i have to be able to explain why Paul, prisoner of Nero Ceaser, wrote Romans 13 - saying be subject to earthly authority because it is appointed by God. why he did not say, seize control of or otherwise overthrow the Roman government because their civil precepts & culture favor immorality.
In Romans 13 what kind of government does Paul speak of? Good or bad government?
Also, scripture speaks to 4 different areas. The individual, the family, Church, and government. Romans 13 is only one teaching on government. We have the whole Bible or even Moses's example of government to study. Why was Pharaoh considered to be a bad example of government? Why were they held to judgment? Then why were the Israelites also judged for constant complaining and rebellion to the commands of Moses?
It was God who raised up Joshua to cleanse the Promised Land.
It was God who raised up Babylon to send the Israelites into exile.
It is God who moved in the American Revolution.
It is God who favored the Allied forces in WW2.
How do we know? Because God's hand was in it through miracles and events that gave one side advantages no one could say it was by chance.
The church did eventually gain cultural influence and Christianity became the sole religion of Rome.
But there is another concept of scripture related to governmental authority. Do you submit if they come knocking on your door asking you if you know of any Jews. Reading Romans 13 someone may obey and they drag the Jews off to be tortured or killed.
How about in the 1800s and your church in the southern states of America participating in the underground railroad. If local authorities came knocking and asked you did you know of any runaway slaves. Would you submit?
In 1861 the country fell into a civil war which authority would you follow? The one who supports slavery or the other who doesn't?
Another concept of scripture is the topic of self-defense. Do you biblically have the right to self-defense and defense of others? That can also shed light on what choice should the Christian make if they had the option of self-defense.