Romans 13:1-7
A reading so appropriate for today’s political climate… I was particular taken by today’s last verse: Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (v. 7) I have no problem paying what is owed. Our tax filing deadline is ten days away and Carol and I are owing multiple thousands. Naturally we try to diminish our tax bill, but always legally. So taxes and revenue due as owed.
My difficulty comes with the respect and honor “payments”. Going back some 40 or 50 or even 60 years, both sides of the political fence have had substantial difficulties with this particular president or that particular senator or representative. And then when that position flips, those same partisan voters are elated that their men or women have been elected and things are right again. How do I know this? It’s exactly how I feel. For these many years I have been troubled during some administrations by who was serving as our president and then elated in other administrations by who was serving as our president. And it will happen again this November when the votes are counted – I’ll either be deeply troubled or joyfully elated. My academic job forced me to stay on top of the news, especially the economic issues and policies being put forward by either side, so I have some justification for my feelings.
HOWEVER, my feelings should not stand in the way of my praying for whomever is in power. Paul says explicitly, earlier in today’s reading, “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (v. 1b) God knows specifically who and why these persons are in power. We cannot question His authority. So it is incumbent on us to pray for those in power. But I have a hard time praying and leaving my biases behind!!
Slava Bohu!
I agree, Fred. This passage is for all of us today. In Prayers of the People, we pray for the president and governor each Sunday and maybe even in our personal prayers. In my thinking, that doesn’t go far enough, given our system of government; we need to be praying for ALL in authority. We also have a system that allows PEACEFUL assembly and expressing our opinions out loud and at the ballot box, such that our authorities can change, without a rebellion. I pray that God will help us with our humility and love for others, especially the marginalized (the poor, widows and orphans, etc.).