… Subject unto the Higher Powers … Rom. 13:1

Many times when a Christian is asked if they support the death penalty, especially pastors, preachers and evangelists etc … they will run to and quote romans 13:1. In fact many will refer you to the entire 13th chapter of Romans. However, if you study your bible as opposed to simply reading your bible you will see very quickly that is, the 13^th chapter of Romans, is a very weak stance, as a support for the death penalty.

The 13^th chapter of Romans tells us to be subject to higher powers. It tells us that we’re to be subject to the rulers of our country and our state. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers…” Rom. 13:1 Supporters of the death penalty will very quickly quote this passage and then remind us that we are to abide by the laws of the land. I stand in general agreement with them. We are to abide by the laws of our government. However, to stand on this scripture as a support of the death penalty is in my opinion, the most ridiculous and weakest stance I have yet to hear from a Christian supporter. Please forgive me for such harsh words; However, I think you will soon see why I said that.

When we look at and examine the whole verse, we will see what God intended for us. “Let every soul be subject unto higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Rom. 13:1 if the government or the laws they pass aren’t ordained of God, should we be subject to them? If the laws they pass are outside of God’s word, are we as Christians, to be subject to them in accordance to Romans 13:17

Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon. He made an image of God (Dan. 3:1) and demanded that all “...Fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.” Dan. 3:5

We all know the beautiful story of the three Hebrew children, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. We know that they were thrown into the fiery furnace. (Dan. 3:21) Have you ever considered why they were thrown into the fiery furnace? Most will say for not falling down and worshipping the golden image, and that would be true. However, the real reason they were thrown into the fiery furnace, is because they did not “...Subject unto the higher powers...” Rom. 13:1 they did not subject themselves to the authority of the king or the higher powers. They did not and would not abide by the law of the land, because they knew it was against God’s word. “Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image …” Ex. 20:5 “…thou shall not bow down thyself to them …” Ex. 20:5Anytime the government or it’s laws are in opposition to God’s word, you should stand with the word of God.

There is another, well known and beautiful, story in the book of Daniel. It is the story of Daniel being thrown into the lion’s den. Most people know the story very well, however, few know why Daniel was thrown into the den of lions.

Daniel was a great man of prayer, he prayed and gave thanks to God three times a day “… he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before God…” Dan. 6:10 the king Nebuchadnezzar made a royal statute or law, that outlawed prayer for thirty days. “establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee o king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Dan. 6:7 Daniel prayed anyway, Daniel prayed even though he knew that it was against the law of the land. “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house … he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God ...” Dan. 6:10

Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den because he would not “…subject unto the higher powers …”Rom. 13:1 When Daniel was faced with pleasing God or abiding by the law of the land, he stood with God. In turn, God stood with him in the lion’s den. It was his non-subjection to the government of the land that got him thrown into the den of lions.

Today we see Christians involved in civil disobedience. We see on the television and in the newspaper almost every day, where Christians have taken a, civil disobedience stance against abortion. If we as Christians are to be “… Subject unto the higher powers …” Rom. 13:1 why then, are these Christians standing (even physically standing) against our governments policy on abortion? After all, our government has made abortion legal in this country. Why not be “… Subject unto the higher power…” Rom. 13:1 here in this instance?

Praise God I’ll tell you why not! We should not subject unto the higher powers in this instance, just as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not subject unto the higher powers in their time. The higher powers way back when, were outside of God’s Divine Word. Our government is outside the will and word of God in regards to abortion, just as they are outside the will and word of God in regards to the death penalty.

If the death penalty that exists in this nation is outside the word of God (and it is) you, as a Christian are not bound to “…subject unto the higher powers…” Rom 13:1 if anything, you should be taking a stance against it, just as the anti-abortion people are doing, in regards to the abortion issue.

The death penalty in this nation allows for the execution of men and women on the basis of a totally circumstantial case. This is contrary to God’s word. “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.” Deut. 17:6 this one scripture alone makes void any responsibility you have under Romans 13:1 to subject unto the higher powers. When the higher powers line up with God’s word, you can line up with the higher powers, and not before. Your subjection is first to God, then to the higher powers. Paul gives us a warning about doing anything contrary to the law. “Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?” Acts 23:3

Christians that use Romans 13:1 as a support for the death penalty, are Christians that want the death penalty. They’re Christians that I believe in their spirit know it to be wrong. Yet they want the death penalty, so they reach back and get Romans 13:1 as their foundation. I may reach back because before you can stand on Romans 13:1 you have to put some other scripture in front of it to show that the death penalty is in line with God’s word. In other words, you first have to lay a scriptural foundation for the justification of the death penalty in our society, before you lay a foundation for the support of the government that makes it law. As a Christian you should, without question and without hesitation, abide the laws of our government, as long as those laws are in line with the word of God. When those laws stand outside the word of God, such as the abortion and death penalty laws, then we need to become modern day Daniels. We need to step into the lion’s den and oppose our government with civil disobedience in regards to the death penalty, just as the abortion people are doing.

It will be my prayer that the eyes of the Christian community are opened to the true teaching and meaning of Romans 13:1. For those Christians that remain blind to the true meaning of Romans 13:1, caution is my advice. You could find yourself in a very difficult situation when the higher powers of the anti-christ demand your worship.

Joe Duncan