Year 8, Day 36: Romans 13

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Romans 13 gives us an interesting teaching that I always feel the need to place an asterisk behind and amend.  Paul tells us to obey our government.  He tells us to follow their direction.  He tells us to respect their decrees, pay our taxes, and live life under their rule.

There is always a part of me that wants to add an asterisk and say, “so long as the government is righteous.”  Naturally, God wouldn’t want us to support people who promote unrighteousness, right?

To be honest, as I read this passage today I realized that to put such an asterisk is missing Paul’s greater point.  Look at the context of this passage.  This is a greater passage about love.  This is a passage about how when we live in love we need not worry about the Law.  When we live in love, we are living obediently to God’s authority.  After all, what leader is afraid of people who live in love and who live life looking to be a blessing to the people around them?

For me, that’s the real hidden nugget of wisdom in this passage.  If we want to live, live rightly.  If we want to act, make sure it is in love.  If we want to live in peace, live in love.  When we are living in love towards the people around us, we will have nothing to fear. We will then be clothed in Christ.

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