Random thought of the day: was the American Revolution contrary to the teachings of Christianity? What prompted me to ask such a question? Here’s what Paul wrote in Romans 13:1-7:
Submission to the Authorities
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Link to Romans 13
The section of the Bible pretty much outlines the divine right of kings and other rulers. Further, if God instituted the British authority over the American colonies, then not only was the American Revolution contrary to the teachings of the New Testament, but raises yet another problem for activists who want to convince us that the American government was founded on Christianity.
Of course, the whole thing is self-contradictory nonsense anyway. Afterall, according to this passage, Americans were supposed to submit to the British while they were in power and not start a revolution because the British were “established by God”. But, the moment the revolution was successful (despite the Biblical teaching against revolution), then suddenly the new American government is supposedly “established by God”.
The king is dead. Long live the king!
Two thoughts on this: first, many of the more reflective evangelicals do believe that the Revolution was contrary to Christian teaching. This is a minority view, but the few evangelicals I know who work to be rigorous in their thinking argue this. I don’t think it’s actually a logical problem that they now support the US government, since the most common reading of the passage you cite is that, if God allows even an unjust rebellion to succeed, Christians owe the same thing to that government they did to the previous. I believe unthinking acceptance of authority is extremely unwise, but it does appear to be the clear meaning of this passage.
Second, given the time period of the writing of Romans, it seems pretty clear to me this teaching had a practical application: soon thereafter, it would be demonstrated why rebellion against Rome was a very bad idea. That most Christians (rightly, in my view) don’t believe all attempts to overthrow government are evil is merely a tacit admission that “literalism” is incoherent. Even the most devoted literalist knows there are passages that they should ignore, e.g. all the ones that advocate what’s essentially primitive communism.
Most religion is completely antithetical to democracy. In religion the authority flows down from god, and in democracy the authority flows up from the people. I don’t see how it’s possible to reconcile those two systems.
All authority ultimitly comes from God, but He orders us in Romans 13 to obey government and since there is no government that he has not but in place it is wrong for us as christians to rebel
I know this is an old article, but hopefully someone sees this:
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” – 1st Samuel, chapter 15, verse 23.
The whole 1st book of Samuel is about how the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people, opted to take up the reigns of the “all powerful” government. They were completely surrounded by enemies, and became aware that they were a nation without a king like their neighbors.
Satan always gets us to see what we don’t have, and somehow makes us want it. Israel didn’t have a government, they had a priesthood which instructed them directly from the throne of God. There was little excuse for them to want or need a government, and yet, Israel had kings. That’s why Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, it’s all His anyway.
Once you see this BEAST for what it is, you then realize that the BEAST has always been here. It’s partly our own fault, but dark spiritual forces DO exist if we are to believe the bible, and furthermore, that these dark spiritual forces rule this world by means of deception. If that is true and we believe this to be true, everything changes. Everything. Even our notions of “government” and what it all really means.
The entire history of humankind, is a conspiracy against God.
Because, what is government, anyway? A set of laws and rules, punishments and rewards, our own little version of heaven on earth. We mimic what we see in the bible, because we want it, and do not have it. Yet, we still continue to try doing things OUR way instead of God’s way. We make our own laws: “Do as thou will is the whole of the law.”
Sound familiar? It should. Oh ye “Illuminated Satanists”, do you think God doesn’t know what is really going on? Do you really think you are in control of anything? Satan can’t give you the world anyways, it was never his to give, but he bought it when he got Adam and Eve to sin.
“And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:” – Genesis chapter 3, verse 14.
He’ll eat dust all the days of his life? He says that to the serpent? It’s because Satan is the prince of this world, and he rules by means of deception.
It was deceptive of humankind to be in rebellion to God by wanting to make their own rules.
There is lots more, and I could go on forever about this stuff, but I believe there is a powerful deception going on in the world around us, and very soon it will be clear to all what the truth really is. People will be utterly speechless.
“Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.” – Acts 13:41.
I’m just a man, but I declare it. I have cast off my worldly loyalties, so far as best I can; that which has divided me from the rest of you. What makes me really different from any of you, anyway? Not much. We breathe the same air, drink the same water, eat the same food. We don’t want to have to deal with people stealing our things or killing us for no reason. But these things happen, and we point to it and say, “God, where is righteous judgement? Where is our reprieve from evil?” Then we become impatient, and turn from God who is patient.
God never wanted to punish us, that’s why God gave Cain a mark, and sent him on his way. It’s why God gave Adam and Eve, clothing from animal skins – The first blood sacrifice for the sins of humankind, who God Himself decided to pay for with His own blood! And we keep rejecting it!
Are God’s laws and rules really so hard to follow? Why do we always resort to violence? Why did Jesus not fight back? Why was Stephen martyred for rebuking the Sanhedrin court of sun worship:
“Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.” – Acts 7:43.
Babylon, the great! It’s our own fault!
“And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.” – 1st Samuel chapter 8, verse 18.
The American Revolution started over TAXES! The love of money… Well, you know the rest.
Please visit my web site link, if you would like to hear more. I’m not trying to sell anything, but everyone should buy their own bible. It takes years to read though it and understand it, to see it in your daily life.
Thank you for reading, and God bless.