[Awgie]

So where is the “escape clause” that says, “When those doing the governing are evil, fight against them.”

[Bidimus1]

As the Constitution is the highest law of the land, those that are not following it are NOT lawful rulers.

Also

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

[ctdonath2]

We do not fight against them.
We stand prepared for when they fight against us.
As in the Battle of Athens TN, the people prepare for when governing authorities step outside their authority and transition from governance to tyranny.

[John 3_19-21]

I look at it as: ours is a representative governance.

We are supposed to be governed by the will of the people. So, in effect Paul's, directive to obey authority would best be fulfilled by our government obeying the will of the majority of people.

Clearly that is not happening.

[hoosierham]

I suppose the Jews and a few million others would have been wrong in Paul’s eyes to have rebelled against Hitler and the murderous Nazis because God placed them in authority? NOT buying it.

Similarly the commandment thou shalt not KILL-which some scholars believe(and as most people have always acted) was originally thou shalt not MURDER;else we would be constrained from defending ourselves and our loved ones.Plus the Israelites killed quite a few in gaining the Promised Land.

[OneWingedShark]

Isaiah 5:20 — Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
Proverbs 17:23 — Corrupt judges accept secret bribes, and then justice is not done.
2 Peter 2:19 — They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

But, here’s something that ought to be asked — If the Constitution is the source of governmental authority in the US, then what authority does a non-Constitutional government? Are we to obey people who jump out yelling “I’m the authority!”? — This is to say, are all positions that claim authority actually authority?