Posted on 05/11/2015 8:16:19 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
Submission to Governing Authorities
Romans 13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
“That was the government he instructed them to obey.”
Would you obey Caesar if he ordered you to kill an innocent Christian?
.
I suppose this means that we should happily allow the government schools to de-christianize our kids, and teach them how to be faggots.
Let your daughters be husbands, and your sons be good wives.
This is obedience to the word of God...
Christians also made it very clear, in the days shortly after Christ died, that “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.”
When earthly rulers command us to do something contrary to God’s law, we should simply refuse to obey.
The situation is also complicated for us, relative to those faced by 1st-century Christians, by the fact that we are Caesar, to some extent. As American citizens, collectively we are Caesar. Thus we function to some extent both as ruler and subject. Also, our government is based on the Constitution. Any official breaking that compact is arguably not legitimate.
But it is simply untrue that we can decide to disobey orders from a ruler that do not conflict with God’s laws simply because we think the government is unrighteous. It would have to work pretty hard to be more unrighteous than the one Paul spoke of as being necessary to obey.
Do you seriously contend Obama and his government are more evil than Nero’s? You know, the one that coated Christians with pitch and used them to light the Games? The one in power when Paul wrote?
I think his point was very simple. When ordered to do something by an evil government that is nevertheless not itself a violation of God’s law, then you obey man’s law.
When ordered to do something in conflict with God’s law, you refuse. Whatever the consequences.
But the issue is the specific act you were ordered to perform, not the righteousness or unrighteousness of the government issuing the order.
IOW, if the Nazis order you to pay taxes, you pay them. If they order you to turn people over to be murdered, you disobey.
They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
The above verse makes much more sense, if the people in power are ruled by the powers of darkness they can not be Gods servants.
Were the rulers who crucified our lord and killed his followers servants of God?
I can`t say for sure but
i am glad Peter nor the writer of Hebrews did not go quite as far as Paul did.
And what did Jesus say about the authority of rulers?
you go tell that fox.
Luke 13
31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
Not anti ruler just pro every thing else.
He obeyed the admonitions in the bible to be in submission to the governing authorities, until his conscience could no longer allow him to accept the nazis atrocities.
He was a part of the resistance and was executed for being involved in a plot to kill hitler.
I believe in my heart that we give tax and honor where due, but when a conflict arises, we must obey God rather than man.
Just my humble opinion.
AMEN!
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