heretoeternity said:
Romans 13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities...to go against them is to go against God...
Hmmm..this seems a bit confusing...I find it hard to believe that God supports regimes and governments that support and promote homosexuality/sodomy, abortions, and filth of all kinds, as well as mass murder of people, and every form of treachery imagineable. These forms of governments we have seen in the past, and seem to be increasing as time goes on...
This passage also indicates it is wrong to oppose them at risk of judgement...
Yet John the Baptist opposed Herrod vehemently does that mean he disobeyed God?
I am interested in your thoughts out there...
Paul had a sound understanding of God's sovereignty in the world. Nothing happens that He hasn't seen coming and nothing happens which He hasn't allowed to happen. In all things God's purpose is accomplished and as Paul also said in the book of Romans,
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
As an example consider that Samson was a judge of Israel, a Nazirite from birth, and under the Law of Moses. Chapter 14 of the book of Judges tells us that Samson made what could be called an evil and rebellious choice, but then also tells us that this was a part of God's plan:
1. Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. 2. So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, "I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.'' 3. Then his father and mother said to him, "Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?'' And Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she pleases me well.'' 4. But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. Judges 14:1-4
Even in the occasion of Samson's capture, blinding, and death, we find that the Lord was using Samson to accomplish Samson's greatest victory over the Philistine lords:
Then Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!'' And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. Judges 16:30
In all these things the Lord was accomplishing His promises to Israel through Samson's life:
3. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4. "Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat any unclean thing. 5. "For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.'' Judges 13:3-5
Now, you might say that things didn't go so well for Samson as God's Nazirite, but the Lord gave us 4 chapters of the Old Testament scripture telling Samson's story as well as the commendation for his faith that we find in Hebrews 11:32, that serve as an eternal testament to Samson's service and the Lord's grace in his life. As long as God's word exists, Samson's story exists, and God's word is eternal.
The scripture also tells us that God uses temporal powers to judge His people as He did repeatedly with Israel under the Law of Moses. Scripture calls Satan the ruler of this world, yet Satan remains responsible for the abuse of the power and authority given to him and will be judged accordingly. If the whole world is under the sway of the evil one, then it seems a bit uninformed to believe in "good" ruling powers, but the authorities, including Satan's authority, were given to establish rule and order in the world, over which God has always been sovereignly in control.
John tells us in his gospel that Jesus, during his trials and condemnation had this to say to the Roman governor Pilate:
Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.'' John 19:11
Now, you might at first glance think Jesus was referring to the chief priest or to Judas as "
the one who delivered Me to you," but at the last supper Jesus said, 7
. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8. "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9. "of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10. "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11. "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16:7-11
So at the crucifixion of our Lord the ruler of this world is assigned the ultimate responsibility for the condemnation of Jesus, because it was through "the son of perdition" and the children of the devil that Jesus was both condemned and executed as an innocent man.
Now, as far as John the Baptist is concerned, he was sent before the Lord to make a way ready for Him. John preached repentance from sin, not rebellion against authority, and his problem with Herod was with Herod's sin, not specifically with his authority. To be sure, the bible teaches that the wickedness of leaders increases wickedness, so those in authority are always held up to higher standards because they are examples to those under their authority, and who will hold them accountable if it isn't God's prophets?