God places us under the governments of men—national, state, and local—as well as the authorities in our workplaces and homes, to train us in the habit of obedience. He establishes government on a broad scale to bring order and benefit to mankind, teaching us the vital lesson of submitting to the authority set over us, except when it conflicts with His laws. Satan, aware of the importance of endurance, fosters an environment of disobedience by influencing leaders and individuals to act above the law, setting examples of rebellion. Despite this, God remains in charge, working intricately with mankind and the governments He has ordained, ensuring that even the wicked produce outcomes according to His will. Jesus Christ, when questioned about submission to man's government under a corrupt ruler, affirmed the authority of that ruler and instructed that what was due, such as taxes, should be paid. He Himself paid tributes to avoid causing a stumbling block, demonstrating obedience to civil authority. Similarly, the apostles under the non-God-fearing government of Rome did not resist leadership or break laws but gave what was due and lived as law-abiding citizens. God expects us to be subject to civil rulers as a matter of conscience and duty to Him, recognizing that government is instituted by His will. We are to pay taxes, obey laws, and show respect to the office, if not the individual, understanding that authorities are ordained by Him to maintain an orderly society. When governmental laws conflict with God's laws, examples like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego show us how to conduct ourselves. They gave due respect to the Babylonian government in all matters except when it opposed God's laws, standing firm and accepting the consequences of civil punishment. God has set up government to bring order and provide opportunities to learn submission and the administration of authority, whether in civil roles or smaller offices like those in the home or community. Proper obedience to government produces harmony, unity, safety, order, peace, and the character of obedience that God desires for us.

A massive revolutionary, yet bloodless, overturn of the American government, religion, economics, and education is taking place. This revolution has been ongoing for about one hundred years and is now reaching a critical point. American citizens are giving up their liberties to a government, mirroring historical patterns where people sought a power to force obedience rather than govern themselves under God. The development of government is traced from the beginning in Genesis, where dominion implies sovereignty, control, rulership, and care over what one has authority over. Laws create and maintain order within this dominion, as seen when God gave specific laws to Adam and Eve in the Garden. Family government emerged with the creation of Eve, with God as the Creator of marriage, establishing laws governing relationships within that union. Man, by divine appointment, is head of family government, though not superior by creation, and each individual is personally responsible to God to govern themselves according to His commands. Following the Flood, through Noah and his progeny, the first intimation of civil authority appeared, with an initial focus on protecting innocent life and punishing the guilty. Each form of government—family, civil, and church—has been given specific privileges and duties by God. The family is granted the rod for discipline, the civil government the sword for capital punishment, and the church the power to disfellowship, effectively denying access to the word of life as a form of punishment. Mankind, after the Flood, rejected dispersion and self-governance under God, instead congregating in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley under the centralized government of the despot Nimrod. This rejection of self-governance foreshadowed Israel's actions under Samuel, where they rejected God as their King, refusing to govern themselves and demanding a human king, thus surrendering many liberties. Prior to this, Israel had a loose governmental structure under judges with a heavy emphasis on self-government under God, but they chose not to maintain a personal relationship with Him, leading to a breakdown in the structure. In the history of the United States, a significant shift occurred around 1912 when the power over money creation was turned over to a private institution, the Federal Reserve Bank, effectively transferring governmental power and contributing to a gradual decline. Over the past century, many in high places in government and courts, who disdain God's moral law, have been influenced to question His authority, sweeping aside divine principles through endless legislation and seeking deliverance through human administration rather than obedience to God. All governing authority, whether personal, civil, or church, flows from the Father, and all are answerable to Him. Governments of nations receive their authority from God, just as church government does, and should not be termed the government of God but rather as governments of men acting as His agents. Respect is due to these authorities because they are appointed by God, and the governed are expected to voluntarily comply by paying taxes and showing honor. History demonstrates that controlling administrations never endure, often ending in violent rebellion, whereas God governs through persuasion and truth, allowing space for individuals to make up their minds. The United States Constitution, though imperfect, grants significant liberties based on the premise of a self-governing citizenry. Its framers understood the necessity of a God-fearing and self-governing populace to prevent descent into anarchy. However, the nation is moving away from these principles toward a godless citizenry and a government leaning toward socialism, creating a nanny-state environment where the state is seen as the provider, potentially leading toward dictatorship as people seek safety and security.

Governments often face moments of crisis that test their purpose and functionality, as seen in extraordinary measures like border closures and lockdowns during global challenges. Such actions can blur the line between protecting citizens and infringing on their rights, raising questions about the balance of authority. The authority of human government is not inherent but is delegated by God, meaning it is legitimate yet limited by divine standards. All power originates from God, and thus, human rulers are accountable to Him for their actions, bearing responsibility for any misuse of power. Jesus Christ, during His trial before Pilate, acknowledged this divine origin of authority, affirming that Pilate's power was granted by God and must be respected, even when exercised wrongly. This respect for authority does not imply unconditional obedience; Christians are to honor and be subject to governing authorities, striving to be model citizens by obeying laws and paying taxes honestly. However, obedience has limits when government commands conflict with God's direct instructions or moral standards. In such cases, precedence must be given to God's will, as exemplified by the apostles who continued preaching despite orders to remain silent, willingly facing consequences for their defiance. Furthermore, no government has the right to command immoral or anti-Christian acts, and Christians must resist such directives, prepared to endure repercussions. The state's authority is also limited in prohibiting the proclamation of the gospel, a duty commissioned by Jesus Christ Himself. While government is instituted by God and generally to be obeyed, even under unjust rulers, discernment is required to identify when resistance is necessary, guided by Scripture and a fear of God over man. Without God in the picture, there is no ultimate check on human authority, leading to potential abuse and tyranny. God remains the ultimate authority, and His sovereignty over human affairs must guide the conduct of both rulers and citizens.

Government is a difficult subject with many nuances. Under the New Covenant people must be subject to the civil governments of men because their authority derives directly from God. Being subject to them is being obedient to God. Peter added that people are to be subject to every ordinance of man because they are the servants of God and must do it for the Lord's sake. One major problem in government is the almost overpowering unwillingness in each person to live within the limits imposed by the governor. This unwillingness is transposed against civil government or against anybody in authority. God shows the structure that works best yet history shows that almost any structure of government will work. The smallest unit of government is the individual. Under the New Covenant God deals with each person on this basic level. Even God's government will not work except by sheer force unless the governed consent and willingly submit in obedience to Him. God expects people to learn to govern themselves. God created people and gave them dominion over His creation along with the gifts necessary to carry out this dominion. People have miserably failed to make use of what He gave. The individual must keep himself submitted to God by faith. God is dealing with people as individuals from the calling all the way through the process to salvation. People are not faces lost in a crowd. What they do good or bad does not go unnoticed. There is no religious hierarchy between God and people. Direct access into the presence of God exists because of Christ's blood. People must think of Christianity not as church membership but as an intimate fellowship with God. This privilege brings the responsibility of acting like sons of God. Two main factors cause most governmental problems. The first is the overwhelming unwillingness to live within limits. The second is the unwillingness to do acts of love. Love begins with keeping the commandments but does not end there. God's government can tell people to do wrong things. The responsibility to make the decision falls on the individual. People must prove all things and hold fast to that which is good. God holds each person individually responsible. If people keep close to God they can count on His protection and discernment.

God's government is God Himself governing directly with nothing between a repentant person and Him after baptism and receipt of His Spirit. Church government is ordained by God but is not the same as God's government. All authority in civil governments and the church derives from God who appoints or allows people to positions of power. Government is the administration of laws or the means of guiding or controlling. Satan was appointed by God with delegated authority over the earth and one third of the angels yet was not the government of God because he opposed God and influenced others to submit to his governance rather than God's. Adam and Eve chose to submit to satan's way rather than God's governance. People must choose to submit to God's governance rather than to other voices that interpose themselves. Every choice in life is a choice to be governed by God by self by satan or by this world. Submission to civil governments is given for the Lord's sake and constitutes obedience to God's government when it does not require breaking the law of God. The authority in the church is in Jesus Christ and the rest are brothers with no status seeking permitted. God's government is family government as to structure administration and attitude and is from the top down. The successful operation of God's government depends on converted people consciously and intelligently choosing in every situation to submit to His governance.

Government is the system by which authority is exercised to produce order. God governs His creation by moving events of history toward His goal while exercising very little power to control individual decisions. The carnal mind is not subject to God because it will not arrange itself in order under Him. The word translated subject is a form of hupotasso, a military term meaning to arrange in order under. A person must make himself subject to God by arranging himself under divine authority. God gave humanity free moral agency so that each one may choose to submit to His truth and thereby develop the character image required for His purpose. Mankind's approach to government applies external force through fear of law and penalty. Jesus stated that this Gentile pattern of exercising lordship shall not be so among His followers. All authority originates from God, yet civil governments and ecclesiastical offices receive that authority without becoming the government of God. The word of God is the representative of the government of God. Submission to the Bible constitutes submission to that government. Self-government is the necessary step before godly character can form. Each person must govern himself by discerning right from wrong, making the right choice against impulse or temptation, and using the power supplied by the Spirit of God to resist the wrong and do the right. Without this internal control, carnal impulses prevail and no one develops the nature required to be in God's image.

Government is difficult to submit to because the carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the law of God. Government at its best is a necessary evil, yet it is an objectionable good because the alternative of no government is unthinkable. Government is omnipresent because aspects of it must be dealt with constantly and because self-government is necessary or life is chaotic. The verb govern and the noun government derive from the Greek word kuberna, meaning to pilot or to steer and implying controlling the direction of, and from the Latin gubernere, meaning to steer a ship or a ship of state. Government is a means of management and control that implies the aim of keeping oneself, a project, or a group in a straight and safe course for smooth operation toward an objective. Government includes the act or process of governing as well as the complex of laws, policies, institutions, and customs by which the functions of governing are carried out. Government implies the effort to create or maintain order and direction toward a certain goal as well as the authority and power to accomplish the objective. Having dominion suggests government and is bound with the declaration of making man in the image of God. Self-government is required with the gift of free moral agency. God governs creation by moving events toward the goal in mind yet exercises very little power to control individual decisions. God governs to elicit the voluntary subjection of the governed rather than through the application of external pressure. The word subject is a form of the Greek word hupotasso, a military term meaning to arrange in order under. Submission is given voluntarily to produce order and to steer within creation so that things progress in the right direction. Unconverted mankind approaches government by exercising lordship and authority over others. The correct operation of government depends on each person possessing truth and governing himself never to go beyond the authority given. A person who is led by the Spirit is not forced but chooses self-discipline. Parameters of authority require submission to every ordinance of man for the sake of the Lord except when submission would cause disobedience to God. Self-governing characteristics include tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, forgiveness, and love. Godly character is the attainment of the ability in a separate independent entity of free moral agency to discern right from wrong and then to make the choice or decision even against self-desire plus the will and self-discipline to resist the wrong and do the right.

Government is an absolute necessity that becomes more complex as a group grows larger. It is the act or process of governing, the complex of laws, institutions, and customs through which governing is carried out, and the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority. Government always implies the aim of keeping on a straight course or smooth operation, though it does not always imply for whose good the governing takes place. It implies an effort to create or maintain order and direction, sometimes education toward a certain goal, and necessarily implies authority and power to accomplish the same. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, Let there be light, and there was light. God is immediately introduced in His Book as governing His creation. He is seen as exercising authority and power to bring order out of chaos. Everything that He creates is seen as an integral part of His governance toward the accomplishing of His goals. He was creating an environment to bring about the conclusion of His purpose. God created man in His own image. Male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. God conferred authority to govern to mankind and gave the powers or gifts necessary to do this. The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. To tend means to edify and to cultivate. To keep means to maintain and to preserve from decay. God showed that His intent in giving mankind governing powers is only good and positive. The Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. The governor issues instructions and laws for the governed to be edified and submitted to so that there will be order and the governed will be prepared toward the completion of God's goal. One function of government is to educate its people. God also warns of penalties that may come. The serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field. He said to the woman, Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? The first lawbreaking occurs. The Lord God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle and more than every beast of the field. To the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception. To the man He said, Cursed is the ground for your sake. The Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man and placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden and a flaming sword which turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. The Governor reacts by making a judgment and issuing a sentence. Another purpose of government is to enforce its rules. Because of law the process toward disorganization will be sped up. When men began to multiply on the face of the earth the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were beautiful, and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth. Rejection of government produces anarchy, which begins first to be seen in the home. It then appears in society and leads to anarchy. When government begins to be rejected it will lead to the extinction of the institution. Moses was the only visible form of government for two to two and a half million people. Moses' father-in-law said to him, The thing that you do is not good