Productive Subjects,
Is there any Christian who has never been hurt by a church authority? Is there anyone who has never been taken advantage by a boss, a coworker, or a friend? Unfortunately, that’s life in a fallen world. There really never has been a universal revelation of Jesus, a revelation of the Holy Spirit, an a revelation of power; and many ministries have not been built upon a revelation of Father Gods unconditional, affirming, and compassionate love. That is why in moving toward sonship, We must forgive governmental authorities, forgive our coworkers, and forgive those within the church who have hurt us, disappointed us, or misrepresented the Fathers live to us in the past. Look up Malachi 4:5-6. It is important to be willing to walk in a heart attitude of honor and submission to all legitimate earthly authority. Paul makes this abundantly clear in the 13th chapter of Romans.
In Romans 13:1-2, there’s that word “subjection”, which means underneath and dependency. Who was Paul writing to? The Christians in Rome. He told the Roman believers to submit to the authority of the Roman government, a government rife with corruption, assassination, immorality, idolatry, brutality, distraction, and death. How could Paul call on followers of Christ to submit to such an ungodly system? I don’t begin to understand, but I do know that Paul had a revelation of sonship. He understood the importance of believers having a heart attitude of humility, honor, servanthood, and submission.
Did Christians subject themselves to everything government decreed? No. Rome required that once a year every citizen and resident of the empire kneel before a statue of Cesar and declare,”Cesar is lord”. It is a political loyalty test and those who refused were regarded as traitors to the empire. Most Christians refused, acknowledging only one Lord – Jesus Christ. As a result, many believers were persecuted severely and some were killed in the arena or executed. What Rome never understood was that the Christians who understood sonship, their refusal to bow to Caesar notwithstanding, we’re the most faithful, law-abiding, and productive subjects in the empire. Food for thought, to be digested, then gives energy to be a doer not merely a hearer of Gods amazing word!
In Romans 13:1-2, there’s that word “subjection”, which means underneath and dependency. Who was Paul writing to? The Christians in Rome. He told the Roman believers to submit to the authority of the Roman government, a government rife with corruption, assassination, immorality, idolatry, brutality, distraction, and death. How could Paul call on followers of Christ to submit to such an ungodly system? I don’t begin to understand, but I do know that Paul had a revelation of sonship. He understood the importance of believers having a heart attitude of humility, honor, servanthood, and submission.
Did Christians subject themselves to everything government decreed? No. Rome required that once a year every citizen and resident of the empire kneel before a statue of Cesar and declare,”Cesar is lord”. It is a political loyalty test and those who refused were regarded as traitors to the empire. Most Christians refused, acknowledging only one Lord – Jesus Christ. As a result, many believers were persecuted severely and some were killed in the arena or executed. What Rome never understood was that the Christians who understood sonship, their refusal to bow to Caesar notwithstanding, we’re the most faithful, law-abiding, and productive subjects in the empire. Food for thought, to be digested, then gives energy to be a doer not merely a hearer of Gods amazing word!
ALL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO GOD WHOM GAVE A WORD OF FREEDOM TO A MAN NAMED: JACK FROST; HIS BOOK: SPIRITUAL SLAVERY TO SPIRITUAL SONSHIP
