[insert your life here]

Romans 13:1-7 is about submission to authorities:

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. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 13:1-2

I haven't had enough time to think on this to actually shed an opinion. Consider this and its relevance for today. God is still in control; does he still establish authority? Who really are the authorities under whom we are to submit? Was this passage only for the Romans and not us today? Does this mean God put oppressive rulers like Herod Agrippa (1 and 2), Manasseh (2 Kings 21), and Saddam in power?

Just something to think about...

[[[[APRIL 14, 2003]]]]

So, to finally answer my own questions:

Does this passage still have relevance for today? Yes. After reading a few commentaries and getting some history behind the writing of Romans, I can finally say "yes" with confidence. This passage of scripture speaks to each of our lives and gives us guidance for how to live and obey.

Flashcard memory: Romans was written by Paul in 57 AD to the Christians in Rome from Corinth concerning justification by divine grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

What was the political scene then? Somewhat similar to today, actually. Nero, Mr. Christian-burner (fiddeling while Rome is burning down), was in power. He was not a friend of the church and neither were the rest of the authorities of the world. The authorities were all Roman or Jewish and vicious to the church. Paul was telling the church to submit to these authorities.

"There is no authority except that which God has established." This is hard to accept due to the tyrannical rulers that have been and are in places of authority. But, God surely did put Nero, Hitler, and Sadaam in power. Although, I see it more as God has delegated them power with which they were given the choice as to how they would use it. God did not make any of us mindless puppets for show, he gave us a choice between good and evil, love and hate, God and Satan, and some choose the latter.

We are to submit to all the authorities that God has established for us. However, there is a line where submission ends and protest begins. We see examples of this in the Bible (Daniel, Shadrack, Meshach, Abednego, the Apostles) "We must obey God rather than men!" (Acts 5:29). At the point where submission to man infringes on our submission to God, this is where the line is drawn. This is the point where I take up my picket sign and protest.

Still, this gives us no grounds for violent or unruly protest, we have a higher calling to love:

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men." Titus 3:1f.

Relevant? Oh, yes.