Romans 13-14

God sets up the governments. We assume the bad ones are included as well as the good ones. However, 13:1-7 is written to almost endorse the governing officials. We must take that principle and apply it even to the bad governments. It's hard to understand God setting up Hitler or Hussein, but He can use all these situations for His own glory.

Our debt to one another is to love one another. This is the fulfillment of the Law. This is how Jesus fulfilled the Law -- by love... perfect love. And now is the time for us to show that love, as the time before we leave this earth is getting closer by the day. So to show love, our behavior should be decent. The list of sins of 13:13 are selfish sins (as most sins are). Sex and booze, fighting and jealousy. That's not how we are to be. That is self-gratification.

Chapter 14 is a plea for the infighting to stop among the Romans. This call for unity (or at least a lack of divisiveness) is rooted in the debateable issues arguments. Chiefly is the issue of food. Some Jews would have insisted on a kosher diet, while others would remember not only Peter's vision, but also the words of Jesus that food doesn't make a person unclean.

Still we are not to flaunt our understanding -- EVEN IF WE ARE CORRECT! That's a tall order for us. Paul teaches that dietary restrictions are not binding, but above all we are not to try to force our understanding upon those who are convinced that we are wrong. Don't goad a man into trying a little ham. The issue of sabbath is mentioned in passing in 14:5.

The key is that whatever we do, we are to do it to the Lord. If we abstain from meat, we are to do it as a sign of our love for God. If we worship on Tuesday, it is to be a sign of our love for God. In 14:22, Paul even tells us to keep our beliefs to ourselves on these subjects! How much does that go against the grain!