Date Posted:04:18:34 10/21/04 Thu Author: Chris Subject: Re: Romans 13 about spiritual leaders?? In reply to:
Brian Karcher
's message, "Romans 13" on 14:38:37 10/20/04 Wed
I think a good study of Romans, especially chapter 13, would clear things up. How can I obey a spiritual leader without fear?
The quoted verses Romans 13-18 do not talk about spiritual leaders at all. They talk about how Christians should relate to the government, as a principle. This is not only clear from the word used for "authorities," but also from v4 "bears the sword" and v6 "pay taxes."
It is very strange that you limit the scope of Acts 5:29 and the unversal meaning of the word "men" in that verse, but you expand the scope of Rom 13:1 and the restricted meaning of the word "governing authorities" in that verse.
I believe this is because UBFins never learned and care about proper Biblical hermeneutics, but only try to make the Bible support their own ideology. They don't ask "what actually does the Bible say?" but "how can I use the Bible to support my pre-given ideology?"
Some words about Rom 13:1-8. It is indeed a "hard saying," particularly for a German, because these verses seem to be wrong if applied to a government like Hitler's Nazi regime. I have discussed about this with Mike, and we have some ideas how to resolve that discrepance.
However, if anybody wants to discuss that passage, please do it on the off topic forum or on some other Bible talk forum in the Internet (let us know where). It has nothing to do with UBF, because it speaks about a question which is not a doctrinal issue in UBF. We don't challenge the Biblical principle that one has to submit under governmental authorities. Quite to the contrary, I think UBF is the one who has a problem with practically applying this principle.
Again, yes, this is a passage that should be thoroughly discussed, but not here; because it does not apply to spiritual leadership and the main issues we have with UBF.
