Worshipping Ladies Community Group
This group is for Christian women only. We seek to love and encourage one another with the compassion Christ gives us.
Romans 13:1-7 (Quoted from NLT)
1-3 “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those positions of authority have been placed there by God. (2) So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they shall be punished. (3) For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
4-5 “The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, or course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. (5) So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.”
6-7 “Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. (7) Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.”
My Comments: Government authority was God’s idea, and we must to submit to that authority, because God placed it there to keep people in line. Those in authority are God’s servants, and if we obey them, then there is no need to fear, but we should fear if we are doing what is wrong, because God put them in place to punish those that are doing wrong. We can have a clear conscience if we obey and do what is right. We should pay our taxes, because that is where the money comes from to pay government officials, and they deserve to be paid, because they are God’s servants. We should always give respect and honor to those in authority.
It doesn’t talk about it in this passage, but if the government tells us to do something against God’s will, then we are to follow God, and not the government. In Acts chapter 4 Peter and John were instructed not to speak or teach anymore in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:19 says, “ But Peter and John replied, ‘Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?” We are to obey authority as long as it is in alignment with God’s will, otherwise we are to obey God instead.
Much to agree and disagree with in our govt., both past and present. I feel the main thing, and what this passage is about, is that we as Christians should respect our. government leaders and pray for them as well as pay our taxes.