&lWATCH TOER
PRESENCE
AND HE~ALD OF CHR~STS
THE HIGHER POWERS "Let every soul be s1tbject 1tnto the 7zig7zcr pott'ers. POl' there is no power but of God: tlze pOleers that be are ordained of God. "-Rom. 13: 1. PART 1
BHOVAH God gave his Word to his people for their reproof, correction, instruction, aid and comfort, to the end that such may be thoroughly furnished with knowledge that will enable them to do right and to accomplish good. (Rom. 15: 4; 2 Tim. 3: IG, 17) That inflexible rule must always be kept in r.1ind and followed in giving consideration to any ~:criptUl'al text. That means that the anointed must r lways be obedient to God's law. A rule or law that commands a child of God to take any other course is wrong. The anointed of the Lord must do right; and God's 'Word alone, and without a singh> exception, points out the right way.-Ps. 19: 7, 8. 2 The instruction of the thirteenth chapter of Romans has long been misapplied. The improper application has really been the basis for the false doctrine of the" divine right of kings" or rulers to rule and oppress the people. The instruction given therein by the apostle was not intended for mankind in general, but for the benefit of the church. If intended for any one outside of the church, then it must follow that Clod has been judging the people throughout the period of the Gentile times, whereas other scriptures show that God has appointed a special time for the judgment of mankind in general.-Acts 17: 31. 3 The apostle is, in substance, telling the members of the church that they should always be obedient to God, and that the motive for such obedience must be love for God and a delight in doing his will. Paul's argument is also to the effect that if the laws of the land are in harmony with God's law they should be obeyed, of course; not because such laws were enacted by the law-making body of the nation, but because they are in harmony with God's law and for that reason are right; that if the law of a nation is not contrary to God's law, then the law of the nation should be obeyed in order that the child of God might not needlessly cause offense; and, further, for the sake of his own conscience. The controlling point in his argument really is citizenship, or to what power the creature is to be in subjection.
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POWER 4 The power of Jehovah is supreme. From him proreeds all rightful authority. lIe is the Creator of heaven and earth. (Isa. 42:5; Jer. 10:12) Th('l'c is no limitation to his power, and there is no qllalifiration to the statement that God is supreme. (Gen. 17: ]-3; 35: 11) He is the :lIost High, and none can )(' above him. (Ps. 91: 1; Eph. 4: 10) In his argumcnt the apostle says: "There is no power but of God: the' powers that be are ordained of [arranged undt'l" I God." Otherwise stated, all power that is rightfull~r exercised is that which is delegated by Jehovah to th,~ creature exercising that power. It follo,'s, then, t hi! [ there is no creature or creatures that could rightfully make and execute laws or rules of action that are COIltrary to God's law. Vhen the apostle says, "L(,t every soul be subject unto the higher powers," thcse words include the church now, and will later include all who come into harmony yith God.
- llany comments have been written of and conce]"n·
ing the thirteenth chapter of Homans to the effeet that the Gentile powers or goYernments of this wmld are the" powers that be" and that such governments deriYe their powers from Jehovah God. At once it is seen that the foundation is laid for the doctrine of the" divine right of kings ", for the renson that the argument is that whatever power a nation has and exercises, that power is ordained of God, and that therefore the child of God must be obedient to that. power. For many centuries the rulers and the nations called Christian nations haye insisted that God has delegated to them the power to rule, and have uscd this to cause the people to pay thrm great respect and homage. Let this argument be followed to its logical conclusion, and where do we find ourselves? G In the United States it is unlawful for a citizen to be found in possession of or transporting. intoxicating liquor. In Canada, England, Germany and other countries, which also claim to be Christian, it is not unlawful to he found in possession of or (and) transporting intoxicating liquors. Has God delegated a
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