Submission to the government is easy!  Not…

Many days go by in which I wonder how Presidential spokesperson Jay Carney can look at himself in the mirror without cringing.  Speaking for the government as he does…with God watching?

In the days prior to President Nixon, I’m sure the White House lied. It’s human nature to lie.  But something happened.  When Nixon was caught lying to the American people, it shocked the nation, severing the bond of trust many of us had in our elected officials.

Today, lying seems to be the official job description of elected leaders and for them, abusing the trust of the American public is just another day at the office.  Yet, this is our government and what do we do with a passage like today’s (Romans 13:1-14)? It is well worth the read.

The million dollar question is,

How do we submit to a government we cannot trust to do what is right with the truth?”

The priceless answer is,

The same way Jesus did.”

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:23

When you get a chance, read the story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, sentencing to crucifixion, and burial in John 18:1-19:42.  Submission to authorities means entrusting the outcome of matters to God Himself.

We treat leaders, officials, and other authorities as God’s chosen ones for the purpose He has in mind.  Pilate wouldn’t have been God’s choice for Messiah, but was God’s choice to crucify Him.  Annas may have been chosen by God for Jesus’ interrogation, and Caiaphas for High Priest in order to fulfill Scripture, but neither of them dealt honestly with the Messiah. And neither of them were chosen to be disciples.  They served God’s purpose even in their wickedness.

The sovereignty of God and the grand sweep of redemption history is beyond our understanding.  God’s use of powerbrokers to accomplish His will has a long-established history–whether the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart or the dishonesty of religious leaders who led the call to crucify Jesus.

So, when we have cause to disagree with our government, become appalled at rampant corruption, grieve over the lack of personal integrity and honesty, we must remember that submission to authorities is what Jesus did and what we are called to do until He returns as our Righteous King.

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Give it up for Lent: Using Biblical counterculturism to cloak a rebellious heart

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For further study:

1. Read Exodus 9:16, 1 Kings 14:7-11, and Jeremiah 32:1-5 (fulfilled in Jeremiah 52:7-14).  What do these passages say about God’s raising up leaders for judging nations and individuals?
2. What does it mean for a leader to be “God’s servant” in verse 4 of today’s passage?  Does this mean the leader is good or just that the leader is God’s instrument of reward and/or judgment?
3. How does today’s passage affect your thinking about your current political system?
4. In reading the account of Jesus’ final days during Passion Week, where did Jesus draw the line with regard to the truth and personal integrity?

The cheese stands alone, the Christian does not.

It’s easy to be countercultural and come across as holier-than-thou.  Taking a stand on your principles sometimes means you need to stand alone (and is the result, but it should not be the goal).

Unlike the child’s game, “The Farmer in the Dell,” it’s not the goal to finish the game with the cheese standing alone.  Christians stand in community.

There’s a way to be biblically countercultural and a way not to do it.  Today’s passage talks about both.  These are instructions for wise community living:

Romans 12: 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  (NIV)

We aspire to live by principles, love our neighbors and therefore rejoice and mourn right alongside them.  We turn the other cheek.  We are blessed peacemakers.  We love our enemies.  We leave the judging to God and invest ourselves in doing what is right. That is how to be countercultural in a world that doesn’t value it.

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Give it up for Lent: Holier-than-thou attitudes

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For further study:

1. This is Passion Week (also known as Holy Week) in the Church.  Jesus was, in fact, holier than any of us.  Yet, how did Jesus act during the days prior to His crucifixion?  Read the account of Jesus in Luke 22:47-23:43.  How did He model what He expects of us?
2. Look at how many times in our passage today, it talks about our attitudes toward others and our view of ourselves.  To what extent are you willing to associate with people who are not like you?
3. In what ways can standing on principles lead to judging others?  What advice does our passage give to counter that?
4. What does it mean to heap burning coals on someone’s head?  The Message paraphrase records Romans 12:20-21 as saying, “Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.”  How might a guilty conscience also play a role?

When God calls the Church to be biblically countercultural, He doesn’t overlook that we are individuals. 

In fact, everything about our individuality matters to God.

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And while we might march to the beat of a different drummer, we’re all marching to the same Gospel tune.

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This intricate balance between the individual and the community is beautifully articulated in today’s passage:

Romans 12:4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (NIV)

Just as a band or an orchestra needs all the instruments, a ballet company choreographs all the dancers, and a theatrical production requires all the actors, so a Church displaying diversity can yet march to the same Gospel tune.

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Give it up for Lent: Wishing you were gifted differently

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For further study:

1. Identify the areas in our passage above where Scripture points to the diversity of the individuals.
2. Now identify the areas in which the community is held together.
3. Why do you suppose it’s so hard in the Church for people to serve in the way they are gifted?  What types of things stand in the way? 
4. To what degree is the responsibility an individual responsibility and to what degree is it a community success or failure?  How do the commands beginning in verse 9 show us how to succeed as a Church? 

Pope Francis is a counterculturist and that’s a good thing.  Given the dank depths to which the so-called mainstream culture has sunk, being countercultural is a breath of fresh air. 

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Be a Biblical Counterculturist–that’s the message the Apostle Paul tells us in today’s passage:

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God– this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

In a culture that exalts hedonism, excess, self-gratification, sexual aberrance, license, tolerance–indeed celebration–of what God calls sin, and a selfish, godless human existence with few to no moral limits, Scripture tells us to be countercultural.

Don’t conform to that culture! 

Take a stand against all that!

Well done, Pope Francis!  Well done, Christian counterculturist!

By way of contrast to our modern culture, Biblical Counterculturalism calls us to self-sacrifice, holiness, worship of God, thanksgiving for His mercy, spiritual renewal, reformation of our minds and our churches, and by the power of the Gospel, it calls us to humility.

How are you doing with being a Biblical Counterculturist?

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Give it up for Lent: Conformity with an immoral world

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For further study:

1. In what ways was Jesus countercultural?  Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and identify ways in which Jesus preached a countercultural life for His disciples.
2. What pressures are placed against Pope Francis and other Christians to conform to what the world wants?
3. From where does a Christian derive his strength to stand tall and to resist conformity?  Name a few ways Christians can find encouragement.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!  “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”  “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”  For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36, NIV)

Now that Paul has outlined the power of the Gospel and pointed to the mystery of how God saves both Jews and Gentiles within the family of faith, Paul cannot contain himself any longer.  He bursts forth in praise.

No matter how smart Paul is, he is overwhelmed by the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

The Gospel:

No human could have predicted it.

No one is beyond being answerable to it.

No human payment could secure it.

No one’s mind can fully comprehend it.

No book—including the Bible—has fully explained the mystery of it.

No one has conceived the full extent of it.

This is the primary reason I haven’t engaged in the salvation debates so far.  The truth is that none of us knows how God judges or the intricate mystery of how God saves.  We can’t figure out our own salvation let alone make determinations of how other people are saved or elected to salvation.  These things are too marvelous for us to know.

If we can’t comprehend it, what should be our response? 

Praise.  Unbridled praise.

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Give it up for Lent: Trying to be God’s mind-reader

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For further study:

1. Read again the words of today’s passage which is often labeled a doxology (a hymn of praise) and meditate on how far beyond our understanding are God’s workings.
2. Read Isaiah 40:6-31.  What about God merits our praise?
3. When is the last time you burst forth in unbridled praise of God?

The words “Time Out” have a couple of clear meanings to an American audience.  To parents, it’s a time when a child gets isolated, providing the child an opportunity for reflection upon the link between actions and consequences.  The other meaning comes from athletics: a “Time Out” is called so that a team’s coach can review strategy, articulate an upcoming play, give the players a breather or a pep talk, or to change the momentum of the game.

From the moment Paul began his Letter to the Romans, we’ve seen Paul’s outlining of the Gospel as first for the Jew and then for the Gentile (Romans 1:16-17).  It’s for everyone who believes.  But now, questions hang heavy in the air, particularly about Israel (e.g. national benefits, the Law, covenants, patriarchs, promises, etc).  Paul sees where their minds are going in Romans 11:1-11.

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1)

What about Israel now?  Are we being replaced as God’s chosen people?

Paul calls a Time Out, Times Two.

First, Time Out, huddle up!  Let’s look at the sweep of salvation.  From the time Adam and Eve sinned, God’s plan was to rescue His image bearers.  While He couldn’t rescue all of them (because some would continually rebel against God’s love and grace), God could rescue some.  Some would respond with faith in God.  While there’s a mysterious interplay between faith and grace (Ephesians 2:8-10), no one’s being kicked off the team on account of national heritage.

Paul says, Look at me!  I’m a Jew and I’m still on the team!

But right now, there’s another Time Out.  Israel has been benched with four fouls in order to think about how God’s salvation has always been by grace, not by the Law, not national heritage, and not by works.

Four fouls, but by grace, you’re still in the game.  Think about the fundamentals: faith, not works!  This remnant exists today just as it did in Elijah’s day.  Maybe you’re benched now because God wants to extend salvation to other players too.

At the end of the game it’s not just the players on the court who are winners!  It’s the whole team!

God isn’t disposing of people groups.  It isn’t first for the Jew, then throw them away, and on to the Gentiles as the new chosen people.  No,  Jew and Gentile, we’re a team—the Gospel invites us all through faith in Christ to be the team of believers in God.

So Time Out, Times Two.  Game Plan: the Gospel is first for the Jew, then for the Gentiles.  Actions have consequences: let’s focus on fundamentals of faith and not just works, and we’ll come out as winners.

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Give it up for Lent: Thinking that the Jews have been replaced by the Church

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For further study:

1. How might Christians treat baptism, the sacraments, church attendance, confirmation or Bible study as a suitable replacement for faith?  Do we risk being benched for such an attitude?
2. Read the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-18.  Elijah recounted actions he had been doing versus the Israelites, concluding with Elijah’s assumptions about being the only faithful one left.  What was God’s response to Elijah’s assertion?  In what ways do we act like we’re the only faithful ones left?
3. In the story of Elijah, we see that God has quiet hidden ways about His working.  How does our passage Romans 11:1-11 show that God is still working behind the scenes? See v 11 particularly.

There are few pictures more plaintive than God’s holding out His hands, desiring a relationship with Israel over the course of history and their rejecting Him.  They rejected Him as King and they got Saul.  They rejected Him as God and they got exile.  They rejected Him as Messiah and now they are stubbornly insisting on remaining outside, looking in through an open door and seeing Gentiles in relationship with the Father the way they had been once upon a time.

And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” (Romans 10:20-21, NIV)

All of creation has been shouting God’s existence, indeed their voice has been proclaiming His message, “Come home to God your Father!”

In our passage today, Romans 10:14-21, Paul asserts that God, having held out His hands for all this time, is now calling them back into a relationship with Him.  Now the time had come in redemption history for God to take the matter of the good news into His own hands by sending Jesus.  In Him, God is inviting the Gentile world to faith, just as He had planned all along.  But He’s holding out His hands, calling His people–Israel–home.

In doing so, He is also using a different strategy to bring Israel home.  He’s making Israel envious.  He’s making them angry so that the chosen people come will back home because they see people—Gentiles to whom they’d considered themselves superior—coming to God in faith.  God is using human nature in order to bring His people—both Jew and Gentile—into the Kingdom.

The good news has been for Jew and Gentile all along.  God held out His hands to Israel in the call of Abraham and in the giving of the Law—all the privileges of the chosen people.  He extended His nail-pierced hands to Gentiles at the Cross.  He extends these same hands to the Jews at the Cross, through the witness of Christians, and by His Word to show us that the good news of the Gospel is God’s holding out His hands and inviting us home. 

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Give it up for Lent: Silently keeping God to ourselves

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For further study

1. Read Psalm 19—how does creation call out?
2. Read Isaiah’s prayer in Isaiah 63:7-64:12.  What does Isaiah want God to do?  In Isaiah 65:2 we have the pronouncement that God has held His hands out.  Read the rest of Isaiah 65.  What does this tell us about why God was displeased with the Israelites?  What does this say God plans to do about it?
3. Read Galatians 3:6-29—how does this inform our understanding of the Christians’ relationship to the Jews? 
4. How are we doing at preaching the good news for our Jewish friends to see and hear?