Series: What is the truth? Romans 13 - The higher right to choose part 3

Why are we subject to the ordinances of men? Why are we under tribute? Why are we subject to Benefactor who exercise authority? Mankind has consistently gone into bondage under the authority of other men who make laws, compel offerings, regulate the lives of the people. They do this by application and contract for benefits.

The people of the golden calf (at the foot of Mt. Sinai) were going back into bondage, like they were in Egypt. When all wealth is bound under a central authority or government, the people are also bound and their loyalty is secured. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

Mammon does not mean money but is entrusted wealth.(34) Systems that subject the people take away the right of the people to make choices about their wealth and property. Such systems always fail under corruption, avarice, and over-indulgence.
“And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.” (Luke 16:9)

Mankind has repeatedly been snared by his own wantonness and appetite, his own greed and lust for power. Man's sinful nature will always bring him back to the bondage of Egypt. He must repent and change his ways in order to be free, even though he may have to suffer for a season under the burden of his captivity while he learns the ways of his Father in Heaven.

In the process of being freed from bondage, we may continue to pay the Pharaohs, Herods, and Caesars of the world but we should not eat of the things sacrificed to these gods of force and fear. They serve deceitful meats and their table is a snare.

“This Bible is for the Government of the People, by the People, and for the People.” was stated in the introduction of John Wycliffe's translation of the Bible in 1382. He was promptly arrested by the government that did not want to let the people go, and died in jail.

An authoritarian Church of that time condemned him, and, although they burned his dead body at the stake some two years later, they burned others alive for the same belief and perception.

“My kingdom is not of this world:”was the statement of Jesus to Pilate(John 18:36). That was his declaration of lack of jurisdiction to a Roman court. God’s kingdom had always been on this planet wherever two or more men walked in the ways of God. But God’s kingdom was not a part of the Roman government. It had not lawfully gone under its authority nor would Jesus apply to Caesar for His protection.

There are numerous words translated into world in the New Testament: aeon,’ikoumen, ge and erets. The word ‘world’ used here by Jesus is translated from the word ‘kosmos’ which means “an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.”(35) It came from the word komizo meaning “to care for, take care of, provide for” or “carry off what is one’s own,” which is what governments of men like Cain, Nimrod, Pharaoh, and Caesar often did.

“He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the hunter before the LORD.” (Genesis 10:9)
The word hunter is from tsayid which is more often translated ‘provision, food, food-supply, or victuals’. This verse would be better translated to the effect that Nimrod was a mighty provider instead of the LORD. This concept of benefactors who exercise authority would be in line with testimony of David and Paul, John and Jesus about praying and eating at the tables of rulers and being snared by those tables that should have been for our welfare.

“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Eph 5:5 )

The gospel of the kingdom is for those living now. That kingdom is at hand. We should seek it and its righteousness, and not be like the governments of the gentiles. The kingdom and His righteousness is a way that may save His people in this life and the next.

A watered-down gospel without repentance of coveting your neighbors goods, without seeking the kingdom of God at hand and His righteous liberty through charity and hope, has brought the people back to the bondage of Egypt and Babylon the great. It is a bondage of the mind and spirit, as well as the soul and the body. It is anti Christ.

Real freedom under God requires that loving practice of charitable responsibility which sustains our God given right and nurtures the spirit and virtue of Christ in us. We are saved by the “Eucharist” of Christ, which is the Greek word for thanksgiving. That thanksgiving is the antithesis of covetousness, envy, and greed. It is the love of giving. It is the daily practice of charity and faith, hope and love.

God wants His people to be free. He wants them to let every soul be subject unto the higher right to choose. For there is no right to choose but of God: the rights to choose that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore opposes the right to choose, opposes the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

If you do evil, and reject the ways of God, then you need (36) to “be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.”(Romans 13:5).

“The people always have some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness.... This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector.” Plato from The Republic, bk. 8, sct. 565:

34 “Mammon, an Aramaic word mamon “wealth” ... derived from Ma’amon, something entrusted to safe keeping.”
Encyclopedia Britannica.
35 2889 kosmos (from komizo “to care for, take care of, provide for; to take up or carry away in order to care for...) an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government...” Online Bible Greek Lexicon
36 Greek “necessity, imposed either by the circumstances, or by law ...”

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