T.Beyer
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Jan 2005
Location: Crystal Michigan
Posts: 4483 |
Track alot of people have trouble with those verses. Even republicans lol. I personally don;t have issue with it. We need to submit to those in authority over us. God placed them there. That's a tough one to swallow, for some. We are however given a caveat that they have to be not going against the word of God.
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
(So God puts everyone in power, authority? Yes.
Let me point you to Daniel, and a King who was not serving God, but was however making his own idols and forcing people to bow, God dealt with him. Daniel 2:20-22 Daniel Acknowledged God's authority to set up and remove kings.)
Rom 13:2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
Ouch! Now can we civilly resist authority as it pertains to protesting and disagreeing? Absolutely. Our laws give us that right, and we are free to exercise it within the law.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
God has placed those in authority over us. We should fear authority when we are unlawful. If we are lawful as it pertains to our civil government and society, we have no reason to fear those in authority, so long as they are righteous.
Rom 13:4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
See description for verse 3
Rom 13:5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.
Serve because it is right. So that we can live with the knowledge that we are doing what is right, not out of some fear.
Rom 13:6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.
Go back to when the nation of Israel wanted to have a king like other nations. God told them that they would get a king who taxed, took land, took young men and also were not righteous. Our taxes are to support them just as tithes were to support the early church
Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Sums up everything nicely from the preceding 6 verses
Not sure if this answers any questions but its a couple of minutes worth of effort.
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12-08-2012 12:16 PM
