Proud to be an American, but…

Romans 13: Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.  5  Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.  7  Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

‘Tis the season to celebrate America! As we celebrate the country’s birthday, we often contemplate what it means to us to be part of this nation and what we think about the direction we as a nation appear to be going. And I have to say, I have some serious concerns about the way our country is going, the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of our government, the lack of morality, the blatant disregard for the laws of God, and on and on… So when I read the above passage from Romans, I’m not quite sure what to do with that. God has placed people in authority and we are to be subject to them. But then I wonder is it as much ‘placed’ as it is ‘allowed’ them to be authority. And what do I do when I don’t agree with the agenda they are pushing particularly when it is in direction opposition to what I believe as a Christian? Sure, I can support and vote for the candidate most in line with what I believe, get involved in local/grass roots politics (gee, that sounds fun), be informed on the issues, etc…but when none of that brings the results I prefer, how do follow both the laws of God and country? I’ve heard it said that you always put God’s laws first and then, so long as the countries laws are not in conflict with God’s laws, then follow those laws, too. If they are in conflict, then I’ve got a decision to make. Not only must I follow God’s laws first, but how shall I challenge the laws in conflict with God’s law? Honestly, I’m not sure I know the answer to that. But I do know that ‘Somebody’ knows the way out or through the mess we seem to be in and knows the end result so… I’ll leave it in His hands, look for His direction, and say the following prayer along with many others who love this country and yearn for the return of ‘one nation, under God’.

God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home
God bless America, my home sweet home

Dawn Lubker, Ministry Assistant