The Law of Love

Food for Life:
Romans 13

Today let's stop at 13:1, because if you are like me, you read that and had a lot of questions...especially when looking at the present state of governing authorities throughout the world; and past governing authorities! Let's read a short commentary on 13:1...and prayerfully we will hear the Lord speak to our questions related to 13:1.

Romans 13:1, "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."

"Christians understand Romans 13 in different ways. All Christians agree that we are to live at peace with the state as long as the stat allow us to live by our religious convictions. For hundreds of years, however, there have been at least three interpretations of how e are to do this:
1) Some Christians believe that the state is so corrupt that Christians should have a s little to do with it as possible. Although they should be good citizens as long as they can do so without compromising their beliefs, they should not work for the government, vote in elections, or serve in the military.
2) Others believe that God has given the state authority in certain areas and the church authority in other areas. Christians can be loyal to both and can work for either. They should not, however, confuse the wot. In this view, church and state are concerned with two totally different sphere - the spiritual and the physical - and thus complement each other but do not work together.
3) Still others believe that Christians have a responsibility to make the state better. They can do this politically, by electing Christian or other high-principled leaders. They can also do this morally, by serving as an influence for good in society. In this view, church and state ideally work together for the good of all.
None of these views advocate rebelling against or refusing to obey the government's laws or regulations unless those laws clearly require you to violate the moral standards revealed by God. Wherever we find ourselves, we must be responsible citizens, as well as responsible Christians" (p2052 NIV Study Bible).

We read farther down in Romans 13:8-10 - "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to his neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

As followers of Christ, we can be sure we are following the laws of the state and our higher governing authority, God - by loving others...which is a 'debt' we can never repay. This debt of love we owe because of the Love God showed us through Jesus Christ. And what if there is a state law that is apart from God's law of Love? I think of slavery, I think of abortion - those are not the only two, but they are what comes to mind. Slavery - enslaving another human being as being less than human - is clearly against God and God's law of Love. Abortion - taking the life of an innocent one in the womb - is clearly against God and God's law of Love.
So, whether slavery (was legal in the US at one time) or abortion (which is legal NOW in the US) is the law of the governing authorities or not; as believers, we are to obey God - the law of Love and denounce both - even if it is legal....

"God help us to hear Your voice above the din of our surrounding culture, the voices of loved ones, and our own voice - help us to read and meditate on You in Your Word in a way that makes a difference in the way we think, feel, and act out the precious lives You have given us to live, today. Thank You for loving each one of us. We love You."