What does the Bible say to people living under tyranny and oppression? Should we fight back, passively resign ourselves to suffering, or hope only for the afterlife? Is there hope now, or is it only promised after we die? What encouragement does it offer to those who refuse to give up on a world dominated by harm and injustice? The calling is active and dynamic. Peacemaking, love, and faithfulness are anything but passive. Hebrews 10-12 offers the needed encouragement to maintain that faithfulness.

The passage in Romans 13 about submitting to authorities is often misunderstood as blind obedience. However, when read in context with Romans 12, which emphasizes love for others, and considering the historical and social context, it becomes clear that the passage is not advocating unquestioning obedience, but rather a pragmatic and subversive form of resistance against oppressive authorities through nonviolent love and endurance. This reinterpretation challenges the traditional understanding of the passage and highlights the importance of love in promoting well-being for all.