Does God establish all governments?

[Aqualung]

That verse does not say secular governments. I believe (and the Joseph Smith Translation verifies) that Paul was speaking of the Church's government, that the Church's government is set up by God, and that therefore they are doing God's will, and that therefore you should be listening to them.

 

[Mike182]

1) God has created all things.
2) He is in control of everything [IMPORTANT: not in the sense of Him doing everything that is done (for instance, typing that by my fingers), but rather in the sense of Him being ever-ready to intervene when necessary]
3) He has created us with free will, which means ability to re-shape our lives by countless choices - just every second.
4) He suggested Him being the only ruler of mankind, but people rejected the offer. (They could do it because of #3.)
5) People had chosen to have their own kings/rulers. God forewarned people of the consequences, and consented, not to limit their free will.
6) So, the mundane authorities are approved generally by God, but He always ready to intervene if necessary (#2!).

again, i find this contradictory (sorry for the lateness)

it is 2 i disagree with - s/he is in control of everything, but not in the sense of "s/he controls everything" but in the sense of "if it goes wrong i will fix it"..... which means that, by definition, God is not "in control"

http://www.answers.com/control&r=67

1. To >exercise authoritative or dominating influence over; direct. See synonyms at conduct.
2. To adjust to a requirement; regulate: controlled trading on the stock market; controls the flow of water.
3. To hold in restraint; check: struggled to control my temper.
4. To reduce or prevent the spread of: control insects; controlled the fire by dousing it with water.

 

[Abram]

i appologise, but i see this a wholly contradictory -

God introduced us to the idea of governing bodies
God left us to decide who governs of our own free will
God is still in ultimate control

one of these has to be wrong, because otherwise, God would have relinquished all control

Hey Mike! Lets say your a preschool teacher and you tell your class your not picking up after them. Then class gets out and every scatters out the door leaving a mess. Even though you wanted them to clean up, it was your will that let the mess be left.
God may allow us to make decisions (free will) but all decisions made are still in his will.

OP
We are to support our leaders regardless of how we feel they are doing, because God still is in control. Plus if all we do is complain it makes all things worse.

Here in America everyone complains about President Bush. They think by putting bumperstickers that say "he's not my president" or "don't blame me I voted for Kerry" that their helping or making a statement. Wrong! I don't agree with everything he's doing but making a fuss only makes it worse. I don't know about all you, but if I'm trying to do something and I'm doing it wrong or not how they like it and they start yelling "you suck!" it makes it even harder to focus and get it right.

God wants us to give the leaders room to lead, yes their human and make mistakes. But if you think poking at a sore will improve the situation your being more of a fool then the one your insulting.

The book of Esther in the Bible is a great story that shows just how God works even when we think he's not...

 

[Jaymes]

That verse does not say secular governments. I believe (and the Joseph Smith Translation verifies) that Paul was speaking of the Church's government, that the Church's government is set up by God, and that therefore they are doing God's will, and that therefore you should be listening to them.

It doesn't say "all authority is from God, except the secular kind", though. It very specifically says "For there is no authority except from God; and those that exist are set up by God."

 

[Aqualung]

It doesn't say "all authority is from God, except the secular kind", though. It very specifically says "For there is no authority except from God; and those that exist are set up by God."

And the JST says "There is no authority in the church except from god..." People had a lot of reason to change that to say there is no authority except from God. Think of the way the pope ran practically all of europe during the middle ages. If you believe that the Bible is completely accurate, fine, but if not, that should be the first verse that comes into question.

Not only that, but look at it in context. It was paul preaching to the Romans about the church.

 

[may]

Let us consider an illustration. Imagine that a teacher is telling his students how to solve a difficult problem. A clever but rebellious student claims that the teacher’s way of solving the problem is wrong. Implying that the teacher is not capable, this rebel insists that he knows a much better way to solve the problem. Some students think that he is right, and they also become rebellious. What should the teacher do? If he throws the rebels out of the class, what will be the effect on the other students? Will they not believe that their fellow student and those who joined him are right? All the other students in the class might lose respect for the teacher, thinking that he is afraid of being proved wrong. But suppose that the teacher allows the rebel to show the class how he would solve the problem.​

Jehovah has done something similar to what the teacher does. Remember that the rebels in Eden were not the only ones involved. Millions of angels were watching. (Job 38:7; Daniel 7:10) How Jehovah handled the rebellion would greatly affect all those angels and eventually all intelligent creation. So, what has Jehovah done? He has allowed Satan to show how he would rule mankind. God has also allowed humans to govern themselves under Satan’s guidance. The teacher in our illustration knows that the rebel and the students on his side are wrong. But he also knows that allowing them the opportunity to try to prove their point will benefit the whole class. When the rebels fail, all honest students will see that the teacher is the only one qualified to lead the class. They will understand why the teacher thereafter removes any rebels from the class. Similarly, Jehovah knows that all honesthearted humans and angels will benefit from seeing that Satan and his fellow rebels have failed and that humans cannot govern themselves. Like Jeremiah of old, they will learn this vital truth: "I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step."—Jeremiah 10:23.​