Title: Good Debt
Text: Romans 13:8-14
Thesis: In God’s economy we let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another.
Introduction
Debt is a hot-button topic these days. The Urban Dictionary defines debt this way: “What America is in a lot of.” The UD also refers to debt as a modern day form of slavery and a “debtaholic” is a person who exhibits an unhealthy habit of accumulating bad debt. And those of us who have experienced the effects of the collapsing real estate market may have “debtquity.” Debtquity is the opposite of equity and means you are upside down in your house or owe more on your house that its current market value.
We are all familiar with the terms “good debt” and “bad debt.” Good debt is borrowing for necessities and those things believed to be assets that will appreciate in value. Financial advisors may include things like a home mortgage or an education because in the long-term they appreciate and result in a positive financial position. Bad debt is borrowing for things that are not necessary and depreciate in value. Most credit card debt falls into this category.
USA Today ran a story in July, Boom times for pawnshops – and for pawnshop TV. Pawnshops have been around for a long time and have at various times in the history of the economy have played a legitimate role for people who have nowhere else to turn for a few bucks to get by.
Pawn Stars on the History Channel features a more upscale pawnshop in Las Vegas and Hardcore Pawn features the largest pawnshop in Detroit and caters to a more desperate clientele and airs on truTV. Both are in their fourth seasons and both garner the top viewing audiences on their respective cable channels. (www.usatoday.com/LIFE/usedition/2011-07-28-Pawn-shop-cover_CV_U.htm)
If you visit any pawnshop you see an astounding array of high-ticket items purchased on credit and pawned for a fraction of their value. A $5,000 wedding ring is pawned for $900. A $600 digital camera is pawned for $50. Anything Apple pawns at around 1/3 or less of its original purchase price.
We all understand the concept of desperate times calling for desperate measures and any one of us will do whatever is necessary to feed our children… But we all also understand that our ability to feed our children and secure the necessities of life are greatly enhanced when we observe the rules about good and bad debt.
Debts have to be paid.
In examining out text today we see that Romans 13 is a conversation about debt and paying our obligations.
William Barclay breaks Romans 13 down into two parts: In Romans 13:1-7 the subject is Public Debts. Public debts are debts that you are not to leave outstanding or owed.
I. The follower of Christ retires outstanding obligations… including taxes.
Give everyone what you owe: If taxes, pay taxes; if respect, then respect… Romans 13:7
Paul’s instruction regarding the paying of outstanding debts and taxes is couched in the context of the Christian’s obligations to governing authorities. Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels is rebelling against what God has instituted… Give everyone what you owe. Romans 13:1-2 and 7
The bible speaks clearly regarding how Christians are to live with existing civil powers.
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God…” I Timothy 2:1-3
Remind people to be subject to rulers, authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show humility toward all men. Titus 3
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to kings, as the supreme authority, or to governors… Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for doing evil; live as servants of God. Show respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor kings… I Peter 2:13-17
According to our text Christ’s followers have two options: Option one is to submit to the government. Option two is to rebel against the government. However, our text suggests two reasons why honoring one’s government is preferable to rebelling against it. One compelling reason is to avoid punishment and the other is for the sake of one’s conscience. (Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. Romans 13:5)
It is important to keep in mind that this was written to Christians who were not exactly living during the best of times. They were subjects of the Roman government or the Roman Empire.
The person living in the Romans Empire was taxed by the Roman government. Tribute included a Land Ownership Tax; Grain was taxed at 1/10th or 10% of production; Wine and Fruit was taxed at 1/5th or 20% of production; Income Tax was 1%;There was a Head Tax or Poll Tax.. Other forms of taxation included: Customs; Duties: Import, Export and Market Taxes; Toll Road and Harbor Taxes; and even a Driver’s License Tax for operating a wagon or cart.
Barclay states, “It is Paul’s insistence that the Christian must pay tribute and taxes to the state and local authority, however galling these taxes may be.” (William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans, Westminster Press, P.190)
It is particularly insightful to see that the teaching of the New Testament was also the teaching of the early Christian Fathers. Justin Martyr wrote, “Everywhere, we, more readily than all men, endeavor to pay to those appointed by you the taxes, both ordinary and extraordinary, as we have been taught by Jesus. We worship only God, but in other things we will gladly serve you, acknowledging you as kings and rulers of men, and praying that, with your kingly power, you may be found to possess good judgment.” (Apology 1:17)
I might add that this was the kind of thing being said by Christian leaders when Christians were not necessarily in favor with the powers that be. One of the chief arguments for the government looking with favor upon Christians was in fact, their loyalty to the appointed authorities and their willing participation in the taxation system.
It is believed that Paul wrote this in an attempt to distance Christians from the Jews, who were notoriously rebellious against their Roman occupiers and the religious Zealots who recognized no king but God and who believed terrorism toward Rome and all those who paid their taxes to Rome was justifiable. They were the extreme right radicals or insurrectionists or religious terrorists of that day.
In the mind of Paul, the Christianity of Christ and the Christianity of the New Testament Church was not to be associated with or identified or defined by that kind of behavior.
I don’t know if the Roman government was thought of as big government or small government. My suspicion is that there was much about the empire that was not appealing to most of its citizens. There were the flagrant lifestyles of those in power and the ongoing cost of being perpetually at war somewhere in the world. But then, as today, government also makes possible some important things that otherwise would not be.
If you Google “the politics of disasters” you will find some very interesting reading. Following Hurricane Irene there has been a growing political controversy regarding the politics of disaster relief. Some say that Hurricane Irene is an excellent example of how Americans rely on FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to be among the first responders whenever and wherever there is a natural disaster. The thought is that “only the Federal Government can marshal the vast resources needed to quickly bring relief to victims.”
The looming partisan battle in Congress over funding FEMA, is between those who wish to replenish the exhausted FEMA funds and those who are demanding that before they will vote to replenish disaster relief funds there must be corresponding spending cuts to off-set relief spending. (The Wrong Time to Play Politics with FEMA, Baltimoresun.com, September 2, 2011)
At the heart of the issue is the ability of the federal government to respond to assist victims of natural disasters. So do Americans want a government that tracks and responds to its citizens when they fall victim of a flood, earthquake, hurricane, tornado or whatever? Or not?
The same questions may be asked of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, national and international defense systems, i.e., military, police departments, fire departments, municipal services like water and sewer and electricity, schools, libraries, roads and transportation services, etc., etc.
The alternative may be imagined by watching an old Mad Max movie where chaos and anarchy and “every man for himself” is the rule of law. The bible says Christians are not to be the instigators of civil unrest. Christians who enjoy the privileges of the government also bear responsibility for it.
For the Apostle Paul, the Romans government was to be thought of as a divinely appointed instrument to save the world from chaos… and in the mind of Paul, the pax Romana (the Roman peace), was essential for the spreading of the Christian faith throughout the Roman Empire.
In the mind of the Apostle Paul there were debts that are not to be left out-standing or owed.
Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes. If revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” Romans 13:7
However, in the mind of the Apostle Paul, there is something for which the Christian will always be indebted. By that he meant “private debt.” (Or “personal debt.” Or “spiritual debt.”)
II. The follower of Christ always has one outstanding obligation…
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
William Barclay says this verse means: “There is a debt that a person must pay every day, and yet at the same time, must go on owing every day.” And the reason we go on paying this debt every day is because it’s the law!
Our text cites the commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hand on these two commandments. Matthew 22:37-40
Laws are such a nuisance. I remember when seatbelt laws were enacted. I thought that requiring me to wear a seatbelt was the dumbest thing… (In my skewed way of reasoning, I questioned how being trapped by a faulty seatbelt in a car submerged in water could possibly be a good idea.) Then I received two tickets for not wearing my seat belt. It cost me $59 to learn to obey the seat belt law.
When we lived in California I was amazed by the number of laws that state enacted – particularly in the area of environment protection. It was as if California never saw a law it didn’t love. You may have been able to cut off an old catalytic converter in Kansas but if you want to drive that car in California you have to have a new one welded back in place.
Isn’t it amazing what governing authorities will do when they consider what is the greatest good for the most people? How dare government infringe on the private rights of citizens to let their children bounce around inside a car during an accident or the right to leave a baby in a car with the windows rolled up to the tune of 135 degrees inside that car while Mom is getting a tan in a tanning salon?
On July 4, 2011 the news networks all reported a story that is both ironic and tragic. It happened in Onondaga, New York where a motorcycle ride organized by The American Bikers Aimed Toward Education gathered over 500 riders to protest the law requiring them to wear helmets while operating a motorcycle. All 500 riders staged a civil protest and broke the law by not wearing helmets during the ride.
You undoubtedly heard that there was an accident during that ride in which an experienced rider lost control of his bike and was flipped over the handlebars of his motorcycle. He was pronounced dead from head trauma at the hospital. (Alyssa Newcomb, NY Rider Dies Protesting Motorcycle Helmet Law, abcnews.go.com. July 4, 2011)
“Click-It-Or-Ticket!” It’s the law! “Wear a Helmet!” It’s the law! OSHAs “Job Safety and Health!” It’s the law! “Register for the Draft: It’s Still the Law!” “Obey Gravity. It’s the Law!” (f you missed that one, you aren’t paying attention.) I don’t know what became of this Florida legislative effort, but the Governor of Florida was given bill SB228 to be signed in May of this year… a law that is affectionately called, “the droopy-drawers law.” The bill is intended to tighten the belt on baggy pants in schools. So if you are in Florida, “Don’t Wear Baggy Pants!” It’s the law! (http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/05/08/floridians-hike-up-your-pants-its-the-law/)
Conclusion:
Former President Jimmy Carter wrote in his book, Sources of Strength, of a Cuban pastor who had an amazing rapport with the very poor immigrants from Puerto Rico. Carter said he asked him how he managed to be so successful in working among the poor and he replied, “Senor Jimmy, we only need to have two loves in our lives. For God, and for the person who happens to be standing in front of us at any given time.” (Jimmy Carter, Sources of Strength, Meditations on Scripture for a Living Faith, Times Books, 1997, P. 17)
There is a famous saying: “Love God and do what you like.”
If love is the motivating force of your heart… if your life is dominated by love for God and for others, you need no other law! The law of love makes all others laws unnecessary.
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another…” It’s the Law!
