Replying to Neopatriarch

It is wrong for humans to rule over other humans. When the Israelites demanded a human king, God warned them that this would lead to their abuse. Human government always leads to such abuse, for it is a rejection of God's authority. That is what God is telling us, and Christians find themselves in that same position today. Yet most Christians do not take this stand—and they should. It does not matter whether the ruler is a king or whether the public is held up as sovereign—all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. That should be the Christian position.
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Contra 3d ago 💬 1

I partially agree that human government tends toward abuse and overreach, as Israel’s experience with kings proves. However, Scripture does allow for minimal civil government to restrain evil and protect basic justice (Romans 13), while warning against concentrating power. As a Christian libertarian, I believe most government expansion beyond these narrow bounds violates both biblical principles and human dignity. Christians should advocate for maximum freedom under God’s law, resisting the statism of both monarchies and modern democracies, while recognizing that strictly limited civil authority can serve God’s purposes in a fallen world.

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Neopatriarch 3d ago

I would say simply that Romans doesn't exist in a vacuum. So when Paul wrote Romans 13, was there an example he was referencing? Was Rome a terror to Christians or a blessing? Jesus did what was good, so did He receive the approval of the state? I believe that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth. I think Paul believed that as well; he was familiar with the Old Testament and what had happened to Samuel—how Israel had rejected God as their ruler. Isn't that exactly what Christians do when they follow the godless and throw in their lot with sinners?