The way we view Romans chapter 13:1-7 greatly determines the way we interact with the governments of men. The ideas we are about to set forth are radical, even revolutionary. They will overthrow many sacred "traditions" among those who claim to be followers of Jesus.
True Christianity is a way of life which involves renouncing the world and pledging our allegiance to the Kingdom of God. There is an inherent conflict between the old kingdom we have come out from and the new Kingdom to which we now belong. Jesus was crucified as a result of this conflict. He has assured us that if we are true to His word that we can expect the same kind of treatment. "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 17:14).
To try to combine the humanistic governments of men with the Spirit government of God is an impossible task. Any attempt to combine the governments of men with God's government is doomed to failure. Nevertheless, throughout history politicians have attempted to mix the holy and the profane. They have borrowed heavily from God's law in order to appear righteous, yet man is still left in control. This strange mixture is often called "God inspired government" or "Government based on God's laws." As a result, multitudes of Christians have been brought into bondage to patriotism and nationalism. They have been forced to submit to manmade governments under the pretext that God has commanded our submission in Romans 13:1-7.
Since around the 4th century AD many have been led to believe that manmade governments actually possess authority to rule over God's people. A misinterpretation of Romans 13:1-7 is used to support this belief.
The average churchgoer believes that Christians should be satisfied with the humanistic governments of men, obeying the laws of the land. They don't stop to consider that God desires His people to live under His Spirit government.
The crux of the matter is this: Does Paul, in Romans 13:1-7, argue that the civil governments of this world have legitimate authority over the people of God?
We believe that the obedient people of God are not bound to obey the manmade civil governments of this world. God's people are answerable to God above all else and are bound by His commands. At the same time, God's people are not to use their liberty as a cloak for evil, to foment rebellion in the flesh, or waste time trying to politically influence the governments of this world.
Furthermore, we believe Paul, in Romans 13:1-7, is referring to the spiritual leaders of the Body of Christ, not the civil authorities of this world. Remember that the true followers of Jesus are Spirit people whose lives should reflect the fact that they belong to another Kingdom, the Kingdom of God. Their stay on earth is only transitory.
As citizens of Heaven, we are bound to submit and pledge allegiance to the King of Heaven and His government over us. We are not bound to submit to the government of some nation just because we happen to be living within its borders.
Romans 13 has been wrongly interpreted by ruling civil governments to mean that Christians should submit to them. Combined with nationalism and patriotism, a powerful weapon has been formed to neutralize and misdirect the power of God's Kingdom within His people. The idea that God's government is to be subordinated to the civil governments of this world is a deception that must be exposed.
This does not sit well with those in civil governments who claim to have power and authority to rule over other men. Throughout history, those who have declared independence from the systems of this world and dependence upon God, have almost always encountered violent reactions. They were frequently persecuted unto death by the "civil" authorities. It will be the same today for anyone who will break all allegiances and ties with this world and declare Jesus Christ as their Sovereign King.
This does not mean Christians are out to cause trouble or overthrow the governments of this world. On the contrary, Christians make the best citizens because they strive to obey the laws of God, which are far superior to the feeble attempts of men at lawmaking. Actually, the true Christian's goal is to live a life pleasing to God and win souls to Christ. This is hardly a threatening activity! We seek to obey Paul's advice in Romans 12:18, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
Yet, the rulers of the nations of this world view this type of separation unto God as a serious offense. When a group of people refuses to pledge allegiance to their authority, that group is considered a threat to "national security" and dealt with accordingly. It was the same with King Nebuchadnezzar, who was determined to destroy anyone who would not bow down to his image.
In Verse 1, the Interlinear text reads, "Let every soul be subject to authorities above him." The word translated authorities, or powers in the King James version, is the Greek word exousia. (Strong's #1849) The most crucial question in this study is, "Who are the exousia or authorities that Paul was referring to in this verse?"
Traditionally 99% of the church world has interpreted this passage to mean that Paul was referring to the manmade civil governments of this world. The governments of the world have been quick to place their "stamp of approval" on such an interpretation. Imagine the advantage enjoyed by worldly rulers when they can point to the Christians' own sacred writings for proof that Christians should submit to their authority.
It is not obvious from the original Greek text what authorities Paul was referring to in Romans 13. He does not specifically state that he is referring to civil government authorities anywhere in these verses.
It is our belief that the authorities or powers that Paul was referring to in Romans 13:1 were the spiritual leaders of the Body of Christ in Rome. Paul was not exhorting the Christians in Rome to submit to the Roman Empire. He was exhorting them to submit to their own government - to the spiritual leaders whom God has placed over the Ecclesia (called-out ones) to guide it by His Spirit.
God has always appointed leaders over His people such as Moses, Joshua, David and the Apostles, including Paul. He has invested those leaders with the authority to rule. Paul could easily have been speaking about Christian authorities within the Ecclesia. Why would Paul be directing the Roman Christians to obey the authorities of the Roman Empire when they had their own leaders to obey? Obviously, he was not.
In verse 4 of the Greek text, Paul refers back to the authority three times in the singular, using the word "it." ("he" in the King James version) Paul tells us "it" is a servant to us for good; "it" does not wear the sword in vain; and "it" is a servant of God.
Civil governments of this world rarely, if ever, meet these three points. You would expect them to, if Paul was indeed referring to them. Many times civil authorities stand in total opposition to the gospel and cruelly persecute God's people, just as Jesus said they would (John 15:20). In contrast, godly authority, exercised by God's leaders, will always meet these three qualifications and act as a "servant of God" for our good.
When we realize Paul was talking about spiritual leaders of the Body of Christ in verse 1, the following verses become much clearer. We can focus on the fact that God has His own government which operates under His authority. As His followers, we are expected to submit to that authority which is invested in His leaders.
Civil governments make demands of those who happen to be living within their territory. These demands often openly contradict the gospel and the law of God. For the true Christian to submit to such commands would be sin. Yet according to the "civil government" theory of Romans 13, Christians are supposed to submit to the "laws of the land." This brings confusion and God is not the author of confusion.
Confusion is eliminated when we realize Paul was not commanding submission to manmade civil governments, but to God's government. The blood of the martyrs bears witness to the fact that true Christians throughout history have come to this conclusion. They have been persecuted and killed by "civil" governments on every continent because they were determined to submit to God's government and refused to obey the commands of men which opposed or contradicted God's laws.
Verses 2 through 5 give us several important reasons why we must submit to true godly authority. First of all, Paul says if you resist God's leaders, that you are in all respects resisting God. Those who resist will receive damnation. He goes on to explain that God's leaders are not a terror to good works. We need not be afraid to submit to godly authority if our hearts are dedicated to God.
In verse 4, Paul explains that godly authority is actually our servant if we desire to do what is right. At the same time, he warns us that if we do evil the same authority will become an avenger and execute God's wrath upon us. What a clear and beautiful picture of godly authority and how it is meant to function in the Body of Christ. Additionally, each one of the above points can be supported by numerous scriptures, which is always a characteristic of solid godly doctrine.
This kind of true godly authority is rarely found in the religious systems of today. As a result, many become confused. They end up believing Paul must be talking about civil governments who punish according to their own humanistic definitions of good and evil, which fluctuate from day to day.
The spiritual authority described by Paul has all but vanished from the Body of Christ. As a result, evil works are not punished and sin runs rampant among God's people.
Paul sums up his arguments in verse 5 by stating the two main reasons why we must be subject to godly authority: 1) because of wrath, or the fear of God's judgement, and 2) because of conscience.
