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The Weak in Faith

Posted on by korgrocker

“Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.”
Romans 14:1 NLT

We are all at different stages in our Christian lives. In a functioning fellowship there will be some who are the elder statesmen and women, who have lived the Christian life for many years. But there will be others who are spiritual toddlers, taking their first steps bravely into a new world. Of course, those who have been journeying in the faith for many years will have advice for the baby Christians. In fact, the Bible encourages it. 

But you will perhaps notice my use of the word “functioning”. Sadly, so many of our church fellowships are populated by older people, and the family life they should represent lacks the younger people, teenagers, and children. In fact, some of our churches seem to be more like departure lounges at an airport. The Church of Jesus Christ is not supposed to be like that but, thankfully, it isn’t. There are many vibrant and active, Bible-believing, fellowships in the UK, and elsewhere in the Western countries. Jesus said He would build His church, and He is doing just that.

A church family, made up of people of all ages, physical and spiritual, is a lively and exciting place to be. Multi-cultural, and multi-ethnic, families combine to demonstrate the rich nature of life in Christ. But inevitably there is a clash sometimes, and Paul addressed that problem in his writings that we consider today. At the point of making a decision to follow Christ, the Holy Spirit will start to gently expose the new Christian to what is right and wrong. For example, people who smoke usually, sooner or later, come to realise that it might not be fully compliant with how Christians behave, even though there is no specific guidance in the Bible. This realisation might take just a few weeks or months, or might never happen, but there will always be those who are quick to point out the problem of addiction to tobacco. In Paul’s day there was the issue of foods offered to idols. Some thought it perfectly acceptable to eat such food. Others didn’t. We need to remember that in our Christian journeys, the Holy Spirit fine-tunes a growth package just for us individually, and the interference from other Christians can get in the way.

In the fellowship family life, there are roles for everyone, and Paul gave some good advice in his epistle to Titus about how, for example, older women should help those younger. “These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God” (Titus 2:4-5). In that culture, internet and Google-free as it was, principles of parenting and family life were shared and encouraged in a church setting. The next verse in Titus involves younger men, “In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely” (Titus 2:6). 

But in all of this Paul gave a warning. He said, “don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong”. There is a fine line, a balance, between encouraging and arguing. We need the Holy Spirit to help us discern issues and help each other to overcome them. I was very fortunate to be born again into a church where the pastor very patiently helped me through my first early steps in the faith, and I was never conscious of other more mature Christians arguing with me. But that may not be the case with everyone. Personally, I was helped most by conversation that piggy-backed on a normal task, like car maintenance, or mixing concrete. Decorating a room, or some such activity as that. A conversation is much more effective than a confrontation. And the best way to help those who Paul called “weak in faith” is by example.

The final arbiter for right or wrong comes from the Bible, with interpretive assistance from the Holy Spirit. The act of loving and nurturing each other is something that sets Christians apart from all other religions. And the bond that builds between us is a bridge over which God can often deliver the help that we all need from time to time.

Dear Father God. We thank You that because of all the love that You have poured out upon us we can love one another. Please help us to build each other up and not tear others down. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Belonging

Posted on by korgrocker

“Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”
Romans 13:13-14 NLT

We mustn’t forget that Paul was writing to the Roman Christians, early trail-blazers of the movement that has changed the world. The followers of Christ found themselves in a place that was totally incomprehensible to the pagans around them, and they would have been under constant pressure to join the customs prevalent around them. Paul lists a few of the darker attributes of this society, and he mentions “wild parties” and “drunkenness”, “sexual promiscuity and immoral living”. And the early Christians would have been invited to join in with the practices of their neighbours and previous friends. Only a strong person filled with the Holy Spirit would have been able to stand firm and give a resounding “NO!”. 

For those in our Western societies, Paul’s admonition is just as valid. I know from my own experiences in the workplace of the pressure to join the after-work drinking sessions, or the invitations to join in with the special functions to places of dubious morality. There was always the office banter that had its roots in the darker sides of life, and that merged with reality when guards were down. Inevitably I found myself on the outside of the social life promoted in the office environment, but that was ok for me. Unfortunately, I have known Christian friends who were less resilient.

Paul’s admonition to those early Christians, and to us, was and is clear. Because we are Jesus people we live in the light of His presence. Not for us the cohabiting with deeds of darkness. We belong to Jesus, a daytime experience that is there for all to see. Jesus Himself preached about living in the light. In Matthew 5:14-16 He said, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father”.

In our societies, our workplaces, our schools and colleges, and anywhere else where we find ourselves, what message are we portraying? Are we a Jesus-beacon, bringing His light into an otherwise dark place? Or is our presence not very illuminating? That is the challenge to Christians everywhere. To whom or to what do we belong? Paul’s message was clear – because we belong to the light we have to act in that way. So we don’t get involved in activities more suited to the dark places of life. We keep away from places of temptation. We shun promiscuous opportunities. If we have a predisposition to the love of alcohol, then become teetotal. If internet pornography is an attraction, then we block the websites, or even turn off the router. Paul wrote, “Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ”. And as we look into His face we will see Him clearly, and as a result “the things of earth will grow strangely dim”. We pilgrims belong to the light. With God’s help we can stay that way.

Father God. We thank You for Your help in righteous living. Please help us to stay away from temptation. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Dark and Dirty Deeds

Posted on by korgrocker

“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armour of right living.”
Romans 13:11-12 NLT

Paul was writing here to the Christians in Rome. These were people who had been through much for their faith – it wasn’t easy being different in the culture of the first century AD. But Paul felt the need to write to them about the way they were living, because he was expecting the return of Jesus imminently. He compared the period in which they were living as “night”, a time period of blackness followed by the dawn. 

Here in the UK there is not a sudden transition from night to day. The sky starts to lighten in the East, and objects around us become less indistinct. A couple of years ago I was standing on the foreshore of a Scottish fishing village just South of Aberdeen, watching the sun rise. The sky was clear and the hint of a beautiful dawn was followed by the appearance of the sun. It rose over the horizon as a large red disc that gradually but perceptibly rose above the sea. It was an almost magical moment and one shared with appreciative early morning walkers.

But when Jesus appears there will be a sudden transition from the “night” of His absence to the “day” of His arrival. We read in Luke 17:24, “For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes”. Jesus won’t appear gradually, giving people time to sort out their lives. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17,  “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever”. We get a picture of the sudden appearance of Jesus accompanied by “a commanding shout”, “lightning flashes” and the “trumpet call of God”. It will be an awesome experience, accompanied by some strange happenings as believers appear from wherever they had been buried, land or sea, coffins or urns, followed by those who are still alive finding themselves being “caught up in the clouds”. And as Jesus comes, He will be met by this huge gathering of His people, who “will be with the Lord forever”. A fairy story? Many may think so, but at their peril. Paul believed it would happen this way because He received a direct revelation from the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:15, “We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died” (emphasis mine).

So Paul warned his friends in Rome about what was to come, telling them to get their lives sorted out. He compared their behaviour as being like “dirty clothes”. A graphic illustration of how we must look to God. Would we behave as we do if we really thought God was looking on? Imagine turning up to a wedding wearing old and dirty clothes covered in paint and oil! In John’s Revelation, he quoted Jesus, who said, “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed” (Revelation 16:15).

But then we remember His grace, and His offer of cleansing power through Jesus, constantly available to us. After David’s disastrous encounter with Bathsheba, where he broke several commandments all on the same day, we read his Psalm of contrition. he wrote, “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7). We desperately need to allow God to cleanse us from all our sins, and he will, as we repent and turn from our “dark deeds”.

We have a choice about the way we live. God’s way or the wrong way. Which way will we choose? There is no time for complacency. “The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here“.

Father. We thank You for Your patience with us. We pray today for more of Your cleansing love and grace, removing the soil and dirt that so easily sticks to us from the societies in which we live. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our Salvation

Posted on by korgrocker

“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armour of right living.”
Romans 13:11-12 NLT

I’m sure we have all been in a church meeting at some time when a testimony is given, about someone who was saved on such and such a day and what an impact that had had on their lives. But Paul wrote here in Romans 13:11 that “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed”, implying that the original assumption of claiming to be saved might be flawed. So which is right?

We first have to consider what we mean by “being saved” or “salvation”. The dictionary definition is “deliverance from sin and its consequences, believed by Christians to be brought about by faith in Christ”. And that is indeed the case, because one day, at some time in the future, we will enjoy bring able to enter God’s presence. Through our faith in Jesus, we believe that He dealt with our sins at Calvary. No sinful person can ever enter God’s presence, so through His grace, He provided a way in which our sins can be forgiven. So we are saved. And Paul reminded his readers that the time when they will enter God’s presence was getting nearer. 

But there are in fact three phases in what we call “salvation”. The testimony from a person claiming to be saved is the first step in a process, that starts with their faith being placed in Jesus and ends with the receipt of a resurrection body when we enter God’s presence. Paul wrote in Romans 10:9, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”. Note that Paul didn’t say you are saved, but “you will be saved”. God’s grace in accepting a sinner who turns to Him is life changing and incomprehensible to many. But it’s all about His gracious love for His human creation. Warts and all, everyone has an opportunity to be accepted by God. We should note what Peter said in his Acts 2 sermon. In Acts 2:38 we read, “ … “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit””. The first step that all Christians must take involves repentance from sins and turning to God away from their old sinful lives. 

The second step is what the theologians call sanctification. A long word meaning that we are being made holy. God won’t accept anything that is unholy in Heaven. But through a growing up process, the new Christian learns how God wants him or her to live. In 1 Peter 1:14-15, Peter wrote, “So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy”. Such a process would be impossible in our own strength, but God sent the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, to help us. Romans 8:11, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you”. Note that Peter told his listeners in Acts 2:38, that by turning to God, they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. One follows the other. We cannot turn to God but deny access to the Holy Spirit. 

The third and final step is the wonderful realisation that we will one day be glorified. This is when we will receive a resurrection body just like Jesus’s. Romans 8:30, “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified”. Colossians 3:1-4, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory”. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Christians, “We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).

We pilgrims made a decision to follow Jesus, taking the first steps in our journey to glorification. It’s a lifetime commitment, and the wonderful thing is that God will never reject a repentant sinner. We may be a few minutes away from glory, or many years, but God will accept all those who repent.

Sadly, there are many who have decided that they don’t want to be with God for eternity. Foolishly, they think that they can continue their sinful ways after death, if they even believe in an afterlife. One of my neighbours thinks that he will join, what he calls, “the big party downstairs”. Others think that death will bring oblivion, so why not just enjoy the sinful lives they live while they can. But Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, warning them to wake up. He knew what would happen to those who refused to accept God’s wonderful and gracious of salvation through Jesus, and he didn’t want his friends in Rome to be counted among them.

Dear Father God. How can we thank You enough for Your grace and love, so freely given. we worship You today. Amen.

Wake Up

Posted on by korgrocker

“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”
Romans 13:11 NLT

The early Christians were convinced that the second coming of Jesus was getting close. Peter asked Jesus about the disciple John’s future, and we can read the question and Jesus’ answer in John 21:21-22, “Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me””. And we read that a rumour started, that John would still be alive when Jesus returned. So throughout the New Testament is the occasional reference or expectation that Jesus was returning “soon”. Jesus taught about being ready for when He came back to this earth, and He told His disciples a story about the Ten Bridesmaids (or Virgins) that we can read in Matthew 25. And then He said in conclusion to this story, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return”. So in effect we must all live our lives as though Jesus was going to appear at any time. I really don’t know whether or not I will finish writing this piece before he returns. It could be as dramatic as that. Yes, we will be able to receive a few hints and signs – read Matthew 24 – and if we look hard enough most of those warning indications have already been fulfilled, in one way or another. As Paul wrote, “time is running out”. 

The challenge for Christians everywhere is the state of our spiritual lives. By that I mean, are we awake or sleeping? Or perhaps dozing somewhere between the two. In the Ten Bridesmaids story, they all started off with a lamp and some oil. But five of them didn’t have enough oil to keep their lamps alight, and when the bridegroom arrived (at midnight), they were caught out, trying to find a shop that was open and where they could buy some oil. In the story we can see that Jesus was the Bridegroom, and His return didn’t come at a convenient time for the young women. It probably won’t come at a convenient time for us either. We might be in the middle of something we think is important. We might be full of good intentions but haven’t quite got round yet to carrying them out. At a time of being caught up in excitement with Jesus’ appearance, perhaps we have some issues with someone that must be put right. But we must have our spiritual suitcases packed, and easily and readily accessible.

At the end of Matthew 25, Jesus told the story of the Sheep and the Goats. We know it of course, but which group of these ruminants do we identify with? Note that it wasn’t a crowd of ordinary people Jesus was speaking to. It was His disciples. Why did He remind them the importance of being counted amongst the sheep? Should that apply to use as well?

We must be living our lives in a state of constant readiness, just in case Jesus returns soon. It may not be long. We must keep our eyes on the horizon because, “For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 24:27). Jesus’ second coming won’t be as a child in a manger. His return will be there for all to see, regardless of longitude or latitude.

Dear Father. Thank You for Your Son Jesus. We look forward to His return with anticipation. Please help us keep ready and waiting with loving expectation. Amen.

Love One Another

Posted on by korgrocker

“Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbour, you will fulfil the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfils the requirements of God’s law.”
Romans 13:8-10 NLT

In these days of mortgages, car loans, credit cards and other forms of debt, this verse, at least at first sight, would seem to be a problem. Was Paul saying that we should save our money so that we can pay in advance for what we need without taking out any form of a loan? If he was in fact saying this then we Christians would be unable to live in our societies in the same way as our neighbours. 

In my Christian life I have been taught that we should always be able to pay our financial debts should that be necessary. In other words, we should be able to realise the equity in our possessions to clear the debts. But that principle needs to be overlaid and reconciled with the basic needs of life, such as a roof over our heads. Paul had already dealt with the need to pay taxes in the previous verses in Romans 13, and this should also be applied to our “taxes” of interest payments when we need to borrow money.

But perhaps “owe nothing to anyone” is more concerned with spiritual debts, particularly the debt of loving God and each other. When asked about which commandment was the greatest, we can read Jesus’ reply in Mark 12:29-31, “Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these””. Paul wrote that it is our love for our neighbour that is the only significant debt. 

The old Apostle John, the disciple who was probably the closest to Jesus, had a heart so soft that he couldn’t stop writing about the love of God. I can just picture him, with tears in his eyes, writing, “Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining” (1 John 2:7-8). The word “love” appears over nine times in the next chapter where we read, “And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us” (1 John 3:23).

The message we pilgrims must glean from the years since Jesus died is the importance of loving one another. Paul wrote that it is a debt so strong that it is not an option, and it will never be repaid in this life. We go on loving, and loving, knowing that we are doing is what Jesus exampled and commanded. 

Dear Father. We confess our love for You this morning. Please help us find opportunities to love those around us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Paying Taxes

Posted on by korgrocker

“Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honour to those who are in authority.”
Romans 13:6-7 NLT

Well, here are an unpopular couple of verses. The civil authorities have the right to impose taxes on their citizens, and these can be a constant source of tension between the governments and the people. Paul wrote that “government workers need to be paid” but things have gone a lot further than that, with taxes extending into supporting welfare payments, health, defence and so on. In the UK tax year just finished, over £1000 billion was raised across every tax source, an extraordinary amount I think we can agree. But Paul’s writings were clear – pay your taxes. And the reason he gave was that the “government workers” are “serving God in what they do”. 

We pilgrims, living in a 21st Century society, can get caught up with the perceived injustices of a system that has gone far beyond what Paul ever considered. I wonder what he would have written today? But, then, I think his letter wouldn’t have changed one jot. In John 17 we can read Jesus’ prayer for His disciples and in it He made it clear that we are part of the world, the societies, where we live. In John 17:15 Jesus said in a prayer to His Father about His disciples, “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one”. To me, Jesus was saying that we are entrenched within the world system, with all its implications, including the need to pay our taxes. Earlier in His prayer, Jesus said, “Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are” (John 17:11). To Jesus the important principle for His disciples was unity and love for each other, joy, righteousness and holiness, all principles of the Kingdom of God but considered less important in the secular societies in which we live. God knows that we are obliged to pay our taxes, and that is part of what constitutes our “needs”, something that Paul wrote about in Philippians 4:19, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus”.

Over and above our obligation to pay taxes, we are encouraged to present our offerings to God. This usually means giving money so that our spiritual leaders can be supported and encouraged as they devote their lives to caring for their flock, their congregations of God-followers. Our money also supports the buildings and other necessities that go to form our churches (though, sadly, in some denominations the buildings and infrastructure seem to have become more important than the people). But our offerings to God can also include our time and possessions. We hold all that we have in open hands, making what we have available to God. 

Father God. Everything that we have belongs to You. Please help us to be good stewards. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Authorities

Posted on by korgrocker

“The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.”
Romans 13:4-5 NLT

What is right and wrong? God has wired us with a conscience, and wrongdoing, any act violating it, will initiate feelings of guilt. But how do we know objectively what actions are acceptable and what aren’t? Adam was the first man and, until the episode with the forbidden fruit, he had done no wrong. Was his perfect, sin-free life before the fall governed by his conscience? But because of the Fall, and the introduction of sin into this world, we have to be taught the difference. This comes, initially, largely from our parenting. As babies, we soon picked up the difference between right and wrong from our mums and dads, and as we grew up in our societies, our consciences became fine-tuned to do what is good. Well, that is the ideal. But Paul wrote the verses today perhaps as a catch all, reminding his readers that if the authorities find they have been misbehaving, there will be consequences. 

In every walk of life, there is an authority somewhere. In our employment, we have our employers. In Paul’s days, slaves were common, and they had their masters and mistresses. The civil authorities are there ensuring the cohesion of society. There is spiritual authority to take into account as well, for those of us who are God-followers. We read in Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit”. 

We pilgrims also have authority. Controversially perhaps in these “enlightened” days, in a marriage context, we read, “For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Saviour of his body, the church” (Ephesians 5:23). Jesus gave His disciples authority, as we read in Luke 10:19, “Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you”. 

In Paul’s writings, he emphasises that submitting to the authorities will leave us with a clear conscience. But that is where issues could emerge. What if the civil authorities are imposing something that is in direct conflict with God’s Word, in the Bible? In that situation we have to follow what God says, because He is the higher authority. That is something that gets many people in our persecuted world in a lot of trouble. In North Korea, just to have a Bible, or even a portion of it, could result in imprisonment. In many countries, to worship and pray, if discovered by the authorities, could result in all sorts of sanctions or even punishments. The first person martyred for his faith, Stephen, was murdered because he dared to stand up to the religious authorities of his day.

But when Paul wrote that the Roman Christians must obey the authorities, I’m sure he had in mind the routine, hum-drum, subservience to ordinary laws, that were there to keep them all safe and functioning in their society. I don’t know about you, but there are some I don’t like. Others I don’t feel comfortable about. But we pray for the authorities, that God will help them get it right. And looking at recent events in the UK, I’m sure He is working behind the scenes, bringing answers to our prayers.

Dear God. Thank You that You listen when we pray, and bring good, and a resolution, out of apparently hopeless situations. But in those times when things don’t work out as we would like, please give us the grace to obey the authorities. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Rebellion

Posted on by korgrocker

“So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honour you.
Romans 13:2-3 NLT

Paul continues in his theme of being obedient to the civil authorities because God put them in place. But these days it is fashionable to rebel against our leaders and lawmakers. Not us Christians of course – we tend to be passive and stoical people. Mostly putting up with injustices that take place against us and what we believe. Although that in part reflects the teaching of Jesus, to love our enemies, to go the second mile, we tend to be afraid to stick our collective heads over the parapets, preferring to leave any dissent with the civil authorities to our leaders. But even then, Christians don’t rebel against  the authorities that “God has instituted”. 

Those in our society who are the rebellious ones tend not to be Christians, although there are exceptions. In the UK just now, many disagree with government policy on oil and gas exploration and a very small minority are causing inordinate amounts of disruption in London. Is that rebellion against the authorities, or a legitimate form of protest? There is also a minority who are trying to change society’s attitude to gender and related matters around sexual ethics, to the extent that it is almost becoming a new religion. That is rebellion against Bible-based morality, but rebellion against the authorities? Probably not, unless they behave in a way that is outside the law. In other parts of the world though, totalitarian and authoritarian regimes are very proactive in stifling the least hint of what could become a threat to state’s existence. Christians suffer unjustly in such nations, and their very act of continuing to worship God is considered rebellion.

So was Paul promoting a passive Christianity that would comply with all laws and governments, even if they are unrighteous? Such circumstances introduce difficulties for Christians because there is a higher Power, God Himself. We pilgrims have to constantly be on our guard, always weighing up the society and its laws with the principles and precepts of God’s Kingdom. We of course abide by the laws introduced for the benefit of our society, and even, as was the case in Paul’s day, we do our best to live in a society that may not fit in with our ideals. Here in the UK, society is now largely secular. People are saying we live in a post-Christian world, and the moral compass provided by the Bible and underpinned by centuries of Christian doctrine and customs is being abandoned and replaced by a new morality that doesn’t look as though it will end well. 

But we pilgrims obey our authorities, as Paul taught, because by doing what is right in accordance with the established laws and regulations, we will be allowed to live in peace. We mustn’t get caught up with the rebellious people in our midst, as we read in Proverbs 24:21-22, “My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels, for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the Lord and the king?”

Paul ended the verse today with the thought that if we do what is right we will be honoured by the authorities. For most people this will not be public recognition, but just the opportunity to continue to live our lives in peace. Honour enough for me!

Father God. Thank You that You have appointed and ordained our secular leaders. We pray for them today, that Your will and purposes will be worked out through them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Government

Posted on by korgrocker

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Romans 13:1 NIVUK

The page turns, the subject matter changes. A new chapter emerges. Paul now looks outside of the bubble that surrounds the Roman Christians towards the government of their day. The governing authorities in place within the Roman Empire were not renowned for their kindness and compassion. They brutally suppressed any form of dissent, and Christians were sometimes perceived as a threat to their rule. So Paul would not have been very popular when he said that everyone “should be subject to the governing authorities”. He made things potentially worse when he wrote that “The authorities that exist have been established by God”. I can imagine those early Christians wondering if Paul really knew what they had to endure. Could God really be behind the civil persecutions?

In those early days, and with a number of Jews, now Christians, in their midst, there would still perhaps have been a belief that there was no ruler except God Himself, and because of that they would be released from an obligation to be under the authority of the local civic rulers. The local government set the laws that provided cohesion in the society of that time. So thieves would face punishment if caught. Civil unrest would be dealt with. All the usual safeguards would have been in place to prevent the society descending into anarchy. The early Christians may have not liked the situation all that much, certainly from the perspective from how they were treated, but Paul told them to get over it and move on in their faith.

But there would have been those in Paul’s day who rejected this earthly kingdom and its laws, the society in which they lived, and it was to those that Paul was directing his teaching. We mustn’t forget that just a few verses earlier, Paul had written to the members of the church in Rome advising them to “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). So the early Christians had to really work out their role of being in the world but not of it.

What about today? Are we pilgrims subject to our “governing authorities”? Do we cherry pick the laws and customs that we want to follow and reject the rest? It is easier to follow laws that are in harmony with what we believe and what the Bible sets out. But what about those customs and laws that are in direct contradiction to Biblical teaching? In our Western societies, the legislators have brought in laws that must upset God deeply. Laws, for example, that legalise abortion or allow same sex marriage. But as we read just a few verses ago, God will deal with such evil in the fullness of time. However, at the present time, there is no law that forces a Christian to make a choice between God’s way and society’s way, causing them to personally disobey the authorities, but the trend is ominous. Though Christians can worship today without breaking the law, there is legislation being discussed that would make it illegal for pastors to pray with, or for, anyone around issues such as gender. Such a law has already been passed in Australia. How can we be subject to such a law that flies directly in the face of what God has ordained?

There will come a time when Christians in the West will be subject to the same draconian suppression that can be found in places like North Korea, where Christians are locked up, mistreated and even killed for their faith. Christians there are subject to the governing authorities and suffer the consequences if they choose to have faith in God. But God knows what they are suffering, and one day they will receive a reward for their faith. 

We pilgrims pray, and continue to be obedient to both God and the authorities. But when there is a conflict, God is the higher power. The authorities have been established by God, but when they go against His Word and will, there will be consequences. Paul wrote in the previous chapter in Romans, “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

We can choose to be subject to the government, a choice made easier because that is what God wants us to do. So the next time we see a politician on TV and feel rebellious thoughts arise, we must remember that, objectionable that they may be, God put them there. Hmmm…

Father God. You have blessed those of us who live in the West with stable societies. They are not perfect we know, but You have ordained them, for which we thank You. Please help us to remain in Your will, honouring and obeying those You have placed in authority over us. Amen.