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If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3)

Psalm 11 is one of King David’s many Psalms of encouragement, meant to hearten us even when we are experiencing less than desirable conditions. As Christians, our greatest testimony to the world is evidenced in how we respond to such situations:

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in Yahweh, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed…. As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 6:9-10)

Even so, the unstated implication of Psalm 11:3 is that the righteous do suffer when Yahweh’s1 foundations (as established in His righteousness and codified in His Ten Commandments and their respective statutes and judgments2) have been overturned.3 The righteous suffer when biblical  foundations are replaced with anything less than God’s perfect law as the standard for society:

The law of Yahweh is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of Yahweh is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of Yahweh are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of Yahweh is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of Yahweh  are true and righteous altogether. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and keeping of them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-11)

Because there are no vacuums when it comes to legislated ethics, there can be no vacuums when it comes to dominion. Someone always holds dominion and is, therefore, in control of the foundations upon which that dominion is based.

Yahweh’s foundations are destroyed whenever they are supplanted with something other than His moral law. Thus, they are destroyed whenever someone other than His servants hold dominion by legislation.

When this is the state of society, everyone and everything suffers:

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:19-22)

Because all creation suffers when the biblical foundations are destroyed, all creation waits and yearns for the sons of God to restore the foundations. Thus, it is also implied in Psalm 11:3 that the righteous should never be content whenever they find themselves living at such a time as depicted by King David. Such is, in fact, a dereliction of duty. As subjects and ambassadors of Christ and His kingdom, it is our responsibility to do everything within our realm of influence to reconstruct the righteous foundations.

Even though it’s our intention to be at peace with all men so much as it depends upon us,4 this will put us at odds with those responsible for destroying the righteous foundations. This is inevitable whenever opposing world views vie for supremacy. It’s why Caesar was threatened by the Apostle Paul and other first-century disciples. His world was being turned upside down by these Christians whose world view demanded they turn the world right side up by restoring righteous foundations under Christ’s kingship:

[L]ewd fellows of the baser sort … drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city [intending to incriminate them], crying, These that have turned the world upside down … do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. (Acts 17:5-7)

We must be careful to avoid sacrificing the foundations for the sake of peace. To sacrifice the foundations is to reject their Architect.

Contemporary America is full of Christians who are doing this very thing in a multitude of different ways. One of the most prevalent is in asserting that Romans 13:1-7 is about secular government and that Christians are therefore obligated to submit to (or, at least, content themselves with) any government authority at any given time.

There are a number of different versions and degrees to this errant theology. My question in this series is: “Does Romans 13 have anything at all to do with secular government?”

The Text

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. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 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: 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. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 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)

Does Paul depict a secular or biblical civil government? In the articles to follow, we’ll let the text and related passages provide us with the answer to this extremely important question.

Stay tuned for Part 2.

 

Related posts:

Christian Duty Under Corrupt Government: A Revolutionary Commentary on Roams 13:1-7

Law and Kingdom: Their Relevance Under the New Covenant

A Biblical Constitution: A Scriptural Replacement for Secular Government

 

1. YHWH, the English transliteration of the Tetragrammaton, is most often pronounced Yahweh. It is the principal Hebrew name of the God of the Bible and was inspired to appear nearly 7,000 times in the Old Testament. It was unlawfully deleted by the English translators. In obedience to the Third Commandment and the many Scriptures that charge us to proclaim, swear by, praise, extol, call upon, bless, glorify, and hold fast to His name, we have chosen to memorialize His name here in this document and in our lives. For a more thorough explanation concerning important reasons for using the sacred name of God, see “The Third Commandment.”

2. Law and Kingdom: Their Relevance Under the New Covenant

 A Biblical Constitution: A Scriptural Replacement for Secular Government

See also series of ten online books on each of the Ten Commandments and their respective statutes, and judgments, beginning with Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

3. Deuteronomy 28:15-68

4. Romans 12:18

  1. Art Jessee says:

    I have been resisting unlawful and/or evil demands of secular government and it’s cronies the past 15 years and our Lord/Creator has given me the exact information I needed at just the right time again and again. If I were violating His will, would He be blessing me thusly?

  2. Yochannan says:

    Romans 13:”…….there is no authority if it is not UNDER God (YHWH)…..”

    The Greek word in question “upo” should be translated “under” not “by or from”.

    • Yochannan says:

      or “of” – in other words, authority does nor exist unless the one that is in the position to hold authority, looks up to the Father Creator God (YHWH) to obtain direction.

      “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but “under” God: the powers that be are ordained to be under God.”

      Most translators have it incorrect. There is NO authority if not “under” God (YHWH), this is the same for religious as well as any secular authority.

  3. Thomas says:

    I am as interested in reading others’ comments & views as posting my own, but maybe this will start it? Years ago, I heard the Father’s voice telling me to ‘come out of her’. At the time , I really did not even know ‘her’ was the ‘whore that sits on the beast’ nor that she represented the bride of Christ a-whoring after other gods (which in this instance is the one world ‘beast’ government forming)… Today, I believe ,legally speaking, a citizen of one nation/country(or kingdom?) can not be a citizen of an-other kingdom(nation/country). Knowing that the ‘guilt by association’ is accepted (if not written in law?), I have chosen to ‘come out of her’ and have dis-‘associated’ my self from any llegal standing with the United States.

  4. csaaphill says:

    hey yeah thanks for the link looks like Prophecy’s being fulfilled and the Remnant may be coming out of the wilderness?
    But yeah and to the above come out of her my people this very well could mean that eh?

  5. csaaphill says:

    Can you explain this to me then?
    1 Peter 2:17
    I get the idea that Romans 13 was never about secular Govt but this gets in the way as well.
    Was it misinterpreted then?

  6. csaaphill says:

    To add to my question 1 Peter 2:17 says to honor the emperor which seems like a conundrum when you say Romans 13 was never about secular Govt then.
    Also seems like a wrong statement when we are to follow God rather than man as it says in Acts.
    And as Jesus said himself you can’t follow two leaders/kings either follow one or the other either follow God or Mans ways!

  7. csaaphill says:

    I’m thinking more now that 1 peter 2:17 the correct interpretation would be our kind Jesus, not a secular king would be more correct and go along with how Romans 13 wasn’t about secular govt.

    • You’re absolutely correct about 1 Peter 2:17 in your previous post. I just preached about this in Part 17 of my current series “Key Words to Vital Truths,” to be posted, Lord willing, on October 15.

      As for you question about whether there are many churches teaching Romans 13, 1 Peter 2, Titus 2 (preaching about Titus 2, Lord willing, in Part 18 of my current series) correctly. No, there are not.

      But this should not be a surprise being that according to Matthew 7:13-14 that most are in the broad way leading to destruction and in Verses 21-23 that there are many who say “Lord, lord…” who, in fact, practice lawlessness, and whom thus the Lord does not know.

  8. csaaphill says:

    Do all churches teach this apostasy of obeying secular Govt, or just most? As far as I know other than one other site all or most churches do so just how many and what are their names?
    As in the first church of God Presbyterians, Catholics, Mormons Seventh-day Adventists etc… so just how many and their denominations and nondenominational please someone answer this for me thanks.
    If all do or most then that should show just who the man of sin and perdition is shouldn’t it? Which is why I ask.
    Is this movement taking uproot or still just a fringe? I try to online tell or witness to people as much as possible, for I truly believe in God and know he has to come back literally and not just in our hearts as I’m seeing on some sites, so trying to help make people go to and fro in scripture a bit more on their own. So please Ted or someone answer please and thank you in advance.

  9. csaaphill says:

    Thanks for the reply. I submit then this may very well be the Remnant church then? and while we may not be successful in our attempt to subvert the tyrannical Govt, we can plant seed and help separate the tares from the wheat then?
    I see those teaching that were to follow secular Govt are the tares.
    I believe were in the end times now and are in the tribulation now not some future time, I see the church for the most part are the False prophet and that Govt is the beast.
    and things are to be unraveled sometime soon? Not sure how successful I/we are in planting seeds but I do see some more people at least looking into this.

  10. Atossa says:

    .

    The Bible says God rules the kingdoms of men and puts in power whomsoever He Wills – Daniel 4:17.

    Per OT history, when God’s people are living in sinful rebellion against God… God places foreign kings to rule [punish] God’s people. Assyria and Babylon ruled over God’s people by the Will of God. While in Babylonian captivity, God told Aryan Israelites to build houses and plant crops [meaning they would be there for awhile – Jeremiah 29:4-5.] Some Israelites tried to escape Babylon by fleeing into Egypt and God also punished them – Jeremiah 42.

    After the 70 years of God’s ordained Babylonian rule, God’s anointed Aryan Persian king, Cyrus [Isaiah 45] conquered Babylon, liberated Aryan Israelites and returned them to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple – Ezra 1. That was when God told Aryan Israel to come out of her [Babylon] my people – Jeremiah 51:44-45. Per Isaiah 44:28, Cyrus was God’s shepherd who would do God’s Will by decreeing Aryan Israelites return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple – Ezra 1. Here we see Cyrus as an OT archetype of Christ, the Good Shepherd, who will liberate God’s Aryan Christian Israel people from modern Babylon and lead them to New Jerusalem.

    Per Ezra 6, Cyrus’ successor, Aryan Persian King Darius I, decreed the completion of the temple in Jerusalem. Here is something very interesting God revealed to me… Darius placed a curse on any king/people who would harm/ tear down that second temple [temple that Cyrus decreed built and Darius decreed completed – Ezra 6:12.] Ironically, Darius’ curse fell on evil antichrist Edomite-jew King Herod I and his fellow antichrist Edomite-jews when Herold totally tore down the second temple to rebuild his own third temple [per Josephus.] Jesus said Herod’s third temple would be destroyed and it was… as was the evil antichrist Edomite-jew Herod dynasty.

    Btw… I think the ancient Aryan Persians were descendants of Israelites who had been resettled into the “cities of the Medes” by Assyria in the 8th century BC. The ancient Medes were Aryans. Aryan Persian King Cyrus united the Aryan Medes and Aryan Persians. Like the ancient Israelites, the ancient Aryan Persians were divided into 10 to 12 tribes [per Greek historians Xenophon and Herodotus] and like the ancient Israelites the ancient Aryan Persians worshiped one invisible god who Darius called the ‘God of the Aryans.’

    .

  11. Roy says:

    As I read Romans 13, I see Paul speaking of the “rulers” in context of Caesar, a monarch or king, in other words a “sovereign”. My question: in a representative republic, like we are in the U.S.A. – where the the citizenry is the “sovereignty” – wouldn’t Paul’s warnings in Romans 13 be directed to those we (the sovereign) have temporarily assigned to represent our best interests?

    • Ted Weiland says:

      There are a plethora of passages (Exodus 1, Judges 6, Acts 4 & 5, Acts 17:6-7, etc.) that require the subjects and ambassadors of the King of kings to reject any government mandate requiring violations of God’s law. Romans 13 is not one of them.

      Romans 13:1-7 has absolutely nothing to do with secular civil government. Rather everything therein depicts a biblical civil government.

      The one word “continually” or “devoted” (depending upon your Bible version) in Verse 6 (amplifying Verses 3 & 4) alone proves the point. And this is just one of ten contextual reasons proving the same thing.

      Romans 13 is instead our mandate for biblical dominion over government and society.

      Unless someone’s prepared to claim the Roman Empire (one of the most notorious for murdering Christians) was a government that *continually* blessed Christians and terrorized/punished the wicked, they best rethink their theology regarding this extremely important passage of Scripture.

      For more, see free online book “The Romans 13 Template for Biblical Dominion: Ten Reasons Why Romans 13 is Not About Secular Government” at https://www.bibleversusconstitution.org/Romans13/Romans13-contents.html

      Then “A Biblical Constitution: A Scriptural Replacement for Secular Government” at http://www.bibleversusconstitution.org/biblicalConstitution.html

    • Ted Weiland says:

      Hopefully, you’ll agree that there’s only one standard by which everything (including the Constitution) is to be ethically evaluated: By Yahweh’s unchanging morality as reflected in His Ten Commandments and their respective statues and judgments. When the Constitution is actually examined by this standard (instead of a bunch of dead politicians’ cherry-picked quotations), it’s found to be anything but biblically compatible. In fact, there’s hardly an Article or Amendment that’s not antithetical, if not seditious, to Yahweh’s sovereignty and morality.

      In other words, the biblically egregious Constitutional Republic born of the biblically seditious Constitution should not be promoted in any sense by subjects and ambassadors of the King of kings.

      For evidence that the Constitution is biblically seditious, see free online book “Bible Law vs. Constitution: The Christian Perspective,” in which every Article and Amendment is examined by the Bible, at http://www.bibleversusconstitution.org/BlvcOnline/blvc-index.html

      See also the recent debate (9/19/20) “Is the Constitution Biblically Compatible?” between Constitutional Attorney Brent Winters and myself in the right-hand sidebar.

      Then, find out how much you really know about the Constitution as compared to the Bible. Take our 10-question Constitution Survey at http://www.bibleversusconstitution.org/ConstitutionSurvey.html and receive a complimentary copy of a book that examines the Constitution by the Bible.