WEDNESDAY, May 13

Romans 13:1-14. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.

But what if the governing authority is a rapacious, murdering tyrant? Or less dramatically but more commonly, a petty crook or a misguided incompetent? Am I to obey such an authority as instituted by God?

Throughout most of Christian history, the answer would have been an unequivocal yes. Kings and governors were seen as God's chosen servants, accountable to God, not to their subjects. A Christian citizen was to obey his sovereign. And if the sovereign was evil, it was Jesus who said, "Do not resist an evildoer" (Matthew 5:39). Many Christians today still hold this view--submission and pacifism have a long and honorable history in the church.

Other Christians regard taking up arms a lesser evil than passive acquiescence to injustice. Perhaps the best approach is to resist by breaking evil laws yet without violence, accepting the punishment of the governing authorities, even jail and martyrdom if it comes to that. Maria Skobtsova, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela--these are among the heroes of recent history, and the light of truth shines through them.

PRAY for the Diocese of Calcutta (North India)

Ps 72 * 119:73-96; Wisdom 13:1-9; Luke 8:16-25

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.

Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Email this

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0) Add Comment

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/hide comments

Write comment

Show/hide comment form

The History of Forward Movement:

Weary and Divided Church | The First Publication | Church Moves Forward | Name Change | The First Editor

Check out Lent Madness -- daily devotions with the saints that are fun and informative.

Download the new Readers' Guide for the February Forward Day by Day! Updated monthly.

Signup for e-news

10ways-to-pray Claim Your Free Gift Now! Simply subscribe to our e-news by using the form below. You will then be able to download our "Ten Ways to Pray" ebook!

Be sure to confirm your preferences and check your email after subscribing. The link to your free gift is found in your "Welcome" email.

Start a Subscription Prayer Chapel

Resources

Today's Meditation Podcast Día a Día (Spanish Version) Editor’s Notes Mobile Reading For Today A Morning Resolve How to Use Forward Day by Day Scripture Listings

Latest Meditations

Meditation Archives

January, 2012 December, 2011 November, 2011 October, 2011 September, 2011 August, 2011 July, 2011 June, 2011 May, 2011 April, 2011 March, 2011 February, 2011

Request a Catalog Make a Donation