Romans 13:1 says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval…”
For some people it seems there are no if, ands or buts about that. And some use that as a reason they be allowed to govern any way they want, even if it’s to their own purposes, or to the purposes of some, rather than for the sake of the people they govern. And for some it’s a little of both, telling the people they have no choice but to abide by what those in government want, even if the intentions of those in government are contrary to God’s Will, for does it not say in Romans 13:1…?
The Bible tells us, first and foremost, that we should not just go by one passage. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that ALL scripture is breathed out by God for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. In that respect, the Bible is like a Christmas tree. You cannot hope for just some of the lights on a Christmas tree to light up if the tree is missing so much as one light. The fact is, the tree won’t light up unless every lightbulb is lit. In that regard, the Bible means nothing unless every passage is considered. That doesn’t mean that you must post the entire Bible to support your assertions; what it does mean is that every passage in the Bible be considered relative and in context with other passages. So, it will mean nothing when one particular passage, like Romans 13:1, is considered in and of itself.
Consider then, JOHN 19: 10-11 in which Pontius Pilate, as part of the government of Rome, says to Jesus, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answers him, saying “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above…” That doesn’t sound like Jesus being subservient to a government authority like Pontius Pilate, does it? Jesus is telling Pilate that the only legitimate government authority is that which comes from God, and if God did not authorize Pilate to be the governing authority to be so, then the Pilate is not recognized under God.
Furthermore, consider DANIEL 2:21 which says, “[God] changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings…” And those who are hellbent on being subservient to an evil government, do so at their peril since 1 SAMUEL 12:24-25 says, “Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”
It would seem, then, that the role of the people that are to be governed is not a passive one, accepting those who want to rule over them even if their intentions are evil in the sight of the Lord. Moses’ father-in-law gives the following advice to Moses in EXODUS 18: 21: “..look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.” And God in Leviticus 19:15 says, “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.”
1 TIMOTHY 5:8 says, “But if anyone does not provide for …members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
So the Bible in these passages makes a distinction as to which governing authority we should be subservient to. We should be subservient to the authority that governs in righteousness and if they don’t govern in righteousness it is up to us to replace them in accordance with God’s Will, with a governing authority that governs in righteousness that we should be subservient to.
At all times we should consider those whom we allow to rule over us. Do they fear God? Do they strive to be trustworthy? Do they turn away bribes? Do they give equal treatment to everyone regardless of their origin? Do they rule to the well-being of the whole household they govern and not just some in their household?
Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!”
For some people it seems there are no if, ands or buts about that. And some use that as a reason they be allowed to govern any way they want, even if it’s to their own purposes, or to the purposes of some, rather than for the sake of the people they govern. And for some it’s a little of both, telling the people they have no choice but to abide by what those in government want, even if the intentions of those in government are contrary to God’s Will, for does it not say in Romans 13:1…?
The Bible tells us, first and foremost, that we should not just go by one passage. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that ALL scripture is breathed out by God for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. In that respect, the Bible is like a Christmas tree. You cannot hope for just some of the lights on a Christmas tree to light up if the tree is missing so much as one light. The fact is, the tree won’t light up unless every lightbulb is lit. In that regard, the Bible means nothing unless every passage is considered. That doesn’t mean that you must post the entire Bible to support your assertions; what it does mean is that every passage in the Bible be considered relative and in context with other passages. So, it will mean nothing when one particular passage, like Romans 13:1, is considered in and of itself.
Consider then, JOHN 19: 10-11 in which Pontius Pilate, as part of the government of Rome, says to Jesus, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answers him, saying “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above…” That doesn’t sound like Jesus being subservient to a government authority like Pontius Pilate, does it? Jesus is telling Pilate that the only legitimate government authority is that which comes from God, and if God did not authorize Pilate to be the governing authority to be so, then the Pilate is not recognized under God.
Furthermore, consider DANIEL 2:21 which says, “[God] changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings…” And those who are hellbent on being subservient to an evil government, do so at their peril since 1 SAMUEL 12:24-25 says, “Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”
It would seem, then, that the role of the people that are to be governed is not a passive one, accepting those who want to rule over them even if their intentions are evil in the sight of the Lord. Moses’ father-in-law gives the following advice to Moses in EXODUS 18: 21: “..look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.” And God in Leviticus 19:15 says, “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.”
1 TIMOTHY 5:8 says, “But if anyone does not provide for …members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
So the Bible in these passages makes a distinction as to which governing authority we should be subservient to. We should be subservient to the authority that governs in righteousness and if they don’t govern in righteousness it is up to us to replace them in accordance with God’s Will, with a governing authority that governs in righteousness that we should be subservient to.
At all times we should consider those whom we allow to rule over us. Do they fear God? Do they strive to be trustworthy? Do they turn away bribes? Do they give equal treatment to everyone regardless of their origin? Do they rule to the well-being of the whole household they govern and not just some in their household?
Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!”
