Christians, can you please clarify what is going on here?

Question

Romans 13:1-2

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

If this verse is true, then why all the hubbub about who is or is not running for president and what they may or may not believe?

Answer 1

This verse means that we must live within the boundaries of social norms. God commanded us to fear and respect those who have authority in both our spirtual and carnal lives. God gives government officials authority for a reason, and we must not ignore them in good reason.  

Your second paragraph does not make any sense at all..please clarify...for this is not related to what you are allurding to.

Answer 2

Christians are not supposed to overthrow the government by force and violence.

It does not mean we should withdraw and allow evil governments.

Answer 3

It means that we are to obey our Government leaders.  Living in America we have the luxury of picking who our leaders will be.  Yet we seem to be extremely spoiled because we gripe every time we don't get our way.  

Sometimes I wonder if we aren't as bad as, if not worse than the Israelites of the bible.

Hence another version of Give to Ceasar what is Ceasar's, and give to God what is God's.

Answer 4

What Bible did you get this out of? The KJ version says this -

" 1 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.

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

Answer 5

Basically that means in the governmental sense

"do not break the law",

But I tend to think this is more of a pastorial remark

if you continue to read the rest of the chapter.

Answer 6

Romans 13:1  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.

Romans 13:2  Who so ever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.



Romans 13:3  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:

Every soul should submit to higher powers. The powers that come into being were put there because of God. If you resist the power in charge you are resisting God. By resisting God you will receive damnation.

Rulers are not a terror to those who obey the Law and do good, but to those who do evil, they should be afraid of the powers that be. If you do what is good you should have praise for obeying the Law.

So if this is true why do people oppose Bush?

The current president has not been elected yet. We still vote for him. God knows which one will win and who people will vote for.

Answer 7

I am a believing Christian--a follower and disciple of Christ.  Although we may have concerns about who our world leaders may be, we are not to "worry" and "fret" over it.  We ARE to use discernment and, when possible, be well informed about selection of those in authority--and pray for them--for God to touch their hearts and draw those who are not in Christ--and for the Holy Spirit to lead and strengthen those who are in Christ.

Most of all, personally, I believe that even in the event we have some "not so cool" and "not so nice or good" leaders, that ALL things are possible with God.  He can take something meant for evil and use it to the good--His own purpose and to the benefit of those who have faith.

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"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  [Romans 8:28   KJV]

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Answer 8

As long as it doesn't conflict with the scriptures....back then they didn't vote people in office....we do..so we have to stay tune with what GOD would have us to do by voting for the candidate who is most in tune with HIS word...now we still pay our taxes and all that kind of governmental stuff

Answer 9

Well we can hope God  wants the same as us, cant we? lol

tGod bless

Answer 10

This is a government by the people and for the people  For your question be a valid question we would have to have a government by the government and for the government.

Maybe that is where the question or problem lies,

Answer 11

Great question!

First, I would point out that Romans 13:1-2 only makes sense when it is not contrary to the word of God. For example, if the government were to pass a law that said you have to worship some idol, God would expect you to disobey that law. In fact, similar laws are broken by Christians all the time in many Islamic countries.

My church teaches that it is our duty to vote, and to do so in a way that honor's Jesus (which means voting for the candidates who most closely support Christian ideals). They also teach that we should not get overly concerned because, as Romans 13:1-2 teaches us, no matter the democracy in place, it is God who is in control.

Should we be concerned about the who is running and what they represent? Yes. Should we get all upset if our candidates do not win? No. That much is God's business.

Answer 12

i dont know the answer but I would like to know please email me if u find out, i tend to over analyze scripture sometimes i think, let me know

Answer 13

Well first of all, I don't know what wierd translation you are reading but the King James version it  is talking about the powers ordained of God, ordained as in Apostles, teachers, priests, and so forth.  I do not however believe that God is against our goverment,  even though it will go against His teachings sometimes.  I believe that the founding fathers were  inspired of God  

Answer 14

You're right. You have to remember that you're not always correct in your actions, and we aren't either. No one is perfect.

On the other hand, everyone has a right to have an opinion about who they think is the best man for the job.

It's all about how you represent yourself.

Answer 15

Yeah, this is a verse for the leaders responsible for you. I believe its the same principle to honoring our parents. They deserved to be honored and obeyed, but if they drive you to produce bad fruit, you still have to put God first. Always God first. For Presidents, well you're right, it doesn't matter so much who would win, but maybe some have put God first in their leadership as well.

Answer 16

Because the fanatical ones vote on one issue, and one issue only: government control of a woman's uterus. So, it's okay that Smeara Palin wants Alaska to secede from the United States, but not okay for Obama to not wear a flag pin on his lapel.  

Answer 17

We in America still believe we have a vote that counts...

Answer 18

The authorities God established in the USA are the voters.

Its our job to pick the best person to be our next President.

Answer 19

I have been wondering about that verse for quite some time. There are many commentaries online about what it may mean. They are very interesting. I am just going to vote for the candidate I think is worthy (Ron Paul) and leave the rest to God. Its my responsiblity to vote for a good man...not to win the election for someone in particular.  

Answer 20

Well haha very good question my answer is with these people who are governing can do something good and generally arent bad but goverment gets corrupt and all the blame is on the president for what the goverment does and the people are blind to see the truth but in some cases these scriptures are taken out of context some of them are meant for the past in the old days not for us and thats what alot of people dont understand  

Answer 21

Please let me give an example of governing.

The ruler-sage of Ancient China, Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun carried out the efficient government of the state without showing much of their person. Like Ch’ien Tao, in which they had established themselves, they needed no longer act purposefully. Their higher Being made itself felt naturally and spontaneously without any conscious effort on their part. Thus, Confucius said of Emperor Shun, “Was it not Shun who governed efficiently without personal effort? What did he do? He did nothing save solemnly and reverently sit on the throne with his face turned toward the south.”

One should not misunderstand Confucius when he said that Shun did nothing. The significance of his remark does not lie in the fact that Shun did nothing, but in the fact that his existence meant more than all his activities and his higher Being gave a meaning and direction not only to his own actions but to those of his subjects as well. In the same sense the Chinese doctrine of non-action—Wu Wei—should not be misunderstood. In essence, this doctrine emphasizes the supremacy of Being. It means effective effortlessness as the first and chief characteristic of a true ruler. It means that the purpose of life of the people and the means for its fulfilment are conceived by the ruler in the still depths of his Being. Only when a ruler has penetrated into the deepest layer of his Being and has become one with Ch’ien Yuan, i.e., with Tao, could he rule in an ideal manner. As is taught in the Tao Teh Ching, Tao is “eternally actionless and causes all action”.

Hope above links with Romans 13: 1-2