The Authority of the "Powers That Be

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Authority to deal with violence against the life of man, is found in Genesis 9:66Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:6): “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man.” God-given authority to punish the greatest violence done to one’s fellow man includes authority to deal with all lesser acts of lawlessness. With the advent of Christianity, it became necessary to define the obligations of believers in this world, a people taken out from among the Jews and the Gentiles for God’s name, toward the “powers that be.” Toward the civil authorities, what was the responsibility of a people who had been made partakers of a heavenly calling, whose associations of life were in heaven, and whose walk in this world (in the thoughts of God) was to be a living expression of that calling? Rom. 13:1-71Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. (Romans 13:1‑7) gives us this instruction (note that it is the subject party that is addressed): “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” In Titus 3:11Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, (Titus 3:1), the charge is reiterated: “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates,” and again in 1 Peter 2:1313Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; (1 Peter 2:13): “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake.”
What is to be our attitude when an abuse of God-given authority of this character takes place and we are the ones who suffer wrongfully? To take an extreme case (which, for the principle at stake, embraces all others), suppose that I am arrested by a man in a policeman’s uniform whose badge of authority and whose warrant for my arrest are not to my certain knowledge bona fide; furthermore, he is partially intoxicated. I am absolutely innocent of the alleged crime. What shall I do? Shall I remind him that he is drunk? Shall I tell him that I do not feel obliged to obey his summons inasmuch as I am not sure that he really represents his professed jurisdiction? Shall I plead my innocence? No, I am to SUBMIT, leaving the policeman with his full responsibility toward his superiors to answer for himself, committing my own case into the hands of the judge. Surely none of us has any difficulty as to what the real character of authority is under conditions such as this, nor as to the rightness of submitting to the authority.