Romans 13

The headline in the newspaper reported that a local high school football coach and two youth pastors were arrested on charges relating to sexual activity with children. In another community a college baseball coach was arrested on similar charges. It would seem that society has not made much progress in the two millenniums since Paul wrote his letter to the Romans. If you remember Paul’s discussion of original sin in chapter five this is not hard to understand. Sometimes we refer to the wild animal kingdom; however, for the most part animals are behaving within their created design. It is humanity that is wild. Humankind has a fallen nature. Apart from the intervention of God recreating us we are destined to keep acting out through our fallen nature. (“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17)

 Paul is not validating all forms of government in chapter thirteen. He is affirming that government is needed to keep humankind’s fallen nature within appropriate bounds. Paul is also teaching that while the Christian has a duty to speak out against the ills of society, including government misdeeds, the Christian is called to do so in a manner that does not distract from their responsibility to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. The best way to speak out, to proclaim the Good News, is to authentically live the life in Christ.

While some of the problems in the world are the result of evil people acting out, for the most part the failures of society can be traced to people living out of their fallen identity. Within every person is the need to be loved, to be accepted, and to be validated as a person of worth and value. Acting through our fallen nature the only way to meet these needs is through manipulation, intimidation, oppression and control of other people and our environment. However, God meets every one of our needs through our new life in Christ.

Paul is showing that the way of a Christian, living out of their new identity as the beloved child of God, is the way of love; self-sacrificing love for the good of others. While our fallen nature is completely self-centered, the life in Christ is completely other centered: Christ first, then our neighbors.

Each and every day of our lives we get to choose which life we are going to live: the life of our fallen nature or our new life in Christ.

What word or phrase in these verses

attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

16-Dec-11     Rom. 14:1-23