came to restore a divine monarchy. He came to crush the serpent’s head, but also to crush the rebellion into which the devil led humankind. His goal was to bring the rebels to surrender or drive them to flight.  Look, the line has shortened. It’s almost your turn. And whether or not you sign this Declaration of Independence is suddenly not as easy a decision as you thought. Are you able to declare in good conscience that the new “governing authorities” have a rule that’s been “instituted by God”? Have you determined that the British government has forfeited its divine right through neglect and that you’re endorsing a previous decision? Or, if you sign, would you be breaking God’s clear message: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities” (v 1).
13.                     Finally it comes to you. Considering the Word of God you make a decision not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. What’s that decision? No one can tell you. You’ve been freed by Christ to be a responsible citizen of his earthly and heavenly kingdoms. You know the best decision, and you know that he will empower you to live—even to die—by it. For whatever government you have, no matter how free or oppressed you may  be, you know that in Christ you are free indeed. Free to live, love, serve God, and neighbor. If your choice is made not in spite or in disobedience to his Word, then God will honor it as correct or will forgive a sin done in unwilling ignorance.
14.                     You don’t have to stand there wondering whether to drop the pen or dip it into the inkwell. Our freedom of choice, with obedience to God, goes beyond anything this great land can offer. God’s freedom doesn’t remove government. Instead, God’s Freedom Allows Absolute Freedom to Be a Christian under Earthly Government.  For God is a God of order, not chaos, and he continues his rule on creation. His rule will continue through government as well as the church until Christ returns to unite all his people into his eternal kingdom of glory, while forever banishing the rebels to the fate they brought on themselves.  God grant you the wisdom to follow just rule and reject the sinful,  pray for those in authority and thank him for stable government, and the desire to use the freedom you have—as a citizen of the United States and as a Christian—to live out your life in honor of Christ and service to your neighbor.  And, the Lord give you courage to use this freedom to proclaim boldly Christ’s rule over all and his forgiveness won for all.  Amen.


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