Anger has come to dominate the headlines. Members of
Congress have ventured out from the safe haven of the Washington Beltway back
to their home states. Their reception by the home folks has been less than
peaceful. Many constituents have exchanged the traditional summer grilling of
hot dogs and burgers for grilling their congressional leaders. One hallmark of
town hall meetings has been anger. The proposed healthcare plans by the Senate,
House, and White House all have provisions that have fed angry interchanges at
meetings across the country. Since all of the plans for health care reform are
still just plans, it is difficult to debate what might be. Nevertheless, as
concerns are raised about such provisions as end of life counseling, rationed
health services, government funding for abortions, mandatory family counseling
provided by the government, and the possible demise of private health
insurance, tempers and fears run rampant.
Your children are observers and learners in this debate. What
are they learning from you? I will grant that there are many proposed changes
that warrant grave concern. Thankfully, Christians have other options than
merely being angry. Romans 13 encourages Christians to submit to the governing
authorities, for God has established them for our good.
Let every person be subject to the
governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those
that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the
authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur
judgment. Romans 13:1-2 ESV
At first, these words may seem disconcerting. Upon
reflection, however, you should recognize that they are words of great hope.
The underlying truth of this passage--which should bring comfort--is that God is
the one who is actively in control of governments and their actions. There is
also comfort from an historical perspective. During the era when the Epistle to
the Romans was written, the Roman Emperors in power were Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius
and Nero. This group of decadent Caesars can hardly be called friends of the
church. Yet Paul, writing to the Roman church, says to be subject to them.
Certainly, he was neither endorsing the murderous persecution of Christians by
the government nor supporting the accepted practice of the day of leaving
unwanted infants at trash heaps outside the cities. Paul is reminding us that
God is the one whom we serve. God is the God of justice. Paul has just finished
saying in chapter 12 of Romans that we are to return good for evil and leave
room for God's vengeance.
The anger that many feel toward these troubling proposed
changes in health care and insurance must not be expended in the same way the
world expends anger and solves problems. What is more urgent than health care
concerns is the need for the gospel of Jesus Christ to be given to a lost
world. To paraphrase--what profit is there if we gain good health care and yet
lose souls to the enemy?
Paul tells us in Romans 13 that there is something more
vital at stake than health care issues. In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 we are told to
wage war in ways that are different from the world's methods of warfare. We
have better weapons than the world does--but we must have the faith to use them.
Paul is not saying that Christians should be silent or passive in the face of
unwise government actions. Paul was certainly not passive! He used his Roman
citizenship and knowledge of Roman law to his advantage to advance the gospel.
In Acts 16:35-39, he used this knowledge, as a citizen of Rome, to prevent the
authorities in Philippi from mistreating him. In Acts 25 Paul used his
understanding of Roman law to advance the gospel in a way that shows his
ultimate commitment to Christ. By appealing to Caesar he began the legal
process that would lead to his death.
How can you be salt and light in
the face of anger and discontent at proposals that can dramatically impact the
health care industry? God calls us to something different than venting anger.
He calls us to hold out the gospel of Christ and to help people see the One to
whom we must give an account. This is the perspective that God wants you to
give your children. Christians do not need to react out of fear or dread. The
same God who controlled the authorities in the time of Paul is still in
control. And like Paul, we have the same mission--proclaiming the gospel of
Christ Jesus to the lost.
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My pastor made a comment before the 2008 election that changed my thinking about the government. God will put the right president in office that the Church needs. In other words, all government or all things are for the church.