[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.

Last night I read the most amazing short story about love and sacrifice. If you didn't read it the first time, go back and read it now! It's on Austin's blog, posted back in february, I think. It starts, "One story I will try to reproduce. But, alas! It is like trying to reconstruct a forest out of broken branches and withered leaves..."

A few of my favorite passages:

"Nay, how many who love never come nearer than to behold each other as in a mirror; seem to know nad yet never know the inward life; never enter the other soul; and part at last, with but the vaguest notion of the universe on the borders of which they have been hovering for years."

"She--she alone and altogether--was his universe, his well of life, his incarnate good."

"He had not gone far, before the lady grew pale; and then, like a returning wave, the blood washed all its banks with its crimson tide, and she hid her face in her hands."

"With a wail of sorrow the lady rose to her feet. 'Ah! he loves me not; he loves me not even as I love him; and alas! I care more for his love than even for the freedom I ask.'"

"In a lofty, silent chamber, in another part of the city, lay a form more like marble than a living woman. The loveliness of death seemed frozen upon her face, for her lips were rigid, and her eyelids closed."

New Testament discussion group. Topic: Determing God's Will. The location: the gazebo.

Life is so beautiful. SO beautiful. Maybe it's the sun. Maybe it's the bike ride yesterday against the wind (it couldn't be that because that just made me angsty). Maybe it was the man in robin egg blue sweats and turtle neck with socks rolled over the hem of the pants. Maybe it was the big scruffy man who asked me, "are you in line young lady?" Maybe it was the two 50-something biker chicks who told me, "your's will give you exercise but our's are more fun." I couldn't dispute.

Really, I think life's beauty is stemming from the understanding God has blessed me with: My life as I am living it is going according to His will. The mistakes I make are in His will for me. Knowing that He has a purpose for all the hard times has brought so much joy to my life. Spending time with Him has revolutionized my life, as was promised. It's so true! If you seek His face; if you seek His will for your life; if you listen for His still sweet voice. He will reveal Himself to you. So good!

And this,

The way to make a difference in this world it to become what everyone else it not: happy and full of life. It's not enough just to point the way; we much become the way, as Jesus was. He made it possible for us to have "the full measure of [His] joy" within us' (John 17:13). Why aren't we filling up our tanks? Is it because we won't admit we are empty? Are we so proud and neurotic that we cannot even believe joy -- real joy, irrepressibly bubbling over -- is deservedly ours? Shutting ourselves off from this fullness, we have nothing to share with anyone else. Moreover, if we're not filling up with joy ourselves, it's guaranteed we're taking it from others. We are robbing each other blind.
From Practicing the Presence of People, Mike Mason.

And this,

But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21

And this,

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance; character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:2-5

And this, Sometimes I make my self believe something truly is in God's will for me and later realize God never said yes; He never said no: I just didn't wait for His answer. He has used my error to break me and is using my repentance to build me back up stronger than I was before. Waiting for His guidance brings more clarity to an issue than I ever thought I could have. And I'm still waiting for more guidance. He has yet to tell me, ok, go.