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Let Every Soul Be Subject?

Glen Head

How in the world could God command me to be subject to a nation that allows murdering infants in the womb? How? A nation where the majority of its leaders pay no attention to the laws of God. A nation where the leader is silent, while wicked people kill the civil authorities that help us feel secure. If the wicked aren’t subject to the laws of the land or to the law of God, why must I be?

Do I fear God? Am I an individual that is consumed with hate? Am I an individual that disrespects the authority of the land? Am I an individual that despises the Constitution of the United States and everything that it affords? The freedom of religion. The freedom of speech. The freedom of the press (writings). The freedom of assembly. The freedom of petition. The right to bear arms. The right to equal justice. The right to own private property. The freedom to live or travel anywhere in our nation. The freedom to work at any job for which I can qualify. The freedom to marry and raise a family. The freedom to receive a free education in good public schools. I am so thankful for the Bill of Rights. This great nation was founded with the individual in mind. This great nation was founded with God in mind. Am I an individual that disrespects the authority of God?

I do fear God. In fearing God I cannot read His word and be consumed with selfish pride and hate. I do respect the authority of the land, but not above God’s authority. (Acts 5:29) This great nation we live in lets the individual have the freedom to choose his way in life as long as he or she does so lawfully. And being in subjection to that law keeps me safe and secure from the hand of those that practice lawlessness. That is the purpose of civil authority, but I realize it is not perfect in keeping me from harm. Even those that protect and serve its citizens are daily in harms way. Over the past few months it makes me upset seeing so many officers gunned down and murdered with the idea of “justice” in the mind of the shooter. Men and women, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, fellow citizens that the only thing separating them from us is a badge and an attitude of “Evil will not prevail under my watch!” I am so thankful for these men and women!

Yet those cowards with the idea of “justice,” what law do they fall under? The law of the land, or the law of God, or both? Let’s notice what God says, 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 13:1) Notice that phrase, Let every soul be subject.” Let’s notice another word in verse 2, Whosoever. Whosever therefore resisteth the power (civil authority), resisteth the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Anyone of these wicked and lawless cowards that resist civil authority, that resist the ordinance of God (they resist what God has put in place), they shall receive the penalty due them! Resist arrest – you are going to get smacked around. Pull a weapon or use force against an officer – you are going to regret it severely and justly! With this power coming from God, Paul asks the question, Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? (Romans 13:3) . . . If thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. (Romans 13:4-5)

To those who take the law into their own hands to do as they see fit, I implore you do as Paul wrote and If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. . . avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Romans 12:18-19) Civil authority is purposed to uphold the law. When we have wild, arrogant and prideful vigilantes running around with an agenda, we have a problem. When we have political and so-called religious leaders pushing an agenda of racism and hatred, we realize they are not afraid of the Supreme Ruler on High. Why do they feel they are not subject to the higher powers? What a shame for them. They were given such a great opportunity to rule the greatest nation in the world and they squandered it. With help from Godless people, they set our great nation back who knows how far. Yet even they are subject to the authority of the land, but more so they are subject to the very One that ordained that authority – God Himself!

When the Bible says, “every soul,” it means every soul is subject unto the higher powers. When the Bible says, “whosoever, it means whosever resists the power resists the the ordinance of God.  Government serves many important purposes, but the most important one is that government makes it possible for people to live and work together. Government provides us with rules of conduct we can follow. Government makes it possible for people to live by known laws, and helps provide many services that citizens acting alone could not perform themselves. As Christians we must heed to 1 Peter 2:13-17,Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.  Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. In doing this we will please God.