"DEAR LORD, THIS YEAR YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE ACTOR, PATRICK SWAYZE. YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE ACTRESS, FARAH FAWCETT. YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE SINGER, MICHAEL JACKSON. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, MY FAVORITE PRESIDENT IS BARACK OBAMA. AMEN."
Upon first glance, it looks pretty harmless, and even a bit humorous. I admit it - I chuckled. But in reality, the underlying message is anything but godly. It saddens me that religious groups lose sight of the fact that God controls EVERYTHING, including who holds positions in our government. And somehow we also forget that we are commanded to submit to our leaders or else be punished. Not really something I personally want to mess around with…
Romans 13:1-7 ~ Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
Well, let’s not even go there.
My God is big, all-powerful, and all-knowing, and all-forgiving.
And I am so, so glad about that.
1 comment:
So true Becky! I was just reading in I Samuel about how David didn't harm Saul because he was the Lord's anointed King. Obviously Saul was far from a man of God and yet God had placed him in that position and David recognized and respected that! We should all learn from his example!
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