Romans 13:1-7 is probably one of the more controversial passages of Scripture when it comes to Christian conduct. In it the Apostle Paul instructs that all Christians should be in total submission to civil, government authorities. Why? Because Almighty God is the one who has ordained civil government to keep orderliness in society and evil at bay. What God has also done by issuing such an ordination is erase the idea that Christianity should have no part is conducting civil government. It is a major blow to those who believe that government should stress the oft-quoted "separation of church and state" and thereby set up a purely secular state. What God has in mind, though, is that a government that is run in "good" order is the ideal over one that is godless and lawless. For in the former there is orderliness and life, that ultimately glorifies God, while in the latter there chaos and death, that ultimately glorifies the "god of this world."