Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13:1 nrsv)

In the process of writing this devotional piece, I received news of yet another shooting at Lone Star College in Houston, Texas. The shooting took place after an altercation between two students near the library. Again, we will hear the volume of debate increase between those who fight to protect their constitutional right to bear arms and those who advocate for stricter controls upon gun ownership.

Lately, I've been interested to know how Christian teaching can shed light on the debate. I appreciate the clarity of our Lutheran confessions with regard to a healthy respect for the role of governing authorities in keeping some semblance of order and peace within society. This doesn't mean we give unqualified and uncritical allegiance to these governing authorities. But St. Paul clearly says that the authorities are God's servants called to maintain public order and promote the common good.

In order for the governing authorities on many levels to be effective, it is important that police and military forces be educated, disciplined, and trained to protect the citizenry from outside threats and from the threats they pose to each other. When too many citizens arm themselves in a spirit of disrespect for the proper civil authority, our total well-being gets jeopardized. To put it in a stronger way, when many more of the citizens take the law unto themselves, they blur the distinction between the proper governing authorities and the rest of the society. Anarchy is closer around the corner when this occurs.

Therefore, Christian social teaching admonishes us to do all we can to support the proper authorities like our police force and reduce temptation to take the law into our own subjective hands. This also may lead us to do what we can to advocate policies to reduce the number of military-style weapons in private circulation so that our police forces can be as effective as possible.

Let us pray… Almighty God, bless the public servants of our local, state, and national governments. Bless especially those who work to enforce the law and to promote order and peace. May they do their work in a spirit of wisdom, clarity, justice, and humility.Help them to use their authority to promote our common life and domestic tranquility. Amen

Contributed by Pastor Dan
Monday January 28, 2013
Liturgical Year C Week 9
Sunday Gospel reading:
Third Sunday after the Epiphany