The recent ruling of the Supreme Court to legalize homosexual marriage has been the overwhelming topic of discussion for the past several days. The homosexual agenda is nothing new. The attempt to redefine marriage has been ongoing. There are some that blatantly scorn God without the slightest sign of a hurt conscience. Then there are those who foolishly seek to unite the laws of God with the immoral will of men. One has no interest in pleasing God, and the other mistakes lukewarm inconsistency with godliness. The latter has vainly attempted to belittle the commands and restrictions of God that conflict with their choices, and emphasize passages, that without the proper context, have a façade of tolerance. They are willfully ignorant of the inerrancy of God and His word – “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Psalm 19:7). “Perfect,” translated from the Hebrew word, tâmı̂ym, means – entire; integrity and truth; without blemish. God is without any imperfections. His word which is breathed by Him (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17) is the same – without any imperfections, i.e. contradictions! This is fundamental in hermeneutics and must be remembered before looking at any passage. If your reading of a passage seems to contradict another your understanding of one or the other, or both, is incorrect! God is not, and cannot be!

One article posted on social media, and undoubtedly shared on an innumerable amount of pages, was titled, “The Bible Verse That Will Drive Conservatives Crazy On Gay Marriage.” The apparent verse that puts an end to all dispute comes from the same inspired pen that informed homosexuality is against nature, and those who practice it will not go to heaven (cf. Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Paul wrote to the church in Rome, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:1-2). The article explains that those opposed to homosexual marriage are in rebellion to God who ordained it via the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States. Yet Jesus, who is “I AM” (John 8:58), said, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6). The inconsistency does not come from the scripture being read, but the one reading it!

What is it that God has appointed in Romans 13:1-2? The author of the erroneous article would contend that God has pre-appointed whatever man has deemed good, and therefore appointed. Has God ever given man this measure of authority? Even the apostle’s authority was limited to the bounds of God’s binding and loosing (cf. Matthew 16:19)! Paul wrote, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8)! Has God given government power that even the apostles, or an angel did not have? Certainly not! What then is appointed by God in Romans 13?

“The authorities that exist are appointed by God” (13:1). God’s purpose in appointing such is to uphold what is good, and cast down what is evil – “For rulers are not a terror to good works but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (13:3-4). When Peter and John were preaching in the name of Jesus they were performing the Lord’s will! Authorities commanded them to stop. Was God commanding them to stop doing what He had commanded them to do in the great commission?! Of course not! “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5:29). Civil authorities appointed by God do not nullify God’s commands by implementing laws contrary to them!

An appointment implies purpose, and instruction. When God appointed Paul to be an apostle and preacher of the gospel he was expected to do no more and no less. Paul wrote, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16)! The same can be said of governments. They rise and fall according to God’s will. For, “the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses” (Daniel 5:21). When He appoints governments He does not do so without disclosing expectations. Romans 13 suggests the expectations are to uphold good, and shun evil!

When a God appointed government rebels against the One who put it into power, its citizens who are servants of the Most High God must submit to Him and not men. As kingdoms rise and fall it is due to God’s prerogative to cause such. When one rebels against God there is always retribution. That is, unless there is repentance. God told the nation of Israel, “Will they fall and not rise? Will one turn away and not return? Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return. I listened and heard, but they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his own course, as the horse rushes into the battle…’I will surely consume them,’ says the Lord. ‘No grapes shall be on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things I have given them shall pass away from them’” (Jeremiah 8:4-6, 13).

There must be repentance in this nation, but not from the truth! Those that seek to marry God’s will with their own will ultimately fall prey to God’s wrath. Christians must, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2)! It is impossible to find contradiction in God’s word. Romans 13 does not demand us to submit to the ungodly actions of civil government. Like all of scripture, it points toward submission to God and His word! God has never, and never will tolerate, or accept sinful practices, and we shouldn’t either!