Respect Those Who Serve

Scripture: Romans 13:1-7

Introduction

• I have no doubt that many of you are disappointed by recent events.
• I personally don’t have much faith in any of the candidates and the campaigns were horribly negative.
• I don’t belong to a political party and really don’t have a position.
• With one exception – I really saw something special in John Reid.
• I saw it when he came to Biltmore and helped give out book bags.
• I watched as he criss-crossed the state non-stop including a visit to Glen Allen Day.
• He didn’t win the election, but he won me over as a genuine servant.
• I’m reminded of the late Dick Glover and his unfailing devotion to serving the people of our county who elected him.
• Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating or supporting either side.
• John just helped me to regain a sense of respect for those who serve.
• Today we remember our Veterans who have served in the armed forces of this great country.
• Jesus said in John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
• To serve is to give up at least part of your life for your friends and fellow man.
• Sadly, for some, that meant that they gave their whole life.
• When we celebrate the service of our soldiers and our political leaders, we draw close to God Himself.
• Paul makes this clear in his letter to the Romans.
• 1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.
• When we think about respecting those who serve we can ask “who do they serve?”
• The ultimate answer is that they serve the people of our country – each of us.
• In our country, we are represented by a government elected by the people.
• The government is made up of people who are serving the people.
• We can question their motives, call their character into judgment, and disrespect them because we don’t like them or don’t agree with them.
• Here is something to consider before we attack or disrespect them.
• Paul said: “The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
• If we stop to think that God has a hand in our political process, then doesn’t respecting them mean we are respecting God?
• That doesn’t mean that one political party or the other is the party of God.
• It means that the process and outcome is established by God.
• In our country, thanks largely to the Baptists in history, government and religion are separated.
• When we say: “one nation under God” do we really believe that?
• If we do, then we need to accept that even if the government that got elected isn’t the one we personally wanted, God has a plan, and we need to respect that.
• 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
• The American experiment is almost 250 years old and has clearly been blessed by God.
• In this new form of government, we have been given the right to speak up and question and even criticize our government.
• It is OK to question and criticize because holding government accountable is what keeps our way of government anchored in our constitution, INTACT.
• 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?
• It is precisely through the dialog in our political process that we are FREE FROM FEAR of those in authority.
• Unfortunately, the pendulum has swung too far and hate has permeated the political process.
• Paul said: “Then do what is right and you will be commended.”
• Doing right means to play your part in the political process by voting and serving wherever you are called to serve.
• I don’t know why John Reid worked so hard or literally tortured himself for more than a year for a job that pays $36,521 as of 2024 Va Budget.
• I believe he was called to serve and put his whole heart into serving.
• Do you remember what the system of government was that ruled the believers in Rome to whom Paul was writing?
• An all-powerful emperor ruled with an iron fist and what he said was law.
• His decisions could be driven by his whim, or his personal gain or his mood.
• Even so, God speaks through Paul demanding respect for even the brutal Roman government.
• 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
• This seems very harsh to us with all the cruel and evil things that Roman emperors like Nero did to Christians. How can God condone that?
• Nero served as emperor from 54 AD at the age of 16 until 68 AD when he committed suicide at the age of 30.
• Paul wrote Romans sometime between late 55 AD and 57 AD.
• This guy Nero had his mother killed as well as his wife and a stepbrother.
• 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
• Wait a minute, Paul, are you telling me I need to submit to a leader like Nero? Are you serious?
• Let me point out something else that was going on in Rome.
• Joseph Fitzmeyer writes in 1993 in Romans: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary:

Jews were expelled from Rome because of disturbances around AD 49 by the edict of Claudius.  Fitzmyer claims that both Jews and Jewish Christians were expelled as a result of their infighting.  Claudius died around the year AD 54, and his successor, Emperor Nero, allowed the Jews back into Rome, but then, after the Great Fire of Rome of 64, Christians were persecuted. Fitzmyer argues that with the return of the Jews to Rome in 54 new conflict arose between the Gentile Christians and the Jewish Christians who had formerly been expelled.

• It was Nero who allowed the Jew and Christians to return to Rome so that Paul could write this letter to them.
• God uses government leaders to suit His will even though to us they are despicable.
• Believe me, I know this message is hard to swallow when you think about some of our public servants.
• Just pay attention to what Paul is telling us because God is using them in ways we may never know.
• 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.
• These are God’s servants, yet they believe this and said that and do this.
• I’m seeing all kinds of despair and anger and frustration after the election.
• But here’s the thing: God is using them whether the religions of the world support them or not.
• Perhaps there is some comfort in Paul’s words to the Roman Christians under the rule of one of the most despicable leaders in human history.
• 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
• Respect those who serve, especially who serve or have served in our military.
• Respect them because they serve not only us, but almighty God and His plan