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NASB | Romans 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God [granted by His permission and sanction], and those which exist have been put in place by God. [Prov 8:15] |
Bible Question:
in light of Romans 13:1-5 ([1] Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. [2] Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. [3] For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; [4] for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. [5] Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.) what is our response to going to war to try and topple a regime that is obviously evil and corrupt but still, according to Rom 13, "esablished by God"? along the same lines, i have recently been thinking about the birth of our own United States of America out of the rebellion to an existing governing authority. was the US born out of God ordained rebellion or was it an act of human defiance not blessed by God Almighty? everything i have been brought up to believe concerning the birth of America tells me i shouldn't even ask this question but it is starting to nag me even more. i haven't even begun to form an opinion on these questions yet, but my initial reaction when reading Rom 13 is to assume that ALL governing authority means ALL regardless of apparent evil in the exercise of that authority. please help me reach an unbiased and SCRIPTURAL Truth in this matter. Christ help us, Montag |
Bible Answer: Hi, Montag; My reply won't be entirely scriptural because I think we need to have a clear understanding of the events in question. Like most human endeavors, the American Revolution was not motivated by a single idea or principle. There were strong financial and political forces at work that might have been sufficient to start the War for Independence (in strictest political science terminology, it was a rebellion, not a revolution). But there was a strong intellectual and moral force at work too. Note the language of the Declaration of Independence - a statement that Christians, Deists, and admirers of British philosopher John Locke could all subscribe to: "We hold these truths to be self-evident [not revealed in the Bible], that all men are created equal [Paul says that equality is in Christ], that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights [John Locke], that among these are Life, Liberty [freedom in Christ] and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men [Romans 13, John Locke]". The growth of the Colonies always had a strong religious component - from evangelizing the heathens to fleeing religious oppression. It is easy to see how a thoughtful Christian of the time, balancing Romans 13 against Acts 4:19-20, could conclude that independence was justified. Hope this useful. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |