Romans 13:1-2
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
The truth is we don't live in a democracy. Yes, that is the government of the land we live in. The founding fathers of this land thought that a democracy would be the best way to govern this country. And, compared to other types of man-made-governments, they were correct. In man's wisdom this is the best it could be. We are so convinced that a democracy form of government is so good and so vital, we go around the world to try to re-create what we have where others are. However, God did not intend this world to be governed as a democracy. God intended the world to be a Theocracy: God is supreme and in complete authority over all. In fact, He established Christ's rule at scene of the cross:
Colossians 1:16-18
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
Note what the great Reform theologian RC Sproul says about this passage:
“Is Jesus honored by our submission even to corrupt authorities? The universe is not structured as a democracy. It is a theocracy. The govern-ment of the universe is God, and he has appointed his only-begotten Son as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The Father has given to the Son all authority on heaven and earth. At the end of his life, the president of the United States will have to stand before Jesus Christ and be held accountable for how he held his office. The Senate, the House of Repre-sentatives, and all such authorities will be answerable to the King of kings as to how they executed justice in their labors. The king of England and the chairman of China will be held accountable to the King of kings. We often overlook the fact that at the heart of the biblical message is a political message. We live in a kingdom where the supreme political authority is vested in Jesus Christ.”
Yes, we honor Jesus when we submit to authority and the laws of authority. God may not have wanted democracies, or monarchies, or dictatorships, but He uses them to accomplish His task and his glory. God is in charge. He allows others to lead and will hold them accountable to His authority and how they lead as His appointed leader. He will also hold us accountable for how we submitted to their authority ... His representative. God uses wicked men to accomplish His task. The entire Old Testament demonstrates this in story after story. In Romans 9-11 we read how God used Pharaoh to accomplish His task. God is the supreme authority in our lives, even if those He puts in charge of our lives doesn't recognize that truth.
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