Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad . . . (Romans 13:1-3).
God has ordained that there be civil government. Civil government is God's instrument to provide order in society. As a result, government officials are entitled to respect and obedience. It goes without saying that government cannot exist if it does not have money; salaries must be paid, office buildings must be built and maintained, equipment and weapons must be purchased, etc. to meet the needs of an orderly society. So, sadly, taxes must be paid; freedom is not free; every one should pay some tax.
Naturally, there is disagreement about what the government should do, how it should work and what the values should be that guide it. One value that has to guide government is that of goodness. If a government does evil and those who do good and stand for what is good are punished then government looses its legitimacy. Government that is a terror to good conduct has lost its legitimacy.
What are the light that guide our government as to what is good or evil? The Bible; Judeo-Christian principles provided the values from which our government has traditionally governed. The Declaration of Independence and, especially, the Constitution are the primary lights. In the case of every American citizen, the Constitution is the governing authority instituted by God. God has not instituted governing officials who took an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution and yet govern arbitrarily.
When Americans allow the lights that guide us to go out, what will become of America? Will we follow lesser lights to our destruction?
Grace&Peace,
Tom
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