On Governments
Whether or not we like how the government we live under is being run, the first portion of Romans 13:1-7 tells us that we owe it respect. This world is filled with many different types of government. Some we would think of as generally good and some generally bad. For example, few would have much good to say about the government in North Korea at least with consideration of how the majority of its citizens fare. Their status hasn't altered in a long time.
But God has allowed each to flourish in its time and for His purposes. Sometimes, His purpose isn't clear to us. Sometimes His purpose is accomplished and the government carries on for a while afterward. Frequently, His purpose has not yet been seen. Sometimes transitions occur, temporary in nature.
A form of government may be okay, but its leadership is in question. Perhaps the leaders were poorly chosen, inherited their positions, or seized power with a coup. This chapter isn't about a specific instance of a particular government. In general, God has created governments for the good of the people governed.
Governments provide an umbrella of common laws that are for the good of all the subjects or citizens of the government. We may not agree with everything they champion or permit or enforce, but generally each government provides laws for the common good. Don't murder. Don't steal. Don't lie. Don't commit adultery. Don't covet. Don't give false witness. Some governments have even dictated worship of God in one form or another.
Sometimes the laws to enforce these basics you'll remember from the ten commandments are part of a criminal code. Sometimes they are part of a civil code. But all exist for society to prosper. Every government also needs support financially and Christians are expected to pay what they owe to it. We are constrained to follow the law, as long as the law doesn't go against one of God's laws. His laws do have precedence.
Remember that the New Testament church leaders were mostly martyred for their beliefs that went directly against the polytheistic beliefs of the Roman Empire or for not worshiping the Roman leader. The majority lived under Roman occupation, their previous governments having fallen to Rome. And yet for all of that, the church leaders weren't trying to start an insurrection to overthrow the government that then existed. Neither did Jesus Christ. Their goal was to see all people accept Christ as Savior, regardless of the form of government under which each lived.
It would take until Constantine for a Christian leader to head the Roman Empire. But before that the Romans enforced pax romana - Roman peace throughout a huge swath of territory. Along with peace came a road network that looks much like our own today, connecting cities and making travel, trade, and the movement of soldiers and government dispatches easier. A common language united all of those people, along with common coinage. And yes, hated taxes.
Standing against Rome enacted a heavy price. So did rebelling against it once conquered. And due to that, Roman citizens could move and operate freely across the huge territory. Paul made use of this to spread Christianity.
What About Bad Governments
What should we then do if faced with a evil government? The first thing to do is to pray for the salvation of those who form the government. Prayers of righteous men avail much (James 5:16). For leaders who are saved (whether in legislatures, courts, or the executive offices at any level), pray that they will take Jesus' teaching to heart. There are many principles of His Sermon on the Mount that the world's nations would be better off following (Matthew 5-7). Many of His parables would be good to for them to mediate on as well.
Another thing to do is to pray to save the people subject to the government. Sometimes it is easier to effect change in the government itself by doing that. Pray for the people to turn to God fully, even if they claim to be Christian. The challenge of the Sermon on the Mount applies just as much to citizens as to leaders.
For those following false religions or false doctrines, pray that they will be exposed to the power of God and realize they are following a dead religion. Pray that the power of God will touch even the most skeptical or atheistic individuals in the nation. Remember that your battle is against Satan and not people (Ephesians 6:12). The Holy Spirit can change hearts and that is His job. It is only your job to speak the truth and let them decide.
Finally, you can try to go through channels to fix what is broken and advocate for change. Just be sure you are advocating in areas where the government isn't following God, and that you pray to see what His will is that you do. That should be paramount. But realize that you may end up martyred like the majority of the leaders of the early church. Be sure to be filled with the Holy Spirit and put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Realize that empires have risen and fallen over the centuries. Some were good and some were manifestly evil. Sometimes the bad empires were used by God to try to straighten out His people so they would follow God again and give up their idol worship and sin. No matter how evil a regime is, understand that God may have a purpose in allowing it to exist that we don't yet understand.
Maybe that purpose won't become apparent for decades or perhaps even centuries. Also realize that when God's purpose is complete with the evil empire, He will cause it to pass away. Think back to the dream of Nebuchadnezzar and the statue that went from strength and majesty of gold at the head to weakness of clay at the toes representing Nebuchadnezzar's and many kingdoms to come all the way to the Anti-Christ's kingdom (Daniel 2).
Would the world be like it is today if it wasn't for the Americans in WWII? Would America have risen up to a place of leadership if it hadn't been for the Axis forces in WWII? As distressing as certain actions of the Axis governments were, toward Jews, gypsies, colored people at the hand of the Germans, and Chinese and Koreans and other peoples conquered by the Japanese to name just a few wrongs they committed, the world is a better place now because of WWII. The expansions in medicine, science, and manufacturing would have taken much longer if not pushed forward by war.
The Cold War had many awful moments as well, but on the other side we have technology that make sour lives much better due to some of the military development that went on then. Can evil empires still result in net good? That's a question to think about. Certainly many died who should never have died. They and their friends and relatives would say no advance was worth their cost.
Christians and the World
Follow the laws to the best of your understanding and ability. If you don't understand the law, turn to someone who does. I'm thinking particularly of the multiple yards of tax code on the shelves, for example. If you can't understand it, consult a tax professional or an online website that will help you compute your taxes correctly. Do the best you can in all things, big or small.
Paul then reiterates in Romans 13:8-14 some principles of Christian living. He restates that all of the commands found in the moral portion of the law basically can be summarized as loving your neighbor like you love yourself.
Each person goes through life at the same pace, one slow or fast day at a time, depending on your perception and busyness level. Regardless of your perception, at the end of the day you are that much closer to either the rapture or the day when you die or can no longer function competently. Paul encourages each of us to put on the armor of light and cast off all works of darkness that try to destroy us.
A Christian life should be a contrast to the life of a non-Christian. Paul calls on us to walk honestly and not in rioting, drunkenness, chambering, and wantonness, or in strife or envying. Not every non-Christian life will include this list. Some non-Christian lives will include none of them. Some in the world cannot be distinguished easily from Christians, especially in public.
Unfortunately, good works won't get you to heaven. Only accepting Christ as Savior is a sure way to get there. Regardless, we should choose to make Jesus the Lord of our lives in addition to Savior. Only with His help will we be able to live without falling into the temptations of the flesh and fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.