Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Paul is telling the people here that while on this earth we will always be subject to someone. We will have a government ruling over us. We will have laws to obey. He is also letting us know that it is God that gives the leaders what power they have. God himself sets up the nations and God can bring them down at his own will, because there is no true power but of God. Paul goes on to tell the people that "rulers" are not against good works but against evil. Paul is telling the people how is it supposed to be. This entire chapter in Romans is telling us about obeying the laws, paying tribute to whom it is due, (taxes) and keeping of God's commandments. You see at the time Paul was teaching this, the keeping of the commandments of God was a good thing. It was what set you apart as a good person. Paul unfortunately did not look ahead in time and see that one day the laws that he taught the people to obey would be so twisted by hatred that they would go against God Almighty. Paul clearly tells the people the kind of things to obey in verses 9 and 10.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
If the laws of man go against the laws of God, then the bible also teaches that we are to obey God rather than man. When Peter and the other apostles were brought before the high council for preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus, he told them plainly that we are to obey God rather than man.
Acts 5:29
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
There are many laws in place today that go directly against God's word and as Christians we can not support those laws. We can not support those that support and put those kind of laws in place and if we do, I believe we will be held accountable to God. We will be persecuted for standing up for what is right, but Christ was also persecuted. The apostles didn't stop teaching and preaching about Jesus even though they were beaten and thrown in jail. We MUST STAND upon the word of God and not waver from it's truth. We MUST have FAITH that God will take care of his own. Blessed be his Holy name.
