For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Jack Gutknecht
This is an interesting question. As I see it, the government exists for advancement: Human government is to advance the general welfare of the community where its laws are in force. Paul commands us to pray for human leaders “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Tim 2:1,2). See too Tit. 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13-17
There are three main duties of us as citizens to our government:
1. Matt. 22:17-21 We are to pay our taxes to the government (Matt. 17:24-7; 22:21, Rom. 13:7).
2. God has established human agencies for the government of people
Romans 13:1 We are to recognize and accept that the powers that be are ordained by God. “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” (Rom 13:1)
3. 1 Timothy 2:2-3; We are to pray for the leaders in government. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Tim 2:1-3).
James Kraft
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Governments become corrupt over time and take away individual freedom.
Our freedom comes from God. Not the government. Governments put laws on the backs of the people that they themselves do not obey.
They become tyrants instead of servants.
Danny Hickman
In Rome of 33 AD, the king and "all the king's men" were the government. Here in the United States the government is of, for, and by the people. It's a whole different dynamic than anything Paul had ever heard of or thought about for a governing authority.
There is a preacher of the gospel in the United States Senate. (Rev Rafael Warnock of Ga).
Paul wasn't writing about a democratic republic; that's what the United States is. He was writing to people living in an authoritarian state. They might have been tempted to refuse to abide by the authoritarian rule "in the name of their freedom in Christ." That's what I believe he was trying to avoid. I think he was trying to prevent Christianity from being seen as some kind of political movement.
The most compelling reason the United States exists to this day is that people of faith wanted to be free from the constraints of authoritarianism. A democratic republic was born.
The government is to be challenged if a democratic republic is going to continue. If the people act like mindless sheep the worst among us will assume power and take it down the tube, turn it into what they were dealing with in Rome with Nero. But challenging the laws of the land shouldn't be done in the name of Jesus.
Believe it or not, that's what Paul was trying to teach. He wasn't advocating blind loyalty to whatever a dictator or a democratic governing authority put out. He was trying to keep the church out of the political movement business.
Danny Hickman
So many people on this site read the scriptures without using plain ole' ordinary everyday logic, in place of their bent toward religious law keeping.
A church leader (Paul, Peter) tells the people to do something and it's viewed by some of us as being mandatory for all believers. (The early church pooled their resources; there are people who think we're wrong to not pool our resources; FYI, they weren't told they had to combine their money, they chose to do it).
To teach and preach that governments are ordained by God and is to be honored as long as the government doesn't oppose a biblical teaching, is not good biblical teaching. ALL GOVERNMENTS oppose biblical teachings. None of them do good, no not one.
The people were told that if they opposed the government they would be opposing God who gave the government its authority. If you read that as a commandment you totally miss the intended meaning of it. They're being told to 'stand down.' It means, 'Now Is Not The Time.'
Some here want to pick and choose which authorities to honor and which to dishonor, using "unless the order causes you to disobey God." Then right on cue, "Slaves obey your master." (today that means don't support unions).
The church leaders didn't want Christianity to devolve into a political movement. That's exactly what's being attempted by evangelicals in the United States. It's a shame that even some mainstream pastors are blind to it. I think their book sales are their main concern.
Kelli Trujillo
Great comments, Danny! I totally agree!
Danny Hickman
Thank you Kelli. God's blessings!!