Submission to the State
Study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word
of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
In my hands is
an old, beat up Bible. Somebody has been thumping it too hard and it is falling
to pieces. This particular Bible has subheadings for each chapter. At Romans 13
it says, "Submission to the State." Wow, that really strikes a
strong cord in me. Now those words are not part of the Scripture. They are just
someone's opinion of what Romans 13 says, but does it?
Romans 13 is the scripture that stumbles so
many people when they try to "come out from among them." How can they "come out"
and "obey them" at the same time?
The harlot
churches like to promote Romans 13 as meaning, "Obey Caesar," or
"Obey the law of the land." How else can they interpret it? They have
yoked themselves with Caesar through State incorporation. Their very life comes
from the State. If they do not obey Caesar, Caesar will withdraw their corporate
charter and they will die. State incorporated churches have only one choice if
they are to survive: promote obedience to the State.
Barclay's
commentaries, which are used as a textbook in Sunday Schools, shows the typical
attitude about Romans 13. Barclay says, "At first reading this is an
extremely surprising passage, for it seems to counsel absolute obedience on
the part of the Christian to the civil power. But, in point of fact, this is
a commandment which runs through the whole New Testament." According to
Barclay, Romans 13 commands "absolute obedience on the part of the
Christian to the civil power." With commentaries like this, it is no wonder
that Romans 13 was Hitler's favorite Bible passage.
Absolute obedience means obeying the president
and every bureaucrat under him. "Obey all these people who do not confess Jesus
Christ. After all, God has set these men over us." Are we to obey anyone who
claims to be a higher authority? Let's take another look at Romans 13 and
rightly divide the word of truth.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield
yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of
sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16
Understanding Romans
13
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