These are some of my thoughts on Romans 13: 1-7 If you think I am wrong about this please let me know how I am wrong. I have a sick feeling many ministers in America have on purpose been misleading their congregations into believing Christians should obey their government.
I have always thought Romans 13 could not have been talking about civil governments because to do so would contradict many other scriptures in the New Testament.
I still believe this to be the case despite the widely taught and held belief that Romans 13: 1-7 is talking about submission to secular governments. What is actually being commanded here by Paul is submission to higher authorities, most think this means secular governments, but that is not what this verse is saying.
Submission to higher authorities for a Christian would be leaders in the church, deacons, elders, and the apostles. It also of course means submission to Jesus Christ, the highest authority of them all.
It does not mean civil secular governments who have no scriptural authority over the church of Jesus Christ. The first century church did not submit to any secular government beyond paying taxes. As Jesus commanded us to render unto Ceaser the things that are Ceaser's and to God the things that are God's. Paul himself was tortured by the Roman government for disobeying them. Paul wrote this letter to Christians in Rome and they knew he was tortured and imprisoned by the Roman government for disobeying them. No one that he wrote this letter would have for a second believed he was talking about submitting to them!
Obviously the "higher authority" that Paul is referring to in Romans 13:1 is not the Roman government or any civil government on Earth.