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@ Daniel Wigton
2025-05-09 22:42:07
I want to stay on the point of human authority for now.
The first point you will probably agree with me. That is a parent's authority over his children.
Colossians 3:20 "Children obey your parents in everything, for it is pleasing to the Lord."
This isn't about kings obviously, but it does establish that submission to a natural authority is not contrary to God's will, in fact in this case it is precisely what he wills.
How about civil authorities? I submit Romans 13:1-7
"Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves.
For rulers are not a cause of fear to good conduct, but to evil. Do you wish to have no fear of authority? Then do what is good and you will receive approval from it,
for it is a servant of God for your good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword without purpose; it is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evildoer.
Therefore, it is necessary to be subject not only because of the wrath but also because of conscience.
This is why you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
Pay to all their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due"
Again not addressing a king specifically, but God plainly approves of submission to authority. One could argue that God is just referring to His own authority since He is the source of all authority, but while that is true, He plainly means the civil authorities since He mentions taxes.
Ok let's tackle the king thing.
1 Peter 2:13-17
"Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to the king as supreme or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the approval of those who do good.
For it is the will of God that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish people. Be free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil, but as slaves of God.
Give honor to all, love the community, fear God, honor the king."
"Be subject" and "Be free" may seem contradictions but the first is discussing subjection to the civil law and the second is talking about interior disposition. It is possible to be free in prison if you are the master of your own mind.
So while I can agree that Judges makes it clear that Human leaders will abuse their power, that does not make structures of authority contrary to God's will, in fact He apparently demands that we submit to them precisely because he gave them authority over us.