You clearly do not understand me and to the point that you are misrepresenting me in your regurgitation of my words (which is quit false on your part) and so I end my part here except to say that you are still denying the Romans passages. They say we do bear the sword...and God instituted all governments and their sword-bearing authority. I don't mind you giving your own point of view or refuting me, but I strongly object to having you distorted and twist my beliefs. I have offered my points and I trust that God will lay them on your heart if not now then in time.
I have not attempted to distort or twist your beliefs, nor misrepresent you, and don't believe I have done so. I have attempted to counter a misunderstanding of the first five verses of Romans 13. Hopefully our purpose here is not to tout or push our own beliefs, but instead to test and improve our understanding of God's word and his will in our lives. We need to be seeking the mind of Christ, or to put it more colloquially, to try to answer the question, "What would Jesus do"?
As I have previously pointed out, we must remember that the authorities in "...for there is no authority except that which God has established ... The authorities that exist have been established by God" (Romans 13:1) include Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, and many others, many of whose actions were clearly evil. So when you identify with "authorities" you identify with many "authorities", including the Babylonians that God used to punish the Israelites for forsaking him. The authorities crucified Christ, stoned Stephen, crucified Peter, and martyred more than 3,000 others (see The Martyr's Mirror). Certainly it is not correct to claim that these authorities were all and always doing the will of God, even though we know that God has sometimes used them to do his will. Again, God also commanded the wise men to disobey Herod, an authority established by God. As we have agreed, it is necessary to disobey the authorities when to obey them would require disobedience to God (Acts 5:29).
To understand Romans 13:1-5 we must understand Romans 13:3-4: "For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." Note the word, "For" that begins verse 3. That makes clear that the preceding two verses must be understood in light of the third and fourth verses.
So, what if a ruler does go after those who do right instead of commending them? Obviously, then that ruler is not acting in his intended capacity of being "God's servants". What should a soldier do who is asked to go after those who do right instead of wrong? Even the US's Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) requires a soldier to disobey an illegal order, which is consistent with Acts 5:29 which makes clear that it is necessary to obey a higher authority when in conflict with a lower authority.
So, how did a soldier get himself into a position where he might have to disobey those who give him orders? He disobeyed Paul's admonition to not be "unequally yoked" in 2 Corinthians 6:14. For similar reasons many Anabaptists won't even work for an employer that is not Anabaptist, and often the employer must be of the same Anabaptist sect.
It is central to note that Romans 13:1-5 is consistent with Jesus' words in Matthew 5:39, "... do not resist an evil person", and, indeed, with the entire passage in Matthew 5:38-42. It is also consistent with Jesus' words in Matthew 23:1-3a. But if we continue with Matthew 23:3b-4 we find Jesus also saying, "But do not do what they do".
We also read in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose". So, while God intends the governing authorities to be his servants, they, like we, do not always follow the will of God. But God uses all things for his purpose - even governing authorities like the Babylonians who did not seek to live according to the will of God. And we shouldn't over-emphasize the fact that governing authorities were established by God as everything that exists was created by God - good and evil (Isaiah 45:7). God uses all his creation for his purposes.
But those who love Jesus obey his commandments, and those who don't love Jesus don't obey his commandments (John 14:23-24).
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40). "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" Romans 12:14). "Do not repay anyone evil for evil" (Romans 12:17a). "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:19-21).
At one time it was common Anabaptist understanding that Christians could be neither soldiers nor policemen because to do so would be incompatible with being a disciple of Christ. Today some who claim to be Anabaptists have strayed from this original understanding. Anabaptists sprang out of a "Christian" religion that had departed from the ways of the early church, and with the desire to return to the teachings of Jesus. Just as the church from which the Anabaptists sprang had departed from the teachings of Jesus, so today some who call themselves "Ababaptists" have also departed from the teachings of Jesus.