Read: Romans 13: 1

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.”

Reflect:

Timothy Leary was a 1960s counterculture icon who encouraged a generation to “think for yourself and question authority.” He also promoted psychedelic drugs, especially LSD.
Many in that generation followed his example to one degree, but they were not the first to question the ultimate authority.

Here we are now more than 50 years later and we’re all adults, but are we still tempted to question authority in our own lives?

The verse above refers to living under a government that was not exactly sympathetic to the Christian faith, yet Paul’s command was to “pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed” (Romans 13:7).

Respond:

Social media and soundbites have helped create a world where respect and honor for others is diminished, to say the least. And so, followers of Christ are called to be different. Who would have thought that paying your taxes and respecting others would be considered countercultural?