As you've seen, we all have to let the government rule over us whether we like it or not. It's a machine that can't be stopped. But, if you're having trouble having any sort of respect at all for government authorities, look at it this way: We believe this God's at work in all things, government included. So, when we take up arms and revolt against government authorities, we're doing two things. One is, we're not loving our neighbors. Two, we're signing up for a real ass-whooping, and that's if they don't kill us. If we don't break Roman law, we don't have to keep looking over our shoulders watching for police. If we do break Roman law, then we can rest assured we'll need to keep watching over our shoulders because there will be consequences. These Roman officials don't mess around, especially with insebordinant Christians and Jews. Whether we believe this or not, the ruler exists to serve the people (even though it doesn't ever look that way). But, if we break Roman law, the fear that'll come is realistic. In case you haven't seen, our brothers and sisters have been used as street lights lately. We will be punished in whatever way our governement authorities deem necessary.
Also, we've gotta pay taxes just like everyone else. It's a necessary evil, but try to look at it as paying people who are working for God. After all, God's the one really in charge right? We all know who our Ruling Authority is, but while our feet are on the ground, pay all our taxes. Stay as far away from owing the government anything as we can. They will make life hell. Remember, government leaders are our neighbors too, so love them. They need it.
Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's talk about the most important law of all - the law of love. The worst thing we can do as followers of the Way is to put ourselves into debt. What it does is this: it puts tension on our relationships, and when there's tension love is hard to come by. So, quit borrowing money!
When we love other people, we're in line with the most important law of them all. The Torah says to not sleep with married people. It also says to not kill people, not to steal from people, and not to want to steal from people. What's the point behind all these laws? What's it saying to do? Love! Who can sleep with a married person and love at the same time? Who can kill and love in the same breath? Who can steal from someone and love them in the same moment? You see, it's one or the other, and the greatest commandment is to love.
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And plus, systems collapse. Governments collapse. But what we have, the thing Jesus has waken us up to, can never collapse. It's impenetrable. So, try to stay away from things that are going to impede our ability to love people, and run to the things that are gonna reload our weapons of mass compassion. We're a people of hope, of compassion, and grace, so let our lives display that. Let everyone see that. Wear it on our sleeves and take it everywhere. There are people out there who are so overcome by this government, that they spend every waking minute worrying about who's in office and what the next kind of corruption will look like. They need to know the hope that we have. They need to know about what Jesus showed us so they don't have to live under the thumb of the government anymore.
So, our lives need to be light in this land of darkness. What does that look like?
It looks like not throwing wild, exotic sex parties. It looks like not getting wasted and stumbling around the city. It looks like not having more than one sexual partner. It looks like not fighting anyone. It looks like not being driven by jealousy.
There's an infinite amount of spiritual growth to be found in following this God we believe in. And we need to apply the principles that Jesus laid out for us. Not only will it be a ray of hope and an example of love to the world around us, but it will take our minds off all the bullshit that normally invades our thinking.
Grace and peace.
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