The following are relevant KJV Bible verses from Romans 13 in italics. My commentary is in "blue".
The American form of government is different from any other government ever conceived on earth. What I say here is only my humble opinion, and does not cover the civil obligations of other nations and governments.
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
What is the highest power in the United States? The Constitution.
So, what power has God ordained in America? The Constitution.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Who or what is resisting the Constitution more and more everyday?
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
This is clearly anti-Anarchist and anti-Tyranny. It is meet that man have good government, it only makes sense.
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Don't break the law. It’s that easy.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Again, by grace of God, we have inherited a good Constitution and usually just by-laws.
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
A good government cannot run on empty.
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Notice "to whom...is due"; very important. There are few obligations to which we, as Americans, are forced to submit.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Here, we're told to follow the law of God, and we won't have anything to worry about.
More importantly, here we are given basic law-making guidelines.
All good and basic laws emanate from God.
Basically, the current three branches of government, by sidelining the Constitution (highest American power), are in complete rebellion against God and God-ordained law; thus, they shall receive to themselves damnation from God, lest they repent.
I humbly thank God that I'm an American; I'm not prideful, but thankful. I'm thankful that I'm answerable to a just Law, and a just God.
4 comments:
Great post!
I don't know if I would have said a "just God", because if God were truly just, we'd get what we deserve.....hell fire!
In a future post, I would like to read your thoughts on the "render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's" passage, if you are taking suggestions from the "peanut gallery".
Thanks for the comment; point well taken.
Good suggestion, I'll look into that.
You ask the question 'What is the highest power in the United States?" and answer "The Constitution".
With all due respect, I would suggest that the highest power is God, not the Constitution. All men, all princes, and all nations are under God. (Psa 47:9, Ecc 12:13)
God and His Holy Word trump the Constitution every day of the week, not the other way around.
If you change how you answer this first question it will alter how you exegete the rest of the passage.
The problem with America and American government isn't that we have ignored the Constitution, it's that we have rejected the Law of God and are now operating in a state of rebellion and insurrection against the true King. Our Constitution is one of the most important documents for freedom in all of world history, but was written by fallible men, and is not sovereign over Divinely inspired Scripture. (Philippians 2:9-11)
DeltaBravo
Thank you for the comment, DeltaBravo. I completely agree with everything you've said.
The God of the Bible is the absolute, ultimate Authority and Power of the universe.
But, the point I was making is that Romans 13 particularly directs everyone to be subject unto the higher powers (civil government).
I wrote this post in correction of the false idea that citizens of the U.S. must do whatever elected officials tell them "because the Bible says so."
Yes, the Constitution was written by VERY fallible men, but God ordained what they wrote as our "civil government", our "higher powers".
Our form of civil government's highest power is the United States Constitution.
(See U.S. Constitution: Article Six, Section Two: Supremacy Clause.)
As individuals, we are immediately under the authority of God; since God has caused us to be born in the U.S., we are "subject" to the "higher powers" of the U.S.: the U.S. Constitution and its lawful bylaws.
Again, I don't disagree with you, I'm only trying to better convey what I'm saying.
Godspeed.
Post a Comment