I suspect you and I have more similar thoughts about Romans 13 than mainstream interpretations and it's more a matter of nuance in reading.
But if you want a real understanding of how my pacifist stance came from my Bible reading, for me it goes back to what Jesus said in the sermon on the mount. "Love your enemies".... I don't see how one could simultaneously love and kill their enemies. 🤷🏽♀️
If we are to follow Jesus's example... He died while we were still sinners to bring peace between us and God. I don't want to die a violent death, but it could be preferable to dishonouring God and not following in Jesus's footsteps.
It's not hard: you stop them from killing you or your family or friends. If that means you have to kill them, so be it.
Jesus didn't condemn the Centurion who had assuredly killed before in order to become a centurion, and was praised as having great faith.
We are counted abd brothers and sisters of Christ, The King, and as such, we are to wage war on our enemies as is befitting ones who rule with Christ.
That does not mean just to pray at people. Sometimes it means to end them if they are doing evil. Sometimes that is the only way for us to stop them. That may be something you disagree with, but, at one said and will say again: I will not be made a victim if I have the means and ability to defend myself and my loved ones, and yeah, we're supposed to love everyone, but... Ebbed Jesus had his favorite disciple, so that just means it's a matter of degree, not kind.
I'm unlikely to stop at just praying for tyrants to be ended, although I probably make those kinds of prayers more than most people living in comfortable democracies.
Non-violent resistance is not as passive as most make it sound. I just remembered the name of the book that outlays how much more effective non-violence is against tyrants... Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Non violent Conflict by Chen worth and Stephan.
Please don't stop praying for them. They need it more than most.
Non-violent or civil disobedient-type resistance is effective, but, I'm not going to sacrifice my life to that ideal since I don't agree with it when it comes to being a martyr. I'd rather fight and live longer than die passively. 🤷♂️
