When our brother Paul was accused by the Jews of persuading men to worship God contrary to the law, the courts of law of the Roman Government refused to judge religious matters, because they recognized they had no authority to judge in matters of "religious freedom" (Acts 18:12-16), as did the governments before Christ (Jeremiah 38:4-5).
There is not one time in scripture where Christ ever submitted to the Roman Imperial law. Period! He said his true family are not his blood relatives, but only those who "shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 12:50). Jesus Christ, nor any servant of God for that matter, has never, ever, never, ever said anything about doing the "will of man on earth", only the "will of your Father which is in heaven."
Many times the Roman government had to protect Paul and even send an Army of Soldiers to Keep God's people from killing him, because he Preached Jesus and The resurrection of the Dead.
Here's a powerful example of a servant of Christ dealing with an onerous law enforcement framework. Throughout the whole book of Acts and his ministry, Paul not only dealt effectively with the local and Federal law enforcement community, he thrived within it. Paul, at one time was a law enforcer, an officer representing a governing body, as we see recorded in the beginning of Acts 9 where he was given authority by the Jewish religious high command to bring any Christians he found, bound to Jerusalem (before the Lord “recruited” him on the road to Damascus). So it's true he might of had some pre-existing sympathy for the cops.
We read about one notable example of Paul in custody, the way he and Silas responded to it, and then the way Paul responded to the Phillipian jailer (Acts16: 25-30). If Paul had hated the cops, if he had an attitude of disrespect and contempt for them, he would surely have said nothing as this honorable jailer had committed suicide for his misguided belief he had let his prisoners escape. But Paul stopped him. Paul and Silas ended up witnessing to this, what would be a modern day “correctional officer,” and leading him and his house to the Lord. In Paul's mind,
law enforcers were not enemies or people to be avoided and mistrusted, but people who he saw needed a real and dynamic relationship with the Lord, like everybody else.
Another example, in Acts 21, we see where Paul had found himself in the middle of a near riot situation as the Jews of the city were enraged at him. As they were in the process of pounding him into a bloody pulp, the local law enforcers strode in there, probably in full armor (riot gear) prepared for crowd control, and quite literally had to carry him out on their shoulders (Acts 21:33-35).
Was Paul glad to see the local cops? I'm sure he was! I'm sure he was quite gratified to see these law men muscling through the crowd, shouting commands and shoving people aside to get to him. I'm sure he realized after that, that the Lord had Providentially protected him through these law enforcers so that he could continue on with his ministry. It possibly could have been all over right there. But the Lord used the Feds to protect him.
Another example we see of Paul's attitude towards the Federal law enforcement community and, indeed, their established respect and trust of him, can be seen in the account of the shipwreck in Acts 27. Indeed, we read that the Centurion, Julius, in charge of the prisoners and before the departure, “... courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.” What a wonderful thing! How many Federal or Local cops would let a prisoner in custody do that?! The great trust between these people is undeniable.
As the journey by ship took place, we see that a great storm overtook them, yet with Paul's counsel, that encouragement being received from the “Angel of God,” they grounded the ship on the island of Melita. The soldiers in charge of the prisoners wanted to kill them, lest they escape, but the relationship Paul had established with the Centurion, the senior officer in charge, prevented that also.
When Paul finally made it to Rome, we see the Centurion “delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.” Protective custody. In the final chapter of Acts, we see that Paul's reputation, integrity, and his open relationship with the Roman Federal law enforcement community served him well, even for many years afterwards.
As I have laid out, the policy and precedent of Jesus and Paul concerning interaction with law enforcement, both Local and Federal, is pretty clear. The Lord used the Feds to Providentially protect His people, and His work, and saved Paul's' skin more than once.
One day He may use them to save yours.
We are also to remember that we must resist a government that commands or compels evil and should work nonviolently within the laws of the land.
Twistie, "the law of the land" is God's Law! It's not some construct separate from God. The "separation of church and state" is a lie. There is only one
Lawgiver.
Our Lord taught us to resist evil when he said, "turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5:39). Resist evil and it will flee from you (James 4:7). We are not taught to overthrow the government, but to throw the wickedness out of government. We are to overthrow that which is ungodly and wicked by speaking the truth, and establish in its place that which is godly and holy. The only lawful government is that which governs according to God's Word.
There is no command in the Word of God to confess the State to the glory of the State:
Romans 14:11-12, "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee [*including governing authorities] shall bow to me [*not to ungodly men, i.e. politicians], and every tongue shall confess to God [*not to legislators, lawyers, and judges]. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God [*not to the State, or men working for an ungodly government]."
Philippians 2:9-11, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus [*not the President, Governor, or the State] every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [*not the State, or men using the artifice of the State] is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Colossians 1:16, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him [*not for self-willed men]:"
Proverbs 17:15, "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD."
Luke 17:21, "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you [*not on a sheet of paper with man-made codes, rules, regulations, ordinances and statutes]."
We have been taught that we must obey even ungodly governments, and to help them by paying taxes, but scripture says, "...Shouldest thou
help the ungodly, and love them that
hate the LORD?
therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD" (2 Chronicles 19:2).
Jesus himself was accused of forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar at his trial (Luke 23:2). Notice these were
not false witnesses who accused Jesus of not paying taxes, because every time a false witness accused Jesus, the scripture tells us it was a false witness (Mark 14:57-59).
The scripture says it is evil in the sight of the Lord for governments to tax the land (2 Kings 23:35-37). The earth does not belong to the government, this earth belongs to God (Exodus 19:5, Psalm 24:1, Isaiah 44:24, 2 Corinthians 5:18). Land tax is claiming ownership over God’s earth. It is literally a
dethronement of God and an
enthronement of the State. The State is claiming to be god by claiming control and ownership of land. The State is literally trying to be
god walking the earth. God has never given his earth to the government to tax, pollute, or destroy (1 Kings 21:1-16).
Romans 13:1-10 explains the government which applies to the bondmen of Christ. Our Father has ordained rulers, and those rulers have responsibilities before Him. Unfortunately, many interpret this chapter to mean we are to obey
all governments, no matter how ungodly they are. However, this cannot mean we are to roll over and submit to governing authorities, because if that's the case, Jesus himself violated Romans 13. They crucified him unlawfully, and there's a case where Christ did the will of the Father, and that brought him into conflict with the powers that be. Just because God ordains government for His purposes, it does not mean it is a godly government. He does use evil to draw people closer to Him.
Here’s a little food for thought:
Who wrote the book of Romans? Paul
Where did Paul write Romans? In prison.
Where did Paul write most of his Epistles? In prison.
What is another name to describe the epistles of Paul? The "Prison Epistles".
Why are they known as the "Prison Epistles"? Because Paul was being repeatedly arrested and imprisoned by the "governing authorities."
Why was Paul being repeatedly arrested? Because he kept breaking the laws of the "governing authorities."
Who put Jesus to death? The government of Rome.
Who put Paul to death? The Emperor Nero at Rome in AD 67.
Who killed most of the apostles? The governing authorities.
Did Jesus and the apostles obey the "governing authorities" of their day? Obviously not.
If Paul, in Romans 13, was saying to "obey
all governments" then Jesus, the apostles, and all the disciples were hypocrites, because they all lived their life by placing God’s Law above man-made laws!
Some people claim that the reason Paul was being repeatedly arrested and imprisoned by the "governing authorities" was because he would not confess that Caesar was his lord. This is not true, because one
immediately received the death penalty for not doing so. Obviously, Paul was never directly asked to do so until they executed him in Rome in 67 A.D.
Some people claim that the reason our brother Paul was being repeatedly arrested and imprisoned by the "governing authorities" was because he was "preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ." This is not true. The Romans worshipped hundreds of different gods; they had a different god for every thing and every occasion. One more "god" would not have mattered to them.
Here is proof that the Romans did not imprison Paul for preaching about Jesus Christ. In Acts 18, the Jews brought Paul before the tribunal of the Roman Government of Achaia (a Greek province under Roman rule) on the charge of persuading men to worship Jesus (verse 13). The Roman court (Gallio) refused to judge religious matters (verse 15), and "drave them from the judgment seat" (verse 16). This scriptural passage is proof that Rome did not judge people for preaching another god. So why was Paul repeatedly imprisoned by the governing authorities? Paul was in prison for violating the Roman government's law (which are in opposition to God's Law), because Jesus commanded his followers to be
separate from Caesar.
After all, if Paul was in jail because he was preaching about Christ Jesus, then the governing authorities would never have allowed Paul to write letters (epistles) concerning Jesus while in prison, and then allow him to take his writings about Jesus out of prison to publish and spread them throughout the then known world. This, again, evidences that they did not forbid preaching Jesus, and that Paul was in jail, not for preaching Christ's Kingdom, but for disobeying the governing authorities in other matters.
Now, for those who believe that Paul was saying to obey all governments at Romans 13, one must also believe that our brother Paul was a hypocrite, for he constantly disobeyed the governing authorities and was repeatedly arrested and imprisoned for doing so. For those who believe that Paul was not a hypocrite, then we must believe that Paul was saying something quite different at Romans 13. With this in mind, let us take a look at the first six passages of Romans 13.
Does
verse 1 say, "let every soul be subject unto all
governments"? Or does it say, "let
every soul (
including governing authorities such as kings, judges, police, etc.) be subject unto the Higher Power"? Who do souls belong to? God says:
Eze. 18:4, "Behold, all souls are mine."
And the second part of verse 1 tells us Who the Higher Power is: "...For there is no power
but of God."
The souls of the governmental powers belong to God, and they are
not the higher powers,
the higher powers are held by Christ himself (Matthew 28:18). Is our Lord not the higher power, then, if
all power has been committed unto him (John 17:2)? Christ is the governor among the nations (Psalms 22:28). All power over earthly kings has been given unto Him (Romans 14:9). All judgment has been given unto Him (John 5:22,27). Notice the separation of Power in Romans 13:1.
All power comes from, and belongs to, God (Psalm 62:11)
and not the one exercising it. And remember that most men, especially those constituting the "governing authorities," usually deny
that power given to Jesus (2 Timothy 3:5).
Verse 2 says, "Whosoever therefore
resisteth (Greek word #498
antitassomai) the power,
resisteth (Greek word #436
anthistemi) the ordinance of God:" The words "resisteth" in this verse are from two
completely different Greek words with two
different meanings. Let's look into the first word "resisteth" by going to the original Greek. To "resist" the
power of rulers
ordained by God means the following:
"
antitassomai: To range in
battle against" (
Thayer's Greek Lexicon).
"
antitassomai: To set an
army in array against; to arrange in
battle order" (
Zodhiates Word Studies).
"
antitassomai: Setteth himself in array against; as one draws out a host for
battle. Implying an
organized or concerted resistance" (
Vincent's Word Studies).
"
antitassomai: To range in
battle against" (
Strong's Greek Lexicon).
This is in accord with these passages:
2 Corinthians 10:3-4, "For though we walk in the flesh,
we do not war after the flesh: (
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)."
Ephesians 6:11-12, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians goes on to list all of our
spiritual weapons. Notice, there are no
physical weapons listed. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, so when you use carnal weapons against the governing power
ordained by God, then you are resisting the ordinance of God.
Ecclesiastes 9:18, "
Wisdom is better than weapons of war: and one sinner will destroy much good."
Now the meaning of the second term, "
resisteth the ordinance of God" simply means "to set one's self against, to withstand, resist, oppose." In other words, the first "resisteth" means to use physical weapons in battle against an ordained power, which would result in the second "resisteth," which means to oppose the will of God (with no physical weapons).
Verse 3 says God ordained governments, but the
only power He gave to "governing authorities" is to
punish evil-doers and reward the doers of good (John 18:23, Romans 13:3-4, 1 Peter 2:14). The definition of good and evil is defined in the scripture. God did not give government the power to interfere with, and interpose itself in, the exercising of God's Law by His people.
Verse 4 says rulers are to be
Ministers of God, servants of God. If rulers are
not the servants of God, if they do not follow and obey His Word, no obedience is due to them. And how do we know if they are servants of God? By testing them with God's word (Isaiah 8:20, Matthew 12:30, Mark 7:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Titus 1:14, 1 John 4:1, 3 John 1:11, Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 2:15). God's purpose for all governments is to be "a minister of God to thee for good."
Verse 6 says we are to pay taxes to the government for
one reason only; because they are
God's ministers. If a government uses tax money that go contrary to God's Will, then they are no longer ministers of God, and thus no taxes are due to them (Ezra 4:12-13).
Their purpose is to punish evil doers as a rod of correction to drive them back to the ways of the Lord, and to encourage the righteous. They are to be ministers of God, meaning they are to carry out the duties that God has given them. But when the governing authorities ever fail to do this, or go beyond this, then they themselves are resisting the ordinances of God, and are unlawful authorities that must be "resisted" with the Sword of the Word.
It is important to take into consideration that Romans 13 was intended to be
prescriptive, not
descriptive. In other words, it speaks of what the "rulers" are
supposed to be, not what they
are intrinsically at all times. As "God's minister," the men who govern (the powers that be) are obligated to
obey God's Law and to properly apply it to the nation and people which it governs. Conversely, any time the "governors" becomes "a terror to good works," and rewards evil rather than punishing it, they have then begun to "bear the sword in vain." To this extent, he is no longer "a minister of God to thee for good" and it is our duty to resist his unlawful rule as we would the rule of Satan himself.
To say that God may deliver His people over to an oppressive government as chastisement for sin is one thing; to say that we are to deliver ourselves and our consciences to that which is contrary to God's Word is quite another. To say that the laws of the temporal government, whether they be "good or evil" (moral), are unequivocally the "ordinances of God," is not merely naive, but a blasphemous affront to the holiness of God and His Word. The righteous and eternal Judge of the world simply cannot be charged with requiring us to obey
contradictory commands.
God never commanded people to obey the kings of Israel when those kings turned their backs on Him. Our Father put those people into captivity for their disobedience towards Him! And He does the same today.
The Nazi's at Nuremberg said, "Well, I was just doing my job. I was obeying the government." It's an error to believe that whatever the State says is okay "because it's ordained of God." For those who are true followers of Christ Jesus, the government is on His shoulders (Isaiah 9:6), He is the King of kings, and the government is the Kingdom of God. It's a government of peace and the only government that will not end:
Isaiah 9:7, "Of the
increase of his
government and peace
there shall be no end,"
All man-made governments come to an end, so they are obviously not the "higher power." We have to obey the government that's always been here and always will be here.
In reply to the blind
opinion that all kings, princes, and governments are set up and "ordained" by God, we will quote the following passage, which is spoken into the ears of Hosea by God Almighty Himself:
Hosea 8:4, "They have set up
kings, but
not by me: they have made
princes, and
I knew it not."
We pray that those who have eyes to see and ears to hear will no longer engage in such opinions.
One way to test whether or not a man-made law is godly or not is to test it with the following. Ask yourself, "Does this law punish evil-doers and praise or reward doers of good?" For example, consider the driver license law. Does the requirement for a drivers license punish evil or reward good? No, it does not. The traffic courts
might do this, but not the license itself. Therefore, since God only gave His "governing authorities" the power to punish evil and reward good, this man-made law is outside of God's delegated authority, and no obedience is required
if you live, move, and have your being in Him. Thus, I do not have a driver licence.
Another question you can ask is, "Will this Law, being imposed by man, help me walk in God's Truth?" If it is a godly law, it will. But most man made laws do not bring anyone to the Truth, nor can they.
