Romans 13:1-7 states, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist [more than just the Roman Empire] have been established by God. [Paul's inspired words are also those of Peter's in 1 Pet. 2:13-14] Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted [Daniel 3, Act 4:19 and Rev. 13:16 are notable exceptions of civil disobedience], and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. [God first instituted man-administering judgment in Gen. 9:6] Therefore it is necessary to submit to authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their time to governing."

Should the Christian submit to unjust laws and harsh treatment? 1 Pet 2:18 says, "Slaves, submit yourselves to masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh." Jesus said his followers should not be surprised, but rejoice, to be handed over for persecution. The state appointed persecutors will think they are serving God in administering persecution.

The passage, "…there is no authority except that which God has established.", is not difficult for the Christian theologian who understands that kingdoms are used as instruments of judgment. For example, the ruthless Assyrians were used as the rod of God's anger (Is. 10:5). Yet they too are judged. God limits the authority allowed to nations, as he did with the one world government at the Tower of Babel.

The politics pursued by the Humanists of this current age are leading to another one world government. Humanists call for all peoples to abandon closed dogmas, i.e., Christianity, and define a democratic consensus relative to collective happiness. Values clarification evolves as individuals pursue their bliss.

Marxism used violent means to overthrow the "bourgeois" in an effort to evolve into a class-neutral communistic world that had no need of government. Marxists believe the "dictatorship of the proletariat" is a necessary evil along the path to the elimination of capitalism and social classes. From the bloody October Revolution in 1917 to Tiananmen Square, the communist experiment has caused the deaths of between 170 - 360 million persons (Death by Government, Rummel). The withering away of centralized government, predicted by Marx, never occurred. Yet the utopian New World Order called for by Cosmic Humanists is still being advanced. Former U. N. assistant secretary general says, "…religion, right or wrong, must be abandoned forever in the Planetary Age." Christianity threatens the collective evolution towards individual godhood. When enough beings have achieved this "higher consciousness", other humans less evolved will easily "follow their bliss" into the utopian Age of Aquarius. Individual desire for self-rule had its origin in the Garden of Eden. Self-rule will lead to anarchy, and a platform for the anti-Christ to arise. Christianity will be declared an enemy of the New Age. Noebel predicts, "You may follow your bliss, as long as your bliss is not found in obedience to Jesus Christ."

Here is a prompt for a Comparative Essay that you may wish to explore:
What compels people to obey government? Compare the idea of "natural law" implied in two of the following. Refer to Romans 13 in your analysis.
The Twelve Tablets that gave Roman plebeians equality with patricians in 451 BC.
The Mandate of Heaven claimed by early Chinese rulers to justify their rule.
The Magna Carta that gave rights to English noble barons in 1215 AD.
The Ten Commandments that Moses delivered from God to the Israelites (Ex.20).

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