Romans
13:1-2 The authorities that exist have been
established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is
rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring
judgment on themselves.
God, the supreme Lord and King of the whole world,
has ordained civil authorities to be over people under him for his own glory
and the public good. For this purpose he has armed civil authorities with the
power of the sword to defend and encourage those who are good and to punish
wrongdoers.
It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute
offices of civil authority when that is their calling. In the administration of
such offices they should take care to support true religion, justice, and
peace, according to the beneficial laws of each government, and in so doing
they may lawfully under the New Testament wage war on just and necessary
occasions.
Civil authorities may not take on themselves the
ministering of God’s Word and the sacraments, the administration of spiritual
power, or any interference with matters of faith. Nevertheless it is the duty
of civil authorities to protect the church of our Lord, without giving
preference to any denomination of Christians, so that every person with church
affiliations or duties will be able to function with complete and unquestioned
freedom.
It is the duty of civil authorities to protect the
person and good name of everyone so that none are abused, injured, or insulted
on account of religious faith or lack of it. It is also their duty to see to it
that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies are held without disturbance
It is people’s duty to pray for those in authority,
to honor them, to pay them taxes and whatever is owed them, to obey their
lawful commands, and to be subject to them for conscience’s sake. Unbelief or
different religious views on the part of civil authorities does not mean that
they are to be disobeyed by believers, including clergymen, in the legitimate pursuit
of their duties.
The Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith
