Living This Life Part 3

I wrote the last couple of times how living a life as a follower of Christ first begins with that relationship to Him. We then looked at how we not only belong to Him, but we belong to others as well, a community known as the church. Now, this third part of ‘Living This Life’ has to do with how we represent ourselves in the society around us and this seems to be an area in which we often fail to see the importance, until it shows up on the news in an ugly way.

Why This? Why Here?

Romans 13, at a glance, can seem to come from left field as Paul was talking in chapter 12 about …

• “Let love be genuine.” (Vs. 9)
• “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Vs. 10)
• “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (Vs. 13)
• “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” (Vs. 14)
• “Repay no one evil for evil.” (Vs. 17)
• “Never avenge yourselves.” (Vs. 19)
• “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” (Vs. 20)
• “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Vs.21)

Then all of a sudden in chapter 13 he is talking about submitting to government authorities, paying taxes and not being in debt to anyone except when it comes to love, but really he is only continuing with love and concern for others, but in a very matter-of-fact kind of way. So, why are these things so essential?

There is a current story in the news that I believe makes the importance of these points very clear. A woman named Laura Silsby and a number of American missionaries were recently arrested while illegally taking 33 children out of Haiti into the Dominican Republic, apparently to start an orphanage. Now with the earthquake tragedy that has struck Haiti, the thought of rescuing children and starting an orphanage sounds like a noble thing to do, but add into the mix that Laura has a history of failing to pay her debts, has at least eight civil lawsuits and fourteen unpaid wage claims against her plus now the recognition that she did not go through proper channels to take these children. Well, whatever her intent may or may not have been, everything about her is now suspect.

Unfortunately, it’s easier to see just how important our conduct and character in life can be; from the bad examples than the good, because really, who cares how well you know the scriptures, how much you pray or how spiritual you claim to be if you take advantage of people and act like a jerk? That may seem like a harsh way of looking at this subject in chapter 13, but I really believe it is at the heart of what Paul is trying to convey.

It’s also worth remembering that in Acts 18 Luke wrote that Claudius (Caesar) ordered the Jews to leave Rome. We don’t know for what reason, but odds are that things were not good between the Roman government and this group of people. Now Paul is writing this letter only 5 years later to those Christians (Jew and gentile), who once again are in Rome. You can imagine the scrutiny these followers of Christ (most of them Jews) were under and why it was so important that they didn’t obstruct the faith that they shared with self-centered conduct.

I love J.B. Phillips’ translation of 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 that brings even more clarity to this. Paul writes: “Be busy with your own affairs and do your work yourselves. The result will be a reputation for honesty in the world outside and an honorable independence.”

What does it mean to be spiritual? Is it studying your Bible or honestly paying your taxes? Is it praying for hours or making sure you are not indebted to anyone? Is it in saying the right words or living the right life? Well, both would be best but Paul, in Romans chapter 13, wants us to understand the value in living a life that will honor the faith that we believe and how we display that faith in our society.

James writes, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:26-27 ( NIV )

So, don’t stop helping Orphans, just make sure your conduct doesn’t get in the way.