As Callie and I have been sharing reflections the past 30 days from the book of Romans, let’s pause on a national holiday (in our country) and listen to a text written to Christians who were living in the political center of the world at their time.
13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval, 4 for it is God’s agent for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority[a] does not bear the sword in vain! It is the agent of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience. 6 For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s agents, busy with this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is due them: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Paul, and most Christians from the time of Jesus, had some real concerns about the Roman government, which occupied the Holy Land. But Paul also knew about respect, and the sovereignty of God. As Christians celebrating our history and heritage as Americans, we might want to join Paul in praying for those who hold office. (Please note, Paul wrote this long before Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and any Kennedy, Reagan, Lincoln, or Washington was ever thought of.)
Happy Fourth of July.
Prayer
Great God of the Universe, I thank you for those who serve so that I might be free. Guide those who govern. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.