1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,700 Today's scripture reading is from Romans 13, 1 through 7, and it's page 977 in the 2 00:00:07,700 --> 00:00:11,540 Bibles in the back of the pews. 3 00:00:11,540 --> 00:00:17,200 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God. 4 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,800 And the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 5 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:26,320 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God's command, and those who oppose 6 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,420 it will bring judgment on themselves. 7 00:00:29,420 --> 00:00:34,460 Your rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. 8 00:00:34,460 --> 00:00:38,300 Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? 9 00:00:38,300 --> 00:00:41,380 Do what is good, and you will have its approval. 10 00:00:41,380 --> 00:00:43,980 For it is God's servant for your good. 11 00:00:43,980 --> 00:00:49,700 But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. 12 00:00:49,700 --> 00:00:55,840 For it is God's servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 13 00:00:55,840 --> 00:01:02,840 Therefore, you must submit not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience. 14 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:08,800 And for this reason, you pay taxes, since the authorities are God's servants. 15 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:10,880 Continually attend to these tasks. 16 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,660 Pay your obligations to everyone. 17 00:01:13,660 --> 00:01:20,600 Taxes to those who owe taxes, tolls to those who owe tolls, respect to those who owe respect, 18 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,360 and honor to those you owe honor. 19 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:32,160 This is God's word. 20 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,720 After reading that scripture, does anyone want to just leave? 21 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:38,200 No. 22 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,280 There's the door. 23 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:45,220 All right. 24 00:01:45,220 --> 00:01:46,220 This is God's word. 25 00:01:46,220 --> 00:01:51,500 I love that we end our scripture reading with that, because we can't run for the door. 26 00:01:51,500 --> 00:01:52,700 This is God's word. 27 00:01:52,700 --> 00:01:54,900 But we do have to contend with it. 28 00:01:54,900 --> 00:01:59,460 This morning, we're going to explore a concept that's fundamental to our lives as Christians 29 00:01:59,460 --> 00:02:02,200 and as members of society. 30 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,580 And that is how do we interact with the idea of authority? 31 00:02:05,580 --> 00:02:06,580 Authority. 32 00:02:06,580 --> 00:02:08,620 Our sermon series is called Authorize. 33 00:02:08,620 --> 00:02:12,300 So we're going to kind of tear that apart and look at it this week, and then we'll pick 34 00:02:12,300 --> 00:02:14,140 it up again next week. 35 00:02:14,140 --> 00:02:20,760 As next week, we talk about three particular spheres of authority, as well as next week 36 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:25,520 maybe where you find a lot of the answers to the, yeah, but, dot, dot, dot questions 37 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:27,640 that are going through your head right now. 38 00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:30,120 What about this situation or that situation? 39 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:31,680 So hold on. 40 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:34,120 It's a two-week series, and we're going to talk about authority. 41 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:40,940 When we hear the word authority, I think most of us think of power. 42 00:02:40,940 --> 00:02:45,460 Authority equals power, the ability to control and command. 43 00:02:45,460 --> 00:02:52,140 Now, growing up in my family, me and my siblings, we called our dad Papa. 44 00:02:52,140 --> 00:02:53,500 We still do to this day. 45 00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:55,660 He's Papa to us. 46 00:02:55,660 --> 00:02:58,660 It's kind of weird as you're an adult, though, saying it in front of other people. 47 00:02:58,660 --> 00:03:03,100 I don't know why, but that's gotten weirder over time. 48 00:03:03,100 --> 00:03:07,580 But calling him Dad is even more weird to me and very strange. 49 00:03:07,580 --> 00:03:12,420 Well, I remember one time my kids and I were talking, and they call me Dad, which isn't 50 00:03:12,420 --> 00:03:13,420 strange at all. 51 00:03:13,420 --> 00:03:14,480 So it's wild. 52 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:19,500 But we were talking, and they asked me, what would I like to be called? 53 00:03:19,500 --> 00:03:23,100 If I had my way, what would I like to be called? 54 00:03:23,100 --> 00:03:32,260 And I told them that I would, henceforth, like to be called Master and Commander. 55 00:03:32,260 --> 00:03:38,220 Each and every time they addressed me, Master and Commander. 56 00:03:38,220 --> 00:03:42,100 But they've yet to do it. 57 00:03:42,100 --> 00:03:45,980 They've yet to honor me in that regard. 58 00:03:45,980 --> 00:03:53,140 But authority is so much more than command and control or being the Master and Commander. 59 00:03:53,140 --> 00:03:57,340 At its core, authority is about legitimacy. 60 00:03:57,340 --> 00:04:04,740 It's the moral rights to exercise power, something that we might call authorization. 61 00:04:04,740 --> 00:04:05,740 Here's a definition. 62 00:04:05,740 --> 00:04:06,820 I think we have a slide for this one. 63 00:04:06,820 --> 00:04:09,420 Here's a definition you can consider about authority. 64 00:04:09,420 --> 00:04:16,100 Authority is the God-given moral right to make choices. 65 00:04:16,100 --> 00:04:22,580 Authority is the God-given moral right to make choices. 66 00:04:22,580 --> 00:04:27,900 As we delve into the topic of authority, we'll discover that God has delegated authority 67 00:04:27,900 --> 00:04:33,220 to us humans, and he's done it for a very specific purpose. 68 00:04:33,220 --> 00:04:37,980 So if you're taking notes, the first thing I'll have you write down is the nature of 69 00:04:37,980 --> 00:04:38,980 authority. 70 00:04:38,980 --> 00:04:39,980 I have lots to cover. 71 00:04:39,980 --> 00:04:42,860 The first one is the nature of authority. 72 00:04:42,860 --> 00:04:46,500 To understand authority, we need to grasp its true nature. 73 00:04:46,500 --> 00:04:49,900 And authority isn't about brute force. 74 00:04:49,900 --> 00:04:51,780 At least legitimate authority. 75 00:04:51,780 --> 00:04:56,620 Let's distinguish between authority as we have come to understand it or know it or feel 76 00:04:56,620 --> 00:05:01,780 it versus legitimate God-given moral right to make choices. 77 00:05:01,780 --> 00:05:05,900 There is illegitimate authority after all. 78 00:05:05,900 --> 00:05:10,380 The legitimate authority is not about brute force or mere power. 79 00:05:10,380 --> 00:05:12,900 It's about legitimacy. 80 00:05:12,900 --> 00:05:19,300 It's the right to make decisions and exercise influence within a certain sphere. 81 00:05:19,300 --> 00:05:23,040 There's a reason we call God Almighty. 82 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:26,560 There's a reason we call him the Almighty Sovereign. 83 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:34,140 It's because his ability to make choices and decisions covers all things, all places, all 84 00:05:34,140 --> 00:05:36,340 spheres. 85 00:05:36,340 --> 00:05:42,660 But ours as humans will always be limited to a certain number of spheres that God has 86 00:05:42,660 --> 00:05:43,860 delegated that authority. 87 00:05:43,860 --> 00:05:44,860 That's important to remember. 88 00:05:44,860 --> 00:05:49,780 If you think about authority, it comes in various scopes and sizes. 89 00:05:49,780 --> 00:05:56,040 Some people have authority over nations, others over large organizations, others have authority 90 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,820 over a household or a classroom. 91 00:05:59,820 --> 00:06:04,980 And at least, at the very least, each one of us has authority over our own thoughts 92 00:06:04,980 --> 00:06:06,940 and actions. 93 00:06:06,940 --> 00:06:10,500 And this brings us to a crucial point. 94 00:06:10,500 --> 00:06:14,100 Everyone has some form of authority. 95 00:06:14,100 --> 00:06:21,020 Now you might feel power, you've power, powerless or not feel powerful in the conventional sense, 96 00:06:21,020 --> 00:06:27,500 but you have been given a God-given domain in which you are to exercise and rule through 97 00:06:27,500 --> 00:06:30,340 your choices and actions. 98 00:06:30,340 --> 00:06:36,260 We've all been given authority in somewhere, at least in our thoughts and our actions. 99 00:06:36,260 --> 00:06:40,420 And this universal possession of authority is part of what it means actually to be a 100 00:06:40,420 --> 00:06:43,500 human or made in God's image. 101 00:06:43,500 --> 00:06:45,440 God exercise ultimate authority. 102 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:50,620 He delegates authority, legitimate authority to his creation. 103 00:06:50,620 --> 00:06:55,140 That leads us to the second point, which is the purpose of authority. 104 00:06:55,140 --> 00:07:01,540 Side note, I was listening to a Timothy Keller sermon recently and he joked that he makes 105 00:07:01,540 --> 00:07:06,660 his first point really quick so everyone gets a sense that the sermon's moving along really 106 00:07:06,660 --> 00:07:12,620 fast, but the second point is always really long. 107 00:07:12,620 --> 00:07:15,700 So let's see where we go. 108 00:07:15,700 --> 00:07:20,020 Now why did God give us authority in the first place? 109 00:07:20,020 --> 00:07:24,820 The answer lies in his own nature and his own actions. 110 00:07:24,820 --> 00:07:29,680 God who possesses all authority uses his authority to do what? 111 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:39,800 He uses his authority and choice to create, to arrange, to author, to organize, to put 112 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:44,780 things in order for maximum good and for flourishing. 113 00:07:44,780 --> 00:07:47,140 That's what God does. 114 00:07:47,140 --> 00:07:53,140 So when God delegates authority to us, he's delegating authority out of the authority 115 00:07:53,140 --> 00:07:55,780 he already exercises. 116 00:07:55,780 --> 00:08:01,540 In other words, we can't use authority legitimately except that it aligns with the way that God 117 00:08:01,540 --> 00:08:08,580 himself uses authority and God uses the all authority that he has to create, arrange, 118 00:08:08,580 --> 00:08:15,480 author, and organize and put things in order for maximum good and flourishing. 119 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:20,880 So all delegated legitimate authority has to do the same. 120 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:26,820 And he's inviting us to participate in this creative ordering process. 121 00:08:26,820 --> 00:08:34,580 In fact, we're called to be as his people co-rulers with him, stewarding this great 122 00:08:34,580 --> 00:08:38,580 creation of his. 123 00:08:38,580 --> 00:08:43,780 And the cool thing is this applies whether you're organizing a community event, you're 124 00:08:43,780 --> 00:08:49,860 managing a team, or you're looking after your family and your weekly schedule as a family 125 00:08:49,860 --> 00:08:59,300 and what you do and what you don't do, you've been delegated authority to create, to organize, 126 00:08:59,300 --> 00:09:05,060 to arrange and author and put things in order for the maximum good of those you have authority 127 00:09:05,060 --> 00:09:06,660 over. 128 00:09:06,660 --> 00:09:12,360 So every time we use our authority to bring order out of chaos in order to nurture growth 129 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:17,740 or facilitate flourishing, we're aligning ourselves with God's purpose. 130 00:09:17,740 --> 00:09:21,700 We're aligning ourselves with the way that God uses authority. 131 00:09:21,700 --> 00:09:27,660 And we're fulfilling our role as the image bearers of the almighty God. 132 00:09:27,660 --> 00:09:33,660 Now authority as we know it, as we've experienced it can be used wisely or it can be used unwisely, 133 00:09:33,660 --> 00:09:34,660 right? 134 00:09:34,660 --> 00:09:36,660 How many of you guys know where authority has been abused? 135 00:09:36,660 --> 00:09:39,340 Have you ever heard a story or experienced something? 136 00:09:39,340 --> 00:09:43,900 How many of you know that it's really difficult to participate in our country's political 137 00:09:43,900 --> 00:09:46,020 scene? 138 00:09:46,020 --> 00:09:54,140 Because no matter what, there's some corruption, some evil, some wrongdoing, some wickedness. 139 00:09:54,140 --> 00:09:59,500 It's almost impossible to find a godly person. 140 00:09:59,500 --> 00:10:04,100 We look to and fro and we don't find it. 141 00:10:04,100 --> 00:10:05,100 Authority can be used wisely. 142 00:10:05,100 --> 00:10:07,100 It can also be used foolishly. 143 00:10:07,100 --> 00:10:13,140 Some of the last words that David recorded, it's actually recorded in 2 Samuel chapter 144 00:10:13,140 --> 00:10:19,140 23, under the heading in your Bible probably says the last words of David. 145 00:10:19,140 --> 00:10:21,580 Listen what he said. 146 00:10:21,580 --> 00:10:28,300 He said in chapter 23 of 2 Samuel beginning in verse 3, the God of Israel spoke, the rock 147 00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:35,560 of Israel said to me, the one who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear 148 00:10:35,560 --> 00:10:42,280 of God is like the morning light when the sun rises on a cloudless morning, the glistening 149 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:48,060 of rain on sprouting grass. 150 00:10:48,060 --> 00:10:54,060 What David is saying is the Lord told him, showed him that when authority is used wisely, 151 00:10:54,060 --> 00:10:58,420 when authority is used in line with the way that God uses his authority, that it brings 152 00:10:58,420 --> 00:10:59,580 life. 153 00:10:59,580 --> 00:11:01,340 It brings growth. 154 00:11:01,340 --> 00:11:02,520 It brings flourishing. 155 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:06,860 It creates an environment where others can thrive. 156 00:11:06,860 --> 00:11:13,240 That authority according to God's mind is not about domination. 157 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:20,060 It's not about domination, but it's about service and stewardship. 158 00:11:20,060 --> 00:11:21,380 Service and stewardship. 159 00:11:21,380 --> 00:11:28,500 It's about caring for what God values and serving other image bearing creation like 160 00:11:28,500 --> 00:11:31,980 other humans. 161 00:11:31,980 --> 00:11:37,500 In your own life, I would ask you to think about areas where you have authority. 162 00:11:37,500 --> 00:11:41,360 Start to think about the spheres of authority that you have. 163 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:43,340 Maybe it's you own your home. 164 00:11:43,340 --> 00:11:45,080 It's your home. 165 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,600 And that's a place where you exercise authority. 166 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:53,420 Maybe you have a job where you've been given certain responsibilities. 167 00:11:53,420 --> 00:11:58,060 Maybe you're an accountant and your job is to order and arrange numbers in such a way 168 00:11:58,060 --> 00:12:02,060 that the business you're working for can flourish. 169 00:12:02,060 --> 00:12:07,020 These are all ways that we use authority for good. 170 00:12:07,020 --> 00:12:12,140 How can you use that authority to foster growth and flourishing? 171 00:12:12,140 --> 00:12:15,700 Maybe it's in your family or your workplace or your community. 172 00:12:15,700 --> 00:12:19,940 You can use that God given authority for the benefit of others. 173 00:12:19,940 --> 00:12:23,340 But we all know that authority can be used foolishly as well. 174 00:12:23,340 --> 00:12:31,060 If you contrast David with the king that came before him, Saul, right there you'll see the 175 00:12:31,060 --> 00:12:32,060 two differences. 176 00:12:32,060 --> 00:12:37,940 David had his flaws, absolutely, and he abused his authority on many occasions. 177 00:12:37,940 --> 00:12:43,740 But he always desired and sought and repented and sought to lead as God would have him lead. 178 00:12:43,740 --> 00:12:49,240 Whereas Saul over and over again misused the authority that he had out of fear, out of 179 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,460 jealousy and out of self interest. 180 00:12:51,460 --> 00:12:59,540 And I think fear, jealousy and self interest still plague the usage of authority, whether 181 00:12:59,540 --> 00:13:02,460 at the highest levels or at the lowest levels. 182 00:13:02,460 --> 00:13:06,760 When we misuse our authority, we create dysfunction and harm. 183 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:10,060 We stifle growth instead of nurturing growth. 184 00:13:10,060 --> 00:13:12,900 We bring disorder instead of order. 185 00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:17,980 But even in those negative examples, there are lessons for us as well. 186 00:13:17,980 --> 00:13:23,740 Every time authority is misused, it reminds us of the responsibility we have with the 187 00:13:23,740 --> 00:13:26,260 authority that God has given us. 188 00:13:26,260 --> 00:13:34,660 And so, number three, write down our response to authority, the nature of authority, the 189 00:13:34,660 --> 00:13:40,580 purpose of authority and our response to authority. 190 00:13:40,580 --> 00:13:46,500 And so now let's consider how we should respond to the authority that God has instituted, 191 00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:50,140 especially when we find ourselves under someone else's authority. 192 00:13:50,140 --> 00:13:57,580 And this is gonna bring us back to Romans 13 that Laurie read, verses one through seven. 193 00:13:57,580 --> 00:14:03,540 First Paul, who's writing Romans, he establishes this fundamental principle for us to remember, 194 00:14:03,540 --> 00:14:06,660 that all authority ultimately comes from God. 195 00:14:06,660 --> 00:14:13,120 He said, let everyone submit to the governing authorities since there is no authority except 196 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:19,940 from God and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 197 00:14:19,940 --> 00:14:24,820 Now this doesn't mean that every leader is godly by no means. 198 00:14:24,820 --> 00:14:26,560 We know that. 199 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,060 Or that every decision that they make is right. 200 00:14:29,060 --> 00:14:35,680 But rather it means that the concept of authority itself is established by God and it's part 201 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:40,980 of his ordering of human society. 202 00:14:40,980 --> 00:14:47,620 After that, Paul draws a startling conclusion that resisting the idea of authority means 203 00:14:47,620 --> 00:14:52,160 that you are resisting God's arrangement. 204 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,420 And in truth, you're resisting God. 205 00:14:55,420 --> 00:15:00,540 And this is a challenging idea, especially when we disagree with those who are in power. 206 00:15:00,540 --> 00:15:05,980 But Paul is reminding us that even imperfect human authorities serve a purpose in God's 207 00:15:05,980 --> 00:15:07,660 plan. 208 00:15:07,660 --> 00:15:13,400 There is not a human authority that you can think of right now whose name is like pollution 209 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:19,940 on the tongue that did not serve some purpose in God's plan for bringing about maximum good 210 00:15:19,940 --> 00:15:23,040 for his creation. 211 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:24,780 Think of a name. 212 00:15:24,780 --> 00:15:26,940 I can think of a bunch of them. 213 00:15:26,940 --> 00:15:30,580 The 19th or the 20th century had quite a few names. 214 00:15:30,580 --> 00:15:33,540 Mao in China. 215 00:15:33,540 --> 00:15:35,860 Stalin in Russia. 216 00:15:35,860 --> 00:15:37,580 Hitler in Germany. 217 00:15:37,580 --> 00:15:39,620 Go down the list. 218 00:15:39,620 --> 00:15:45,840 There are many names that we immediately go, yeah, but what about? 219 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:52,340 And rightfully so because their actions and their behavior was appalling. 220 00:15:52,340 --> 00:15:59,980 And yet Paul is saying even in that condition, even in those states, they can serve a purpose 221 00:15:59,980 --> 00:16:08,180 in my grand plan to bless and flourish my creation. 222 00:16:08,180 --> 00:16:12,660 So we'll put a thumbtack on that and come back to that a little bit later. 223 00:16:12,660 --> 00:16:16,440 But next, Paul outlines the primary function of governing authorities. 224 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:21,020 And this is something else to remember in regard to a legitimate authority versus illegitimate 225 00:16:21,020 --> 00:16:22,020 authority. 226 00:16:22,020 --> 00:16:27,860 He says that authorities exist because God instituted them. 227 00:16:27,860 --> 00:16:31,020 And the one who resists the authority is opposing God's commands. 228 00:16:31,020 --> 00:16:32,020 Why? 229 00:16:32,020 --> 00:16:35,900 Because rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad. 230 00:16:35,900 --> 00:16:38,380 Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? 231 00:16:38,380 --> 00:16:42,940 Do what is good and you will have its approval. 232 00:16:42,940 --> 00:16:47,160 You may go, that doesn't, that's not how it works in the real world. 233 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:50,660 We do good all the time and the authorities don't have approval. 234 00:16:50,660 --> 00:16:52,260 They don't approve of what we're doing. 235 00:16:52,260 --> 00:16:54,580 They resist us and persecute us. 236 00:16:54,580 --> 00:17:01,380 Again, you must understand that God institutes authority and gives them the mandate to do 237 00:17:01,380 --> 00:17:03,100 good. 238 00:17:03,100 --> 00:17:09,060 But like every human, including yourself, you have a choice. 239 00:17:09,060 --> 00:17:13,380 God's ideal or your way. 240 00:17:13,380 --> 00:17:18,380 And before any of us point our finger, see, the reason we know the names that I mentioned 241 00:17:18,380 --> 00:17:23,020 is because of the consequences that they had with their authority. 242 00:17:23,020 --> 00:17:25,540 Because they were monumental, the stats are huge. 243 00:17:25,540 --> 00:17:29,940 They're in the millions of people that they hurt. 244 00:17:29,940 --> 00:17:35,820 But before we go pointing too many fingers out there, mothers have misused their authority 245 00:17:35,820 --> 00:17:40,220 in their family and hurt their children. 246 00:17:40,220 --> 00:17:46,380 Fathers have misused their authority in the family and hurt their wives. 247 00:17:46,380 --> 00:17:52,700 Church authorities have misused their authority and hurt their congregation. 248 00:17:52,700 --> 00:17:56,180 And they may not be on millions and millions of numbers, right? 249 00:17:56,180 --> 00:17:59,460 The consequences may not be seen in the same light. 250 00:17:59,460 --> 00:18:04,580 But nonetheless, it's all illegitimate use of authority. 251 00:18:04,580 --> 00:18:08,540 And yes, someone who has a lot of authority and power over who can command armies, we're 252 00:18:08,540 --> 00:18:10,160 definitely going to hear about it in the news. 253 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:14,400 But what we're not going to hear about is the wife who abused her authority in the house 254 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:19,460 with her kids and ended up creating monsters. 255 00:18:19,460 --> 00:18:24,160 Or the husband who did not love his wife as Christ loved the church and laid himself down 256 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:28,500 for her and in her created bitterness and hardness of heart. 257 00:18:28,500 --> 00:18:30,860 You're not going to hear about that in the news. 258 00:18:30,860 --> 00:18:34,300 All of that is illegitimate use of authority. 259 00:18:34,300 --> 00:18:37,900 All of it. 260 00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:43,420 The Paul says the primary function of governing authorities is to command good and punish 261 00:18:43,420 --> 00:18:44,420 evil. 262 00:18:44,420 --> 00:18:46,960 This is what God wants authorities to do. 263 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:51,720 This is the ideal, and this is what he wants you and I to do in the spheres of influence 264 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:53,020 that we have. 265 00:18:53,020 --> 00:18:57,960 That we would command what is good, punish what is evil. 266 00:18:57,960 --> 00:18:59,340 And this is ideal. 267 00:18:59,340 --> 00:19:02,860 But human governments always fall short. 268 00:19:02,860 --> 00:19:09,540 But when authorities fulfill this role, then they're acting as God's servant for the good. 269 00:19:09,540 --> 00:19:13,760 And they ought to be commended as well. 270 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:20,140 Something that is important to note as we look at Romans 13, you may be inclined to 271 00:19:20,140 --> 00:19:27,180 say, yeah, but, dot, dot, dot, Joe Biden, for instance. 272 00:19:27,180 --> 00:19:33,500 Or maybe you're on the other fence and you're like, yeah, but Donald Trump might win. 273 00:19:33,500 --> 00:19:41,240 Paul is writing into a context where the reigning emperor over Rome is Nero. 274 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:48,260 When he says, honor the governing authorities, and he's writing it to the church in Rome, 275 00:19:48,260 --> 00:19:55,260 the governing authorities are the local governors and ultimately the emperor Nero. 276 00:19:55,260 --> 00:20:00,180 And because we have a mixed audience of ages here, we're not going to go into details about 277 00:20:00,180 --> 00:20:07,220 Nero, but you can take all of those other names I mentioned and set them aside in view 278 00:20:07,220 --> 00:20:15,060 of some of the atrocities that Nero committed even against Christians, the way that he treated 279 00:20:15,060 --> 00:20:16,060 them. 280 00:20:16,060 --> 00:20:20,180 And so whatever your interpretation of Romans 13, if you want to set it aside and say, I 281 00:20:20,180 --> 00:20:25,140 don't get it, it doesn't make sense, whatever it is, you have to grapple with the fact that 282 00:20:25,140 --> 00:20:32,180 he's writing to a people who are under a very oppressive, not tolerant regime who wants 283 00:20:32,180 --> 00:20:34,620 to kill them and hurt them. 284 00:20:34,620 --> 00:20:37,140 And he's still saying these words. 285 00:20:37,140 --> 00:20:41,580 And I think that may be one of the most important things that Romans 13 tells us is it's not 286 00:20:41,580 --> 00:20:43,140 easy. 287 00:20:43,140 --> 00:20:46,080 You have to grapple with the reality of it. 288 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:50,420 It's not as easy as saying, oh, but he believes in this. 289 00:20:50,420 --> 00:20:54,700 You guys, if you've been around at all, you know my position on abortion. 290 00:20:54,700 --> 00:20:59,020 You know that I am vehemently, adamantly against it. 291 00:20:59,020 --> 00:21:03,580 I will say on all sides though, I'm against the medical procedure of abortion. 292 00:21:03,580 --> 00:21:06,520 I'm against the abortion pill. 293 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:09,420 You can send it back to the states for them to decide. 294 00:21:09,420 --> 00:21:15,260 And what I want the states to decide is no pill because that's abortion as well. 295 00:21:15,260 --> 00:21:21,700 And if you believe abortion begins at conception, then in vitro fertilization is also a form 296 00:21:21,700 --> 00:21:27,340 of abortion because it fertilizes embryos, freezes a lot of them, uses a few of them 297 00:21:27,340 --> 00:21:30,740 and then throws the rest away. 298 00:21:30,740 --> 00:21:36,700 And so pro-life is a much bigger issue than just I'm against this guy because he wants 299 00:21:36,700 --> 00:21:37,700 this. 300 00:21:37,700 --> 00:21:40,500 You have to look at the bigger picture. 301 00:21:40,500 --> 00:21:41,840 It's so much more. 302 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:45,860 And that's why it's not as easy as saying I'm on this team or I'm on that team. 303 00:21:45,860 --> 00:21:49,640 I think the Bible doesn't allow us to say we're on this team or that team. 304 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:51,620 It creates a whole team unto itself. 305 00:21:51,620 --> 00:21:54,180 I says, I'm on that team. 306 00:21:54,180 --> 00:21:55,960 And it has a different view. 307 00:21:55,960 --> 00:22:00,440 And sometimes it aligns over here and sometimes it may align over here, but it's never imperfect 308 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:01,940 alignment. 309 00:22:01,940 --> 00:22:05,660 Not to where I would ever want to be identified with it. 310 00:22:05,660 --> 00:22:09,900 I want to be identified with Christ in his way. 311 00:22:09,900 --> 00:22:11,420 Nero is known for his cruelty. 312 00:22:11,420 --> 00:22:14,420 He's known for his cruelty toward Christians. 313 00:22:14,420 --> 00:22:18,860 And yet Paul still affirms the principle of submitting to authorities. 314 00:22:18,860 --> 00:22:24,140 And this doesn't mean blind obedience or approval of their wrongdoing, but it does mean that 315 00:22:24,140 --> 00:22:29,700 we respect the office of authority, recognizing that's one of the ways that God is bringing 316 00:22:29,700 --> 00:22:34,700 his kingdom to bear on this earth. 317 00:22:34,700 --> 00:22:40,500 The last thing Paul points out in Romans 13 is that there's two reasons for submitting 318 00:22:40,500 --> 00:22:41,500 to authority. 319 00:22:41,500 --> 00:22:43,180 The first one is to avoid punishment. 320 00:22:43,180 --> 00:22:47,380 We all know that we don't like a speeding ticket and we certainly don't want anyone 321 00:22:47,380 --> 00:22:49,560 to come and arrest us. 322 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:52,820 But the second one is a matter of conscience. 323 00:22:52,820 --> 00:22:59,440 And the second one goes deeper as Christians are obedience to legitimate authorities. 324 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:07,240 This it directly contradicts God's commands is a part of our witness and our trust in 325 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,540 God as sovereign. 326 00:23:09,540 --> 00:23:11,340 You hear me? 327 00:23:11,340 --> 00:23:18,540 Our obedience to authorities, even imperfect authorities, respecting the office of authority, 328 00:23:18,540 --> 00:23:23,780 humbly appealing to those authorities when we disagree with them, humbly going to them 329 00:23:23,780 --> 00:23:28,820 without maligning them or slandering them, but humbly going to them, recognizing that 330 00:23:28,820 --> 00:23:30,820 God put them there. 331 00:23:30,820 --> 00:23:36,500 I mean, you don't, yes, I probably, probably shouldn't say it so plainly, but I will say 332 00:23:36,500 --> 00:23:39,780 it plainly because I'm already in. 333 00:23:39,780 --> 00:23:45,740 Joe Biden is our president because God instituted him into that place of authority. 334 00:23:45,740 --> 00:23:51,100 Joe Biden had an opportunity in being instituted to that place of authority to decide whether 335 00:23:51,100 --> 00:23:53,740 he would align with God's purposes or not. 336 00:23:53,740 --> 00:23:56,500 And I'll leave it to you to decide whether he's done that or not. 337 00:23:56,500 --> 00:24:04,580 I think it's pretty clear to me that he hasn't, but he had the opportunity because God put 338 00:24:04,580 --> 00:24:09,300 him into a place of authority. 339 00:24:09,300 --> 00:24:14,940 And that's how we ought to view this world and the governing authorities. 340 00:24:14,940 --> 00:24:20,780 There's a second century writing that was sent from one Roman to the tutor of Marcus 341 00:24:20,780 --> 00:24:23,920 Aurelius, the, the emperor of Rome. 342 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:28,100 And this one writer was trying to explain to him, Christians, he was trying to explain 343 00:24:28,100 --> 00:24:34,980 your kind of people, you people to the Roman emperor in the first century, the second century 344 00:24:34,980 --> 00:24:35,980 AD. 345 00:24:35,980 --> 00:24:41,900 So the early one hundreds, just after Christ and the apostles had passed away. 346 00:24:41,900 --> 00:24:47,020 And here's how he decided that he was going to explain you kind of people. 347 00:24:47,020 --> 00:24:54,380 He said this of Christians for the Christians are distinguished from other men, neither 348 00:24:54,380 --> 00:25:01,200 by country nor language, nor the customs, which they observe for they neither inhabit 349 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:02,260 cities of their own. 350 00:25:02,260 --> 00:25:07,020 They didn't have Christian cities nor employ a peculiar form of speech. 351 00:25:07,020 --> 00:25:15,460 They didn't have a Christian language nor lead a life, which is marked out by any singularity. 352 00:25:15,460 --> 00:25:21,020 The course of conduct, which they followed has not been devised by any speculation or 353 00:25:21,020 --> 00:25:28,420 deliberation of inquisitive men, nor do they like some proclaim themselves the advocates 354 00:25:28,420 --> 00:25:32,860 of any mere human doctrines. 355 00:25:32,860 --> 00:25:39,220 But inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as a lot of each of them 356 00:25:39,220 --> 00:25:46,400 has been determined, that's a way of saying wherever God has planted them and following 357 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:50,700 the customs of the natives in respect to the way they dress, the food that they eat and 358 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:52,580 the rest of very ordinary conduct. 359 00:25:52,580 --> 00:25:55,060 They're just like everyone else. 360 00:25:55,060 --> 00:26:01,980 They display to us their wonderful and confusedly striking method of life. 361 00:26:01,980 --> 00:26:10,660 They dwell in their own countries wherever they live, but simply as sojourners. 362 00:26:10,660 --> 00:26:14,740 As citizens, they share in all things with everyone else, like all other citizens, they 363 00:26:14,740 --> 00:26:20,100 participate in the things that citizens participate in, and yet they endure all things as if they're 364 00:26:20,100 --> 00:26:21,100 foreigners. 365 00:26:21,100 --> 00:26:25,500 They're treated like foreigners among the people that they're with. 366 00:26:25,500 --> 00:26:29,940 Every foreign land is to them as their native country and every land of their birth is like 367 00:26:29,940 --> 00:26:32,900 a land of strangers. 368 00:26:32,900 --> 00:26:37,260 They marry as they do all, as all do. 369 00:26:37,260 --> 00:26:41,280 They beget children, but they do not destroy their offspring. 370 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:43,640 This was a common practice at that time. 371 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:49,980 If you did not like your child, or particularly if your child was a girl, you could take your 372 00:26:49,980 --> 00:26:54,620 child to the outskirts of the city, outside of the wall and place her there and go back 373 00:26:54,620 --> 00:26:59,500 into the city and hope that some wild animal would come and consume her. 374 00:26:59,500 --> 00:27:03,140 That was just normal. 375 00:27:03,140 --> 00:27:08,540 He said, they beget children, but they don't destroy their offspring. 376 00:27:08,540 --> 00:27:10,260 Abortion was actually a thing at this time. 377 00:27:10,260 --> 00:27:13,340 It's in the Didache, the Christian writings of the first century. 378 00:27:13,340 --> 00:27:16,140 They talk about Christians must not abort. 379 00:27:16,140 --> 00:27:20,100 They must not kill their children. 380 00:27:20,100 --> 00:27:23,020 They have a common table, but not a common bed. 381 00:27:23,020 --> 00:27:29,220 It was not uncommon in that time to share your bed with anyone, to have many, many partners. 382 00:27:29,220 --> 00:27:35,380 They are in the flesh, but they don't live after the flesh. 383 00:27:35,380 --> 00:27:40,940 They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. 384 00:27:40,940 --> 00:27:48,640 They obey the prescribed laws, laws of pagan countries, laws of immoral rulers. 385 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:53,760 Under the authority of those who hate them, they obey the prescribed laws and at the same 386 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:56,580 time surpass the laws by their lives. 387 00:27:56,580 --> 00:28:00,100 They live better than the laws. 388 00:28:00,100 --> 00:28:05,020 They love all men and are persecuted by all. 389 00:28:05,020 --> 00:28:07,380 They are unknown and condemned. 390 00:28:07,380 --> 00:28:10,420 They are put to death and restored to life. 391 00:28:10,420 --> 00:28:14,340 They are poor, yet make many rich. 392 00:28:14,340 --> 00:28:17,780 They are in lack of all things and yet abound in all. 393 00:28:17,780 --> 00:28:21,540 They are dishonored and yet in their very dishonor are glorified. 394 00:28:21,540 --> 00:28:24,700 They are evil spoken of and yet are justified. 395 00:28:24,700 --> 00:28:26,980 They are reviled and blessed. 396 00:28:26,980 --> 00:28:30,940 They are insulted and repay the insult with honor. 397 00:28:30,940 --> 00:28:34,860 They do good, yet are punished as evildoers. 398 00:28:34,860 --> 00:28:38,660 When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life. 399 00:28:38,660 --> 00:28:42,500 They are sailed by the Jews as foreigners and are persecuted by the Greeks. 400 00:28:42,500 --> 00:28:50,380 Yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred. 401 00:28:50,380 --> 00:28:53,420 Those are our people. 402 00:28:53,420 --> 00:28:58,020 Those are our people and that's the legacy that we carry on today. 403 00:28:58,020 --> 00:28:59,580 Would that be said? 404 00:28:59,580 --> 00:29:01,380 Could that be said? 405 00:29:01,380 --> 00:29:09,180 Is that said nationally of the people of God? 406 00:29:09,180 --> 00:29:15,580 This passage challenges us to view authority differently. 407 00:29:15,580 --> 00:29:16,960 It calls us to respect. 408 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:20,060 You know what the main command throughout the word of God is? 409 00:29:20,060 --> 00:29:23,700 What you're supposed to do with those who are in authority over you. 410 00:29:23,700 --> 00:29:26,100 You're supposed to pray. 411 00:29:26,100 --> 00:29:30,140 You're supposed to pray for them. 412 00:29:30,140 --> 00:29:37,780 You're supposed to pray when the president gets on television and your heart is moved 413 00:29:37,780 --> 00:29:44,980 as he tries to navigate a difficult debate and clearly something's not right with him. 414 00:29:44,980 --> 00:29:47,180 You're supposed to pray for him. 415 00:29:47,180 --> 00:29:53,940 To get on your knees as a human, as an image bearer of God, as one who was given the opportunity 416 00:29:53,940 --> 00:29:59,340 to exercise authority and maybe he did chose differently on multiple occasions and has 417 00:29:59,340 --> 00:30:05,060 dishonored God and yet me, you, us pray. 418 00:30:05,060 --> 00:30:06,180 Pray to uplift him. 419 00:30:06,180 --> 00:30:08,260 Pray that God would redirect him. 420 00:30:08,260 --> 00:30:13,060 Pray that he would turn his heart to the Lord, that he'd be humbled. 421 00:30:13,060 --> 00:30:17,140 Pray that he would be restored, that he would change his ways, that he might be the sort 422 00:30:17,140 --> 00:30:20,660 of source of revival in our country because his heart is changing. 423 00:30:20,660 --> 00:30:24,940 If he can change, anyone could change. 424 00:30:24,940 --> 00:30:27,620 Are we burdened with that burden? 425 00:30:27,620 --> 00:30:33,760 I feel like that's in line with our forefathers and foremothers and those who went before 426 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:38,180 in the faith. 427 00:30:38,180 --> 00:30:43,780 In our current climate of political division, the words of Paul are more relevant than ever, 428 00:30:43,780 --> 00:30:44,780 I think. 429 00:30:44,780 --> 00:30:46,420 They call us to the highest standard. 430 00:30:46,420 --> 00:30:50,580 If you heard in that description of Christians, they obeyed the laws, they did everything 431 00:30:50,580 --> 00:30:52,900 and then they went above. 432 00:30:52,900 --> 00:31:00,420 They went out of their way to go over the top so as not to profane the name of Jesus. 433 00:31:00,420 --> 00:31:02,740 They were marked by respect. 434 00:31:02,740 --> 00:31:04,900 They prayed for their leaders. 435 00:31:04,900 --> 00:31:09,300 They were hated by everyone, even the ones they were doing good to. 436 00:31:09,300 --> 00:31:14,700 And yet they prayed for them and they didn't return evil for evil. 437 00:31:14,700 --> 00:31:21,020 These scriptures tell us to honor and respect the authorities God has instituted. 438 00:31:21,020 --> 00:31:24,860 This is how God envisions his kingdom on earth. 439 00:31:24,860 --> 00:31:29,580 This is how God envisions his kingdom people living. 440 00:31:29,580 --> 00:31:35,260 That his people would demonstrate proper submission to legitimate authority. 441 00:31:35,260 --> 00:31:41,360 Now you might ask, what if the authority over me is misusing that position? 442 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:48,580 What if he's misusing his position of authority and the Bible totally acknowledges this possibility? 443 00:31:48,580 --> 00:32:03,220 And yet, we are told to submit even if the legitimate authority over us is cruel. 444 00:32:03,220 --> 00:32:08,620 First Peter chapter two says to household slaves, now you may think of slaves and immediately 445 00:32:08,620 --> 00:32:13,620 think of what we dealt with here in America as slaves is those who were kidnapped and 446 00:32:13,620 --> 00:32:15,100 forced into slavery. 447 00:32:15,100 --> 00:32:18,420 He's addressing household servants in the Roman household. 448 00:32:18,420 --> 00:32:23,580 This was a position within the Roman household and the head of the house was the master, 449 00:32:23,580 --> 00:32:28,140 the legitimate authority over the person who was serving in the household. 450 00:32:28,140 --> 00:32:32,500 And he addresses them and says, submit to your masters with all reverence, not only 451 00:32:32,500 --> 00:32:37,380 to the good and gentle ones, but also to the cruel. 452 00:32:37,380 --> 00:32:44,260 For it brings favor if because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering 453 00:32:44,260 --> 00:32:45,260 unjustly. 454 00:32:45,260 --> 00:32:47,140 Let me read that one more time. 455 00:32:47,140 --> 00:32:54,980 It brings favor if because of a consciousness of God, an awareness of God, a fear of God, 456 00:32:54,980 --> 00:32:59,380 someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. 457 00:32:59,380 --> 00:33:05,260 For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure that? 458 00:33:05,260 --> 00:33:15,140 No, but when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God. 459 00:33:15,140 --> 00:33:17,100 And here's how, here's his example. 460 00:33:17,100 --> 00:33:18,780 Here's his illustration. 461 00:33:18,780 --> 00:33:25,480 For you were called to this because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example 462 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:28,460 that you should follow in his steps. 463 00:33:28,460 --> 00:33:32,440 He did not commit sin and no deceit was found in his mouth. 464 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:36,140 When he was insulted, he did not insult in return. 465 00:33:36,140 --> 00:33:41,300 When he suffered, he did not threaten, but was entrusted himself to the one who judges 466 00:33:41,300 --> 00:33:42,420 justly. 467 00:33:42,420 --> 00:33:48,220 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that having died to sin, we might 468 00:33:48,220 --> 00:33:50,180 live for righteousness. 469 00:33:50,180 --> 00:33:54,900 By his wounds you have been healed for you were like sheep gone astray, but now have 470 00:33:54,900 --> 00:33:57,820 returned to the shepherd and overseer of your soul. 471 00:33:57,820 --> 00:34:03,580 The example that Peter says, the example that he uses for a household slave under a legitimate 472 00:34:03,580 --> 00:34:09,140 master who is receiving cruel treatment is remember Christ. 473 00:34:09,140 --> 00:34:14,700 Remember that Christ endured suffering and cruel treatment unjustly for you. 474 00:34:14,700 --> 00:34:19,980 Remember that so that you can bear up underneath it when it comes to you, even through a legitimate 475 00:34:19,980 --> 00:34:23,340 authority. 476 00:34:23,340 --> 00:34:29,740 First Peter chapter two suggests that temporary trouble caused even by a legitimate authority 477 00:34:29,740 --> 00:34:40,100 who is misusing their position can actually be part of God's plan for revealing his kingdom. 478 00:34:40,100 --> 00:34:46,180 So in conclusion, we've explored how authority is not about raw power, but about the God 479 00:34:46,180 --> 00:34:51,100 given right to make choices that influence our world. 480 00:34:51,100 --> 00:34:55,820 And whether we're leading a nation or managing a household or simply governing our own actions 481 00:34:55,820 --> 00:35:03,740 and thoughts, we all possess some measure of divine delegation of authority. 482 00:35:03,740 --> 00:35:09,180 Remember our authority is meant to mirror God's own creative and nurturing power that 483 00:35:09,180 --> 00:35:12,420 when we use it wisely, we bring order out of chaos. 484 00:35:12,420 --> 00:35:16,620 We foster growth and we enable others to flourish. 485 00:35:16,620 --> 00:35:22,860 And this is how we fulfill our role as image bearers of the ultimate authority. 486 00:35:22,860 --> 00:35:27,860 At the same time, we're called to respond to the authorities over us with respect and 487 00:35:27,860 --> 00:35:34,140 honor to pray for them and recognizing even the imperfect human authorities serve a purpose 488 00:35:34,140 --> 00:35:38,140 in God's grand plan. 489 00:35:38,140 --> 00:35:44,180 This doesn't mean blind obedience, but thoughtful engagement that reflects our trust in God's 490 00:35:44,180 --> 00:35:45,300 sovereignty. 491 00:35:45,300 --> 00:35:47,900 We wrestle with it, we grapple with it. 492 00:35:47,900 --> 00:35:52,580 It's not an easy choice or decision. 493 00:35:52,580 --> 00:35:55,560 So I have three challenges as we close for you this week. 494 00:35:55,560 --> 00:36:01,380 Number one, identify the areas where God has given you authority. 495 00:36:01,380 --> 00:36:08,660 How can you use that authority to bring more of God's order and flourishing into your sphere 496 00:36:08,660 --> 00:36:11,020 of influence? 497 00:36:11,020 --> 00:36:14,060 Whereas God placed you as an authority. 498 00:36:14,060 --> 00:36:18,100 Are you a legitimate authority using that authority for good? 499 00:36:18,100 --> 00:36:23,900 Are you concerned day and night for the flourishing of those that are entrusted under you? 500 00:36:23,900 --> 00:36:29,020 Do you consider your family or your work or the community that you're in and the authority 501 00:36:29,020 --> 00:36:32,140 that you might have within those spheres? 502 00:36:32,140 --> 00:36:35,280 You consider their good. 503 00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:38,760 Number two, reflect on your response to the authorities in your life. 504 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:46,500 How can you honor God through your attitudes and actions, even in challenging situations? 505 00:36:46,500 --> 00:36:51,240 Remember honoring God should be supreme above everything. 506 00:36:51,240 --> 00:36:55,620 Honoring God should be supreme above opposition to something else. 507 00:36:55,620 --> 00:36:59,620 We should be known by what we're for, not what we're against. 508 00:36:59,620 --> 00:37:04,380 Many times we're known for what we're against, who we stand against, who we don't like. 509 00:37:04,380 --> 00:37:08,980 Let's be known for who we're for. 510 00:37:08,980 --> 00:37:15,860 Number three, pray for those in authority, in government, in your workplace, in your 511 00:37:15,860 --> 00:37:18,260 community. 512 00:37:18,260 --> 00:37:23,780 Ask God to guide them and to give you wisdom in your interactions with them. 513 00:37:23,780 --> 00:37:26,980 We all need wisdom. 514 00:37:26,980 --> 00:37:32,260 I can pull up social media and get sucked into that black hole for too long and get 515 00:37:32,260 --> 00:37:37,900 to find my emotions going through the roof as I dislike that and I hate that and how 516 00:37:37,900 --> 00:37:41,900 could they say that and he did what? 517 00:37:41,900 --> 00:37:44,620 And then I have to separate and go, God, give me wisdom. 518 00:37:44,620 --> 00:37:52,060 They'll give me wisdom how to spend my time, how to speak your truth and ultimately how 519 00:37:52,060 --> 00:38:09,340 to be known for what I'm for, not who I'm against. 520 00:38:09,340 --> 00:38:31,060 And that's why we should always be beginning to question ourselves.