666P.htm

ROMANS 13:1-5.

It is because they punish bad ►
deeds that "those ruling"
are are an "object of fear"

The laws of God also express ►
wrath upon the one practicing
what is bad.

"Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. Therefore he who opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will receive judgement to themselves. For those ruling are an object of fear, not to the good deed, but to the bad. Do you, then, want to have no fear of the authority? Keep doing good, and you will have praise from it; for it is God's minister to you for your good. But if you are doing what is bad, be in fear: for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword; for it is God's minister, an avenger to express wrath upon the one practicing what is bad. There is therefore compelling reason for you people to be in subjection, not only on account of that wrath but also on account of your conscience."

"And this is what love means, that we go on walking according to His commandments." (2 John V.6).

◄ The "superior authorities"
    are the laws of God placed in
     their relative positions by Him.

◄ "Those ruling" are not
      the "superior authorities".

◄ The "authority" is of God.

◄ The "superior authorities"
are "God's minister to you".

    "Love does not work evil to
     one's neighbour; therefore
◄ love is the law's fulfilment."
                             (Rom 13:10).

WHO OR WHAT ARE THE SUPERIOR AUTHORITIES
PLACED IN THEIR RELATIVE POSITIONS BY GOD?

Is it proper for a Christian to support government authorities controlled by a tyrant, or to pay taxes to fund the killing of those opposed to their evil rule? (There have been many such tyrants: Adolph Hitler, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Papa Doc, Ayatollah Khomeini, etc). The answer is: Certainly not! On account of conscience a true Christian would never knowingly pay taxes in support of the unlawful killing of anyone in contravention of the "superior authorities" that are the laws of God. That is why Christians may only pay taxes to "public servants constantly serving this very purpose": Upholding the "superior authorities" of the Law of God. (13:6).

LEGAL POINTS.
(1) "Those ruling" should be an "object of fear" only to those found guilty of bad deeds.
They should not avenge by corrupt laws, but by the "superior authorities": The laws of God. (13:4).

(2) "Those ruling" must only "express wrath upon the one practicing of what is bad." (13:4).

(3) Public servants expressing wrath upon practicers of what is bad are not the "superior authorities".

(4)  A Christian pays taxes so that public servants employed to act as God's minister express God's wrath
       upon evildoers. (13:4,6). We therefore pay taxes for the prevention of lawlessness and to maintain a
       good conscience before God. (13:7).

(5)  Those who administer corrupt laws in support of bad deeds are not the "superior authorities" of God.
       The "superior authorities" placed in their relative positions by God and are His laws, bearing the "sword"
       of justice. They are not the men and women who administer injustice and ignore the "superior authorities"
       of God recorded in His Holy Word. (James 4:12. 2 Tim 3:16,17).

11/3/81.