Sunday, August 1, 2010

A Year In My Life Through Pictures Day 31


If you've ever been behind me in traffic you have seen this view. I purchased this vinyl decal long before I got the car, knowing that I had to put it on the back window. I think it is a good question for those on the road, especially those impatient ones that try to bump draft you down the road to get you to move faster. Oh, the joys of cruise control and maintaining the speed limit. One thing to remember, if you have a decal like this, a ICTHUS, cross or anything else that references Christianity then PLEASE drive like you follow the rules of the road.

Many people do not think they need to follow the rules of the road. They think speed limits are suggestions, stop signs mean to slow down and yellow light mean to push the gas pedal a little harder. But addressing professing Christians - have you ever read Romans 13:1-7 if not here ya go:

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Now, what I gather from this is that we are supposed to submit to the authority that God has placed us under. It's fairly simple to do, if you feel the need for speed try leaving 5 minutes earlier so you will not have that need to break the laws of man and thus breaking the laws of God. This is not one of those "gray areas" that the Bible is silent on. Although it doesn't say "Keep the speed limits of man" it does say "whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God". Sorry, but it doesn't get any plainer than that.

I hear a lot of "well, God hasn't convicted me of that personally", which I answer with "but He did ordain the government in power and requires you to keep their laws unless they are in opposition to His Word". Believe me, you will get a lot of dirty looks and hand gestures for actually conforming to the laws of the road, get used to it and gently smile and wave. Get yourself a big ol' sticker and put it on your back windshield and let them know that Christians follow the rules of the road to be in accordance with God's Word. Who knows, someone might rear end you and open the door for a witnessing encounter with them, the police and whoever else shows up.

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