You mentioned what you had posted at #256:
We are commanded to obey all governments, unless they ask us to go against God.
And my reply, in part, was: "That's the mainstream evangelical myth. If is was the truth, then it would be easy for you to post scripture that tells us exactly that. But you can't, because there isn't any.
It's a cop-out, another old wives tale without scriptural support...."
So I'm going take the time now to explain to you and all our readers why it is so important to harmonize scripture with scripture. And I will clearly show you why that faulty "obey all governments" position is nothing more than a satanic ruse meant to appease the sinner and continue to cause massive hemorrhaging within the body of Christ.
Romans 13 was a favorite passage of Adolph Hitler's, used to justify his brand of submission.
There's only one Lawgiver, and the government is on his shoulders (James 4:12). And this would be GODLY government - not the counterfeit most ignorantly insist we should serve today:
"There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?"
Many stumble with the reality that there is a counterfeit “authority” seeking our obeisance. Satan said, “I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:14).
It is Satan’s “higher power” that is behind the merchants, the rich men of the earth, the present temporal “governing authorities."
In reply to the blind
opinion that all kings, princes, and governments are set up and "ordained" by God, we will quote the following passage, which is spoken into the ears of Hosea by God Almighty himself. We pray that those who have eyes to see and ears to hear will no longer engage in such opinions:
"They have set up
kings, but
not by me: they have made
princes, and
I knew it not."(Hos.8:4)
Also,
"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The
kings of the earth
set themselves, and the
rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD, and
against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." (Psa. 2:1-3)
There's no Godly ordination there.
When scripture speaks of obeying and submitting ourselves to those who have the rule over us, God’s word is not talking about heathen governments, but those "rulers" within Jesus Christ's assembly. Notice carefully this verse (Heb. 13:17) says these rulers (i.e. “them that have the rule over you”) "watch for your
souls":
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."
Governments of men cannot govern or watch for anyone's
souls, for they can only govern
outward acts, not the inward
being. But true spiritual leaders
do watch for our souls.
Those who "have the rule over you" at Hebrews 13:17 is specifically defined a few verses earlier in Hebrews 13:7:
"Remember them which
have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the
word of God: whose
faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.,"
As we can see,
scripture itself defines these "rulers" as those who speak the word of God and have faith. Conversely, secular governments avoid, and often forbid, speaking the word of God within their system through outlawing prayer in their schools and replacing it with such unrighteousness as "the theory of evolution," by taking down the "Ten Commandments" from their courtrooms,
ad nauseum. These are not the rulers we are to submit to.
It is noteworthy that modern copyrighted “versions”
of The Holy Bible have changed the phrase “higher powers” to merely “governing authorities,” thereby
obscuring the necessary distinction between Godly authority and ungodly authority, between God’s kingdom and Satan’s kingdom.
In Romans 13, does verse 1 say, ‘let every soul be subject unto all governments’? Or does it say, "let
every soul (
including governing authorities such as kings, judges, police, etc.) be subject unto the higher powers"? Who do souls belong to? God says:
Ezekiel 18:4, "Behold,
all souls are mine."
And the second part of verse 1 tells us who “the higher powers” is: "...For there is no power
but of God".
The souls of the governmental powers belong to God, and they are
not the higher powers,
the higher powers are held by Christ himself (Matthew 28:18). Is our Lord not the higher power, then, if
all power has been committed unto him (John 17:2)? Christ is the governor among the nations (Psalms 22:28). All power over earthly kings has been given unto him (Romans 14:9). All judgment has been given unto him (John 5:22, 27). Notice the separation of power in Romans 13:1.
All power comes from, and belongs to, God (Psalm 672:11)
and not the one exercising it. And remember that most men, especially those constituting the "governing authorities," usually deny
that power given to Jesus (2 Timothy 3:2, 5):
“For men shall be...Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Folks know
something is wrong with the current setup, but they don't know what it is. I pray this clarifies the conundrum the majority find themselves in, with trying to serve two masters.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in
them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean
thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Cor. 6)