It was a representation of part of a larger written (email) discussion I had with our preacher.

I didn’t look up the original email to copy and paste it, I know the argument because it’s all based on fundamental principles, so all you need is Romans 13:1-7 and a brief section of the Declaration of Independence to present the argument:

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“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. [2] Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

[3] For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: [4] For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

[5] Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. [6] For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. [7] Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. (Romans 13:1-7, KJV)
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and

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“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
 
–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
 
–That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.” — excerpt, Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
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I like to do it from scratch most of the time anyway, because sometimes I come up with a better way to express something, and because it’s fun to think the arguments through as you present them anyway.

Any Christian who is stuck in the Matrix is likely to lead with Romans 13:1-7 to argue that we should do whatever our ‘rulers’ say, unless we are instructed to do something specifically in violation of God’s Word.

If we lived in a monarchy, it would be more difficult — but certainly not impossible to argue otherwise, because even a monarch is without authority to violate our God-given rights. We can go to the Magna Carta if needed. I would just have to refresh my memory, since I haven’t had to do it in a while 😁

But we (Americans) don’t live in a monarchy, so the argument is much simpler.

So that’s where I always want to start, with their best and strongest argument (Romans 13:1-7), and then pull back, to show the bigger picture, to reveal a larger perspective and the necessary context that comes with it.

So I ask them if Romans 13:1-7 is still Authoritative to this day, which of course it is, and because I know they will say “yes”.

And if Romans 13:1-7 is operative and Authoritative, which I fully agree it is, then should must we not give America back to England?

If not, why not?

The answer to that question helps to understand Romans 13:1-7 as it applies to our Constitutional Republic, which to my knowledge, is unique in the world.

I am just about certain they (most preachers) have never thought about it that way before. I don’t know why not, because it was one of the first things that occurred to me, because contradictions are like shiny objects. They jump out.

In America we don’t have ‘rulers’ in the sense that most of the world (and most of world history) uses the term ‘rulers’.

In America, We the People are the highest Authority, and that makes We the People the ‘rulers‘.

Literally. That’s how our entire country was founded, and how our Founding Documents are explicitly written. Whether we are currently following them properly (or not) is a separate matter.

In 2 Kings, chapter 22, Hilkiah the High Priest found the (previously lost) Book of the Law in the House of the LORD, and gave it to Shaphan the scribe, who in turn took it to King Josiah and read it to him.

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“And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.

[12] And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying,

[13] Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.” (2 Kings 22:11-13, KJV)
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So clearly the principle is established that just because men are not following the Law, does not mean they should continue in that error, once they become aware of it.

And this makes perfect sense. If we are not aware of something, how can we follow it? But if we become aware of something, and it has proper Authority, then we ought to make correction and follow it.

If we discover that the Constitution and other Founding Documents of our nation are not being followed properly, should we not likewise correct such error, with all haste?

If not, why not?

Are the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution not our Founding Documents?

If we are found to be in violation of them, ought we not make correction?

One might say that is not our business as Christians — that is for those who are in charge, i.e., “the powers that be are ordained of God”, to decide what to do.

But in America, it is We the People who are in charge, and therefore it follows that We the People are “the powers that be” (see Romans 13:1) which ‘are ordained of God’. The responsibility is ours, in America it is ultimately We the People, for the simple reason that in America, there is no one who is higher in Authority than We the People.

It is true that We the People delegate our authority to elected officials — elected officials who we hire and pay to represent who?

They represent US.

So who is the ultimate and highest Authority?

Who serves whom, and at whose pleasure, and by whose consent?

Who are the true ‘powers that be’?

In America, it is well and truly We the People, which is clearly and undeniably established by any reading of the Founding Fathers.

We the People created this country, We the People created the Constitution, the Constitution authorizes the creation of the government and the government exists to serve and protect We the People, i.e., ‘us’, ourselves.

Because of course it does. Our Founding Fathers didn’t fight a revolution against one tyrannical power, just to turn around give someone else tyrannical power over us. That would be insane.

Our Founding Fathers created a government that is designed and intended to serve and protect We the People, and ALL of the checks and balances built into our government are there to PREVENT the government from ever usurping authority over We the People who created it.

We can argue over how well or poorly those checks and balances are working or being followed, but whether it is being followed properly or not, we can certainly read the relevant texts and see what they plainly say.

Just as we can read and understand God’s intent in Scripture based on what His Word plainly says, we can do the same with any other document, including the Constitution for the united States and our other Founding Documents.

And as we know, the created cannot be greater than the Creator. Any preacher will acknowledge that because God is our Creator and we can never be greater than (or equal to) God, and the same applies to our relationship with the government which We the People created.

We the People are the Creators of our government, and our government is the created.

Our Founding Fathers rebelled against the ‘higher powers’, i.e., king George, and according to the usual reading of Romans 13:1-7, king George was ‘the powers that be’, ordained of God.

Not only did our Founding Fathers rebel against that power, they actually fought a Revolution against the tyranny of king George, and won.

Did they win in spite of God’s will? Did they overcome God’s will? Did they defeat God’s will? If their efforts were against God’s will, is it possible they could they have won? Could they possibly have been successful without God’s will?

Clearly not.

As Gamaliel expressed it in the Book of Acts:

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“And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: [39] But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (Acts 5:38-39, KJV)
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So our Founding Fathers rebelled against a tyrannical power, and God clearly blessed their efforts, or they could never have succeeded, and we would not be having this discussion today.

Either that, or they overcame God and His will, which, while it is impossible to overcome God’s will, somehow the Founding Fathers did it anyway; in which case we are obligated to correct that error and give America back to England, along with 248 years of back rent and a really, really big apology.

And boy are our faces gonna be red 😁

Because they can’t have Romans 13:1-7 both ways.

They can’t say we must obey tyrannical powers today, but it was okay to rebel against tyrannical powers in 1776.

Romans 13:1-7 was operative in 1776, just as it was in the 1st century, and today.

The question, it seems is twofold.

First, if ‘the powers that be’ (cf. Romans 13:1) become corrupt, abusive and tyrannical, even a monarch, does he retain God’s blessing and rightful authority indefinitely, regardless of abuse of power — or does he surrender it?

It would appear evident that king George surrendered any rightful Authority over the colonies by his tyranny and abuse, or again, we would not be having this discussion.

Second, as is so often the case, whether in Scripture or in other affairs of men, is the question of Authority.

Who has it?

In America, is it We the People, or is it the government which was created by We the People?

The answer to that question determines how we read Romans 13:1-7, because Romans references ‘the powers that be’, so it is necessary to understand who ‘the powers that be’ actually is.

Is it not true that we ought to follow the laws which We the People have created for ourselves? Of course it is.

Is it not likewise true that we ought to obey the proper authorities who We the People have set over ourselves to maintain public order, and to defend our Rights, and to protect our borders, so long as they remain faithful in their duties and within the boundaries and restrictions of the laws We the People created to govern ourselves?

Of course it is.

And these civil servants, whom We the People have set over us, to Represent us and safeguard our interests, who have a fiduciary obligation to serve us and our interests, very much and exactly like the trustees of a Trust — do they rule by any Authority other than by the Authority which We the People have entrusted to them — that is, by the consent of the governed?

Of course not:

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–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the CONSENT of the governed,
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So what are We the People to do, if the public servants whom We the People have set over us, like trustees, to safeguard our interests and rights, become wicked and tyrannical, such that they are in gross violation of their duties and obligations, in violation of the Trust which was created and established to serve and protect We the People?

Even to the point of actively seeking our destruction?

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“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.” — excerpt, Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
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Who has the highest Authority in America?

If the answer to that question is We the People, who Created the government, then do We the People not have the responsibility to hold our Representatives accountable?

Do We the People not only have a right but also a duty to throw off tyrannical government?

In light of Romans 13:1-7, as it pertains to America, who are ‘the powers that be’?

It is either We the People, or it is the representatives with whom We the People contract to represent and serve and protect us — which is the only reason for their existence.

In either case, who has the ultimate Authority, if the government created by We the People is in gross dereliction of its duties and obligations, even to the point of becoming an overtly criminal enterprise?

Who is the Creator, and what is the created?

Who is the Master, and who is the public servant?

Who has the ultimate Authority in America?

Who then are ‘the powers that be’, ordained of God in Romans 13:1?

Is it the Masters, i.e., We the People who created the government? Or is it the public servants who We the People hire to serve and protect and represent us?

Either way, no matter how one might answer, what must We the People do, if the public servants we hire and pay become tyrannical against us?

What did our Founding Fathers do?

Were they right in what they did, or were they wrong?

If they were wrong, then are we not obligated to give America back to England?

But if they were right, then are we not obligated to also do as our Founding Fathers did?

To overthrow not just a tyrannical power, but even more rightly and justifiably, a government which We the People ourselves created, servants who We the People hire and pay to serve us, and who have become tyrannical against We the People who created the government and hired them?

Who does this land called America belong to?

Who are the land owners?

Does it belong to the servants we hire and send to the district of Columbia, or does it belong to We the People who established this nation and maintain it to this day?

Whoever America belongs to, they are the highest Authority in the Land.