Let every soul ( being, person) be subject to (condition on [ to modify to respond in a particular way based off of what God says], bounded by, answerable to)
the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God (even the constitution), and the authorities that exist are appointed by God (is the constitution an authority from God?). Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God (to be subject to governing authorties), and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves (have we disrespected or disobey Obama, congress, the government etc that God has brought judgment upon our nation?).
For rulers are not a terror (are not alarmed to do good) to good works, but to evil (naturally evil). Do you want to be unafraid of the authority (yes I do ; D )? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil ( is it even an appropraite thought to think that Obama or losing the nation's freedom is God executing His wrath upon the U.S? Or better yet, has God allowed the U.S as a nation to go on its merry way of living life for it selves and the choices its have made and the nation is suffering from natural consquences of falling away from God? Romans 1:24-25).
Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
In verse one, I began to think about the word, "subject to". Was that the same word in the greek as in Ephesians 5:22,
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord."
or in Ephesians 5:24
"Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything."
All three verses are the same word that means to subordinate, to do onto, put under, being in subjection, volunteering yourself. So I am to submit to the government as I submit to my husband, in a respectful, volunteering way of giving up myself because that authority was put over me at this particular time by God. So what is happening is God's will and I dont need to do anything against it?
But then I have been told that we are not rebelling against our government when we say something against it or we are not being disobedient; but that we need to stand up for how our government should be based off of our constitution. Basically, our country needs to go back to how it was attended to be. It is not right that our tax money is going towards things that are unbiblical. Yes that is true and I agree. But is all this being allowed by God or like it says in Romans 1:24-25
" Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."
Is everything that is happening because as a nation, it has chose to turn away from God and it has allowed sin to creep into its life and natural consquences have taken place? Have we as the church have fallen away from truly what is biblical? Does it take us getting involved and understanding what is going on and how it is going to affect us going to help? Or is there a much simpler way?
My dad made the comment when I was talking to him about this that maybe Satan is using these things to distract me from what I truly need to be doing: preaching the word.
I was reading 2 Timothy 4:1-5 today where Paul is telling Timothy to be ready in and out of season to preach the word. God has really been pressing this and Romans 13 on my mind alot lately and to be honest, I dont know what to do. I am currently in a period of time where I am transitioning to a new area and have not found a church yet. I am in a spot where God is telling me to wait. There is a lady downstairs I have talked too and want to get to know but I dont see her often. Am I making excuses? There is also this other lady I met at one of the churches we have visited who has invited me to go to a picnic for Christian tea partiers tomorrow. Is this God saying get involved, know whats going on so that I can go out and preach the word? This is heavy on my heart and I want to do what God wants me to do and not because of this period of my life. I am torn because I know my God is sovereign and all that is going on is ordained by him. So do I just go out and preach the word because thats all that matters or is there more?
