Roman Traitors

Did you ever stop to ask yourself why the most progressively thinking government in its time, hailed for it's free-thinking political ideas and forums put Christians to death? There were so many gods in Rome, why would Caesar take offenses to another one. Let alone a god whom they thought was dead? What would so enrage the Roman state that they would put Christians to death?

The answer may surprise you. Christians were put to death for civil disobedience. They were traitors to the state.

Gasp! NO! Didn't they read Romans 13?

The fact is they did read Romans 13. After all the letter was addressed to them:

1. Romans 1:7 - To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:

So why did they not only disobey the state, but disobey Paul? They did in fact disobey the state, but in no way did they disobey Paul.

The state required that every Roman swear by the genius of Caesar once a year by paying Caesar tribute. Romans were required to recognize that Caesar was lord, and that any freedom they experienced was a gift from his benevolent hand. Christians refused to acknowledge that Caesar was Lord. They refused to acknowledge that their freedom came by Caesar's hand. They had only one Lord, and His name was Jesus Christ. Son of the most high God. Their freedom had been purchased with His blood.

When the Christians refused to acknowledge with their mouths and with their money that Caesar was Lord, they were put to death. Not because they were Christians, but because they were traitors to the crown! Could you imagine the revolt that would possibly arise because people failed to acknowledge the lordship and authority of Caesar? Christians were dangerous because they were civilly disobedient. They did not regard Caesar's law.

You see the Christians who lived in Rome knew that they were under no obligation to submit to unlawful authority. Caesar did not have any authority to demand they recognize him as Lord. Caesar did not have any authority to demand that they pay him homage. Any authority that Caesar claimed to have was unlawful and originated from his power. Not from the hand of God. Paul never advocated submission to Caesar. No what Paul advocated was submission to God!