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