Are Christians to Submit to All Authority?

Immediately following the inauguration of President Joe Biden in January, I had many people tell me, “We have to submit. This is God’s will.”

They would then quote Romans 13:1-2: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”

The Scripture seems pretty clear-cut doesn’t it? But what about the times from history in which it’s not?

— When Peter and John defied the religious leaders of their day to continue to preach the Gospel.

— When the Hebrew mid-wives ignored Pharaoh and refused to kill the Hebrew babies.

— When Daniel continued to pray openly defying the king’s edict.

— When Paul, who wrote Romans 13 regarding governing authorities, then opposed them.

So, which is right? And what are we supposed to do today regarding some of these same issues and the question of whether we are to submit to all authority?

If we state that Romans 13:1-2 mandates that we submit to all authority, does that mean that the Germans and Jews should have submitted to Hitler? If so, that would mean Dietrich Bonhoeffer was in rebellion and sin.

Was he? Hardly. Instead, he is remembered as a godly man of courage who stood up to evil.

What about Moses when he opposed Pharaoh? Or the disciples in the book of Acts?

Paul wrote Romans 13 telling the first-century church to submit to “all” authority. Yet afterwards, he personally stood up to the authorities. Was he wrong?

In order to answer that question, we must compare the Bible to the Bible. It never contradicts itself. We also should compare the Bible to our Constitution. Because what many Americans don’t realize is that they actually agree. Why? Because contrary to the current narrative, the majority of our Founding Fathers were Christians, and even those who weren’t used the Bible as a foundational framework for our Constitution.

So should Christians submit to all authority? Read and listen to this to find out how you would answer that question.

Lord, we ask You for wisdom and discernment on how to walk through the confusing issues hitting us on a regular basis. Open our minds and hearts to understand the Scriptures. You said You would instruct us and teach us in the way we should go. You said that You would guide us with Your eye upon us. Where there is confusion, Lord, we ask You for clarity. Where there is fear, we ask for faith. Show us how to stand for You when we are confronted with issues that are contrary to Your Word. {eoa}

(Reprinted with permission from Intercessors for America at ifapray.org.)

Karen Hardin is the author INFECTED: How to Stop the Global Spread of Rage, Deception and Insanity. Click here to order. She is a literary agent, author and intercessor. Her work has appeared in USA Today, World Net Daily, Intercessors For America, Charisma, CBN.com, The Elijah List and more. She is also co-founder of the City-by-City prayer movement to save our nation. For additional information on her ministry, business or to sign up for her prophetic blog, go to karenhardin.com or contact her at prioritypr.org.

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