"Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people."
I am to voluntarily subjugate myself to human institutions that have authority over me. I should not have to be physically forced to obey my rulers. I don't believe this means that I should go around looking for authorities to put myself under; it means that I am to obey the authorities that are over me. And I am to do it "for the Lord's sake." I am to do it regardless of my feelings about the authority. My personal feelings about any particular authority figure are irrelevant. I don't subjugate myself to a human institution because it is worthy. I subjugate myself because the Lord commands it. And He commands it because He established the authority.
Furthermore, my obedience is a testimony. Voluntary subjugation isn't exactly the goal of most people. Frankly, I don't think much of it either. I want freedom, and I have it. But I must also obey the rulers that God has put into power. Whoever God has put over me is to have my obedience in their realm of authority.
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