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You get to choose - the Christians living during the reign of Nero didn’t. You get to choose - but so do others. Just because you choose person X doesn’t mean person X will be elected. Returning to Paul, did he say that God appoints rulers? I’ve not told you that you should vote. Many...

Welcome to the forum. What would I suggest? Paul instructs us on what we are to do. I suggest following his instructions.

There is freewill. If there weren’t, you’d be a robot. We have the ability to make decisions - good and bad - in our lives. All of our decisions come with consequences.

We’re all slaves. Like Paul, I’m a slave of God. Those who aren’t slaves of God are slaves of the devil. As you said, there’s no in between.

Better or worse: Nero or Kim Jong Un?

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist have been appointed by God.” (Romans 13:1, LSB) ”Rights groups estimate that there are between 200,000 and 400,000 Christians in North Korea, and as many as...

Israel’s story. Rejecting God, “We want a king like the nations have.” God appointed them one -> King Saul. Super.

We’re not talking about just anybody. We’re talking specifically about the Apostle Paul. God has granted man an extraordinary amount of free will. Thankfully there is, and always has been, a limitation on free will. If there wasn’t, man would have destroyed himself a long time ago. If God...

Paul was inspired by God to write Romans 13:1. God is active in the lives of man. Man may not like it but it’s a grave mistake not to believe it. ”Hands off our elections, God” is man thumbing his nose at God. What other aspects of mans life does man not want God to be active in? (God is...

God in action. God appoints / establishes rulers and God replaces rulers @Riven. God can and does use rulers - both good and bad - to accomplish his purpose. Don’t buy that God is blindsided by wicked rulers or that Satan is the one who appoints / establishes rulers.

I answered your question. Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, Son of the living God, was slain by plan for the purpose of accomplishing mankind’s salvation. God is love. His love of man existed even before the creation of man. That should bring John 3:16 to mind.

Thanks. That’s definitely an agnostic perspective. (The Christian perspective, you may recall, is that all scripture is inspired by God.) Political leaders do love the verse. It plays a large role in Christian history. To say that they abused it would be an understatement. God uses them to...

It was the plan of salvation which God had in mind even before the creation of the world. No. God knew about Roman crosses in his foreknowledge.

“Slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8) -> that’s God’s doing @quietthinker. It was the plan all along in the foreknowledge of God.

I didn’t offer you a private insight. Do you pray for government leaders? It was prophesied in Isaiah that he would. He did it through the agency of the Roman government. Yes. God is his Father.

Good. When Paul wrote Romans 13:1 he wasn’t contradicting Jesus. Let’s discuss Romans 13:1.

I invite you to read Romans 13:1 and share, from your agnostic point of view, what he is saying with us. God is still active behind the scenes. The God of Israel isn’t the god of deism.

The Christians weren’t rooting for Nero. They were praying for him. The response of the Christians to Nero’s persecution brought glory to God. Tertullian had it right when he said, “The blood of Christians is seed.” See God’s use of pagan government leaders in the Hebrew scriptures. God...

Would you consider replacing “God” with “Satan” in Romans 13:1 @quietthinker?

God knows what all rulers have in mind to do. He values the oppression and martyrdom of his people more highly than you do.