R ecently an interesting list came across my desk. It had been pre pared by a certain industry here in Southern California for the benefit of its fellow members. This bulletin gave the names of those concerns which are not prompt in paying their bills; who are constantly owing firms, and who do not meet their abligations satis factorily. The thing which hurt the most was the fact that the names of three different well known Christian organizations were on that list. I asked the person who handed the list to me if this was the first time their names had appeared in this listing and his reply was, “No, they are to be found in the trade bulletin nearly every month. And Sometimes there are oth ers.” During December we are turning fiom the usual seasonal subject and because of the gravity of the hour we are dealing with this chapter—Romans 13—which stands out as a pinnacle in the teaching of Christian citizenship— true Christian citizenship.
It is important that we be constant ly aware of what the communists are doing in our land; but all too frequent ly we lose sight of the responsibilities which we personally have to our na tion in this grave situation. What is the Christian to do, how is he to react, what message is there for him in such a time as this? Paul, in Romans 13:8, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has been writing to us about the matter of taxa tion. Some of us have just handled our property tax and now we must look at our Federal Income Tax which is due by April 15. Thinking back to the list to which we made reference a few minutes ago, let us look at a verse which is too often forgotten, it is Verse 8 of this chapter: “Owe no man anything, but to love one another; for he that loveth one an other hath fulfilled the law.” It is tragic that so many folk have gotten themselves into a hopeless mesh of obligations. The high cost of living is not keeping them poor; it is
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