AMONG the many commands found repeated in God’s Word, the Bible, is, “Be in subjection.” At Romans 13:1 we read: “Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities,” that is, to governments.

It simply has to be that some govern or take the lead and others must be in subjection. How so? Because no man can exist solely by himself. Each one needs what the other can provide in the way of material things and services in exchange for what he himself can provide in one way or another. All of this requires organization. For organization to function there has to be not only a meeting of the minds but also a recognized authority. A nation, state or province, a city or a village, are all political organizations that require some to govern and others to be governed or to be in subjection. The principle holds true in almost every other sphere of human activity, be it secular or religious, public or domestic.

SUBJECTION TO GOVERNMENTS

In present human society, governments are necessary for people to live in a civilized way and to have a measure of security, not to say anything of the many services that a government can furnish, on either a local or a national scale. Hence, it follows that there must be willingness, or at least a yielding, on the part of the governed for such governments to accomplish their purpose. That is why God’s Word commands Christians to “be in subjection . . . for there is no authority except by God.” So Christians are to obey the laws of the land, being conscientious in the paying of taxes, in heeding traffic regulations and in carrying out other obligations. All of this is in the interest of peace and order.​—Rom. 13:1-7.

However, the Bible shows elsewhere that such subjection to political governments is not absolute. It is qualified by other Scriptural injunctions, such as, “Pay back, therefore, Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.” And again: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.” Yes, the command to “be in subjection” to the political governments of this system of things is not absolute, but is relative; it applies so long as it does not go contrary to any direct command of God.​—Matt. 22:21; Acts 5:29.