Being Subject to the Higher Powers is not obeying evil rule

[robert derrick]

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.

To me, this has been one of the most perplexing apparent contradictions in Scripture. God can't possibly be telling His people to obey wicked men and government, which Scripture plainly says not to:

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

And yet the Scripture appears to be telling us to do that very thing.

First of all, the context of the Scripture in Romans 13 clearly speaks of good powers and rule, that is for them that do good and against the evil doers:

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

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.

And yet, the Scripture does stand alone, in that we are still to be subject to whatever higher powers God sees fit to ordain on earth. After all, it is true that no man on earth has power, except the Lord ordains it.

I believe the apparent contradiction is cleared up, when understanding the purpose of evil tribulation of men, that is upon the good, It is for the purpose of purifying them that do good:

And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

And so, being subject to evil powers that try our souls, does not include obeying their evil rule and purposes.

If the ordinance is of God, then we obey it as unto the Lord, and not unto men. If the ordinance is of the devil, then we obey God and not men.

And if we suffer for doing good, then we have praise of God:

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

We don't have to be ashamed of being subject to powers that imprison and/or execute them that obey God and do good, that may require disobeying evil rule and law.

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Simply put: we don't resist the evil government by fighting the cops. We remain peacefully subject even to evil powers, and force them to execute their evil judgment, by not obeying their evil rule.

Thoreau calls it civil disobedience.

Of course, there is also a difference between obeying God and not man, vs being degenerate activists for corruption.

 

[GISMYS_7]

Little men's lack of understanding does not change the truth of God's Word!!

 

[Randy Kluth]

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.

To me, this has been one of the most perplexing apparent contradictions in Scripture. God can't possibly be telling His people to obey wicked men and government, which Scripture plainly says not to:

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

And yet the Scripture appears to be telling us to do that very thing.

Yes, it's crucial that we deepen our roots in our relationship with God through His Word to our hearts, because this "apparent contradiction" is only cleared up by experience hearing God's Word in specific situations in our lives. There is an *office* of men that we must submit to, because it is ordained by God for a good purpose. But knowing that men abuse their office we are warned not to follow either their bad example or abuses of their power, such as calling upon us to betray our God.

So there is a limit to showing reverence to a person placed by God in an official position. That goes for family relationships, relationships in the Church, or government officials. We have to respect what God called them all to do. But we do not have to respect their failure to carry out their requirements, acting in their office in an evil way, nor do we have to obey orders that exceed the authority God has given them.

When to carry out civil disobedience certainly has to do with any government official telling you to "stand down" from your Christian confession. But we have to know *when* God wants us to give our confession, because we can do this in a rebellious, seditious way, which is not giving a proper testimony to the love of Christ. There is a time to "hide away" from evil congregations, and to resist "throwing our pearls before swine."

And so, it's a matter of walking in God's love, and being willing to act in accord with that love, while not denying God as the source of all virtue. There will always be opposition to God's Word. We just have to know how to operate in God's word without acting in an attitude of rebellion against authority.

 

[robert derrick]

Yes, it's crucial that we deepen our roots in our relationship with God through His Word to our hearts, because this "apparent contradiction" is only cleared up by experience hearing God's Word in specific situations in our lives. There is an *office* of men that we must submit to, because it is ordained by God for a good purpose. But knowing that men abuse their office we are warned not to follow either their bad example or abuses of their power, such as calling upon us to betray our God.

So there is a limit to showing reverence to a person placed by God in an official position. That goes for family relationships, relationships in the Church, or government officials. We have to respect what God called them all to do. But we do not have to respect their failure to carry out their requirements, acting in their office in an evil way, nor do we have to obey orders that exceed the authority God has given them.

When to carry out civil disobedience certainly has to do with any government official telling you to "stand down" from your Christian confession. But we have to know *when* God wants us to give our confession, because we can do this in a rebellious, seditious way, which is not giving a proper testimony to the love of Christ. There is a time to "hide away" from evil congregations, and to resist "throwing our pearls before swine."

And so, it's a matter of walking in God's love, and being willing to act in accord with that love, while not denying God as the source of all virtue. There will always be opposition to God's Word. We just have to know how to operate in God's word without acting in an attitude of rebellion against authority.

True. Being subject to the higher powers ordained of God, even when evil to fulfill His purposes, does not mean doing their evil rule.

Afterall, if it were not for the evil rulers of Jesus' day, they would not have Him crucified, and certainly not by Jehoshaphat or Nehemiah.

Jesus remained subject to their powers, which is why He allowed Himself to be crucified by wicked men contrary to their own laws.

 

[Gottservant]

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.

[...]

Simply put: we don't resist the evil government by fighting the cops. We remain peacefully subject even to evil powers, and force them to execute their evil judgment, by not obeying their evil rule.

Thoreau calls it civil disobedience.

Of course, there is also a difference between obeying God and not man, vs being degenerate activists for corruption.

The faith we have in authorities, is an assumption that if they are put in power, then they will have the desire to do good.

We live by faith in authorities, the same way we trust our father to give us the Holy Spirit when we ask for it.

 

[robert derrick]

The faith we have in authorities, is an assumption that if they are put in power, then they will have the desire to do good.

We live by faith in authorities, the same way we trust our father to give us the Holy Spirit when we ask for it.

Until those authorities and fathers prove otherwise.

We still remain subject to their rule, but do not live as they:

Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.