this morning pastor bob had a wonderful message that i wanted to share with you all. in light of the HUGE election coming up this tuesday, his sermon was "what is your responsibility as a christian citizen" taken from Romans 13:1-7.
a little background on the passage.... paul wrote this letter to the christians in rome about 4 years after nero became emperor. he became emperor when he was about 17 years old and he was an evil beyond evil ruler. (he murdered his first wife to marry his misstress, then later murdered her. he murdered his mother. he would dip christians in oil, hang them on a pole and set them on fire for light at night. he was BAD!) more evil than we could ever know.
so after 4 years and in the midst of a horrible ruler paul writes this:
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
no matter what happens this election, GOD IS IN CONTROL and we still need to submit to our government.* God has already appointed our new president, senators, mayors, etc.** and at the end of the day, GOD IS STILL SOVEREIGN. if you don't like how our governing authorities rule, let God deal with that (Romans 12:19).*** our country doesn't need the perfect president (not that that will EVER happen!) to fix all our problems, but what our country needs is JESUS. let's not get so wrapped up in the political scheme of things that we forget what really matters--telling others about HIM!
*yes, i know there are instances in which we should not submit to authority--obey God rather than men--and if you listen to the sermon you'll hear that too!
**you still need to get out and VOTE, though!
***and yes... i know we can talk to our congressmen, etc. and voice our opinions.
i can't do this sermon justice. if you have a minute or 30 please listen to it or download it. and don't forget to VOTE on tuesday!!
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