Believer’s Relationship to Government

Biblical submission is a readiness to obey law and uphold the legal order, not an approval or endorsement of all lawmakers or even all laws absolutely. Christ’s absolute supremacy over our lives qualifies the absoluteness of human law. The Christian recognizes Christ and his law as the final authority.

Submission in our Republic is primarily to laws and constitutional processes and not to persons.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. -Romans 13:1-3

What is to be done when the “rulers are evil and a terror to good works”?