God's system persuades individuals to agree from the heart with the policies of the leadership. God's system does not require the force of authority. Citizens obey government because it is the right thing to do and they want to from the heart. The tools of God's government are those of persuasion. The government of the Kingdom of God convinces its subjects that they should obey God's governmental principles. The word translated obey comes from the root in the Greek word peitho meaning to persuade or to win over. The verse would read be persuaded by those who rule over you. Peitho means to let oneself be persuaded or to be persuaded. The sense of peitho is that of rulership based upon convincing or persuading someone to obey not of compelling obedience through force. Obedience as defined by peitho is not a matter of submission to the power of authority but a matter of agreement. The submission is the result of being persuaded of being convinced in this sense. Obedience to the truth is a matter of faith and conversion. People are persuaded and convinced. The result is that obedience comes from the heart. God wants people to be persuaded of it so that obedience is from the heart. Those who do not obey the truth are apeitho meaning literally not to be persuaded. Obedience to God's way of life is a matter of conversion not submission to the force of authority. People must be persuaded and convinced that it is best to obey God. Fathers and parents persuade and convince children of the right way of life. The church's government has the characteristics of meekness kindness gentleness and persuasion. The main focus of church government is that of producing agreement with God. Church government has the primary responsibility of persuading others to obey God's instructions.