Jeff Ferrell, a reporter for KSLA in Shreveport, claimed that "For the clergy team, one of the biggest tools that they will have in helping calm the public down or to obey the law is the Bible itself, specifically Romans 13. Considering the ancient and modern history of governments of the world the idea that they are established by God borders on ludicrous. One could say that this notion appears to be an attempt to blame our foolishness on God.
Is it not common sense that the right of men to "choose" is established by God? It should be strictly noted that the legal right of governments to choose for men has always been established by men. Many governments throughout history have not been established according to the precepts of God, much less by God. Hence, such governments have been more aptly established by men who reject God.
To further such principles, when the "voice of the people" established a government under Saul, God called it a "rejection" of Him. Even when the Israelites were freed from the bondage of the government of Egypt, the people were told to never go back to that type of government again. Furthermore, even Jesus said we were not to be like governments of other nations where their benefactors exercise authority one over the other.
So then, is Paul trying to tell us in Romans 13 that all government is established by God?
In the King James Bible, Romans 13 begins:
"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)
We are commonly told by pastors and ministers that this statement by Paul means that we must be obedient to governments. How is this when Paul himself was constantly getting into trouble with governments for supposedly disobeying?
Today, when any Christian attempts to question the authority or right of government to limit the choices or liberties of the people they commonly hear pastors and other Christians reciting Romans 13. Unfortunately these pastors and their followers are under a strong delusion that has crept into the thinking of modern Christians due to false information.
See an example of this irresponsible teaching in the below video:
The truth that will set them free from that delusion is easy enough to uncover with the examination of only one word of the original Greek text. The Greek word translated into power in Romans 13 is one of more than half a dozen words which are all translated into the single English word power in the New Testament. The word power can have over a dozen different definitions in any unabridged English dictionary. The question is which of these many definitions should we apply to our thinking when we read these words of Paul? The word used in Romans 13 by Paul is EXOUSIA, which is defined:
Power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases. (Hebrew-English and Greek-English Lexicons)
And translated "right," in Hebrews 13:10 & Revelations 22:14
Translated "liberty," in Paul's 1 Corinthians 8:9.2
Knowing the word exousia can and does mean liberty seems to turn the world upside down for some ministers who have been saying that the Bible is telling us to be obedient subject, when in fact Paul is telling us to be subject to liberty.
God desires that every man should have the unimpaired and divine right of choice as long as that choice does not violate the right of our neighbor to make his own choices. There is a line between the privileges of governments granted by the people and the rights of the people granted by God. The ministers of Christ should not be walking that line.
The right of men to choose is established by God, but the legal right of governments to choose for men, to rule over men, has always been established by men. Many governments throughout history have not been established according to the precepts of God much less by God, but rather by men who reject God or wish to be gods over the people.
Peace on your house, Brother Gregory
