"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.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But 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." First of all, we must understand the uniqueness of this country. This is not ancient Rome. There was no Caesar in this country in 1776. After the revolution, Washington even refused to become king and stated that he would preside (be president) until the king (Christ) came.

Our forefathers made us all kings over our own actions; accountable to God -- not man. We are subject to no other or higher power than God.

Now listen to me. God created man, man created the Constitution, the Constitution provided for or created government to be a servant of man, and government, of necessity, must have bureaucrats. The power structure is obvious.

1. God
2. Man
3. Constitution
4. Government
5. Bureaucrats

But we have it upside down.

In this country "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers" means that every man is subject to God -- not all governmental authority. Our government was created for only one purpose -- to serve man -- not to rule over man. And the sole function of government, as it pertains to the people, is to PROTECT our God given rights to life, liberty, and property. It has no other.

In ancient Rome this was not the case; Caesar was god unto himself and also the final authority or Law over the people. Caesar was considered god and his word was considered as the law of god (Caesar).

In this country it was intended that the word of God, as exercised by and through the People (through the jury), would be the Law -- not the word or laws of government (Caesar or the legislature).

We must also remember that Paul said in Romans 13, that rulers are to reward good and punish evil. He did not say that rulers were to determine what law was, that is, what was good and evil. Only God can determine what is good and evil and He has done so and recorded it for our use and benefit in His Word.

You want to know why we have such an ungodly and oppressive system of government strongly resembling the system of Christ's day? Well it is largely because of the false doctrine of twentieth century preachers on Romans 13, influencing the people to obey all the "precepts of men."

Let's look at God's Purpose In Power (authority). Paul went on to define power or authority. He said it was to protect good, and he who does good will receive the praise of same, because the ruler is God's servant for the people's good. Romans 13:1 continues: "For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."

However, what about a Godless authority? In Romans 13:3, Paul again makes it clear that the task of authority is to protect the good and punish the evil. It is to insure that we have religious liberty so that we can fulfill the laws of God, for if we do not have civil/religious liberty we cannot fulfill the laws of God.

Our forefathers understood this concept and the proper role of power as it pertains to government, and so did the clergy of the day. A sermon preached by Charles Turner in 1773 on Romans 13 had this to say:

"....when the civil rights of a country receive a shock, it may justly render the ministers of God deeply thoughtful for the safety of sacred privileges -- for religious liberty is so blended with civil, that if one falls, it is not expected that the other will continue."
Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution, by J. T. Headley, page 5.

"Governments are ordained of God to carry out His will, but when governments turn away from God or do not carry out God's will, then that government is no longer ordained of God, and anything decreed by that government in violation of God's laws need not be obeyed."

OBEY CHURCH LEADERS -- NOT STATE

Notwithstanding the above, Romans 13 is not directed at government but the Church or the body of Christ. A plain reading of Romans 12 along with 13, 14, AND 15 will reveal this to be true. Paul states in chapter 12: verses 4-6:

"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;" Romans 12:4-6

It should be obvious that a "shepherd," "teacher," "deacon," or "elders," etc. would have some power and authority and be over or in charge of the people within a congregation. In the days of Moses it was one over ten, one over etc.

This same principle is being illustrated in Romans 12. Paul is clearly talking about the church. Then in verses 6-21 he talks about gifts (vs. 6-8), and in verse 8 of those in the body who "ruleth." Then Paul temporarily turns to the subject of "love" and gives guidance on behavior within the body, and then in verse 1 of Romans 13, he returns to the problem of how to interact with the rulers of the body of Christ: "Let every soul (person who is not in a position of authority) be subject unto the higher powers (persons having authority within the body). For there is no power (authority in them) but of God: the powers that be (authority of those who rule in the body) are ordained of God."

Verses 2 through 7 simply address this relationship between those not in authority within the body of Christ and those in authority within the body of Christ.

In Romans 13:1, "power" according to Strong's means: "privilege, i.e. (subj) force, capacity, competency, freedom...authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength."

It should be noted that the word "government" does not appear among the definitions.

The word "government(s)" only appears in the New Testament two times. Once from Strong's 2941 which means to steer; pilotage, i.e. (fig) directorship (in the church): -government."

This word is used in the sense of authority or directorship in the church -- not the civil government. This word is used in Corinthians as follows:

"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues." I Cor 12:28

The second appearance of the word "government" is from Strong's 2962 meaning "(supreme in authority), mastery, rulers, dominion, government."

This word appears in II Peter as follows:

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
"But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities."
II Pet 2:9-10 KJV Authorized

It should be rendered "dominion" or "ruler." Then it follows the same principle outlined in Ephesians 4 and Romans 13. We are to be subject to those within the body of Christ who are in positions of authority over us.