If "I" had been suggesting anything, I would declare it as an opinion, Those words that you are declaring that I am suggesting are in fact there and they do read, VERBATIM, just as they were presented. Thus, it is the author of the scriptures that is suggesting that all governments are placed by and allowed to exist solely by the power and authority of God. Just as did Jesus Christ -- John 19:10-11. Notice also that these verses are spoken in relation to God declaring that vengeance does not belong to the individual Christian, but to God and God alone -- Romans 12:19. Then we are told "exactly" how God goes about exacting this vengeance for wrongful or evil actions in the very next Chapter (13). Now you are SUGGESTING that I AM SUGGESTING, when in reality it is GOD DECLARING? Notice in fact how God declares that man would be punished when he spills the blood of another man in an unrighteous manner -- Genesis 9:6, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, BY MAN SHALL HIS BLOOD BE SHED..." God did not declare that He would magically descend upon a person guilty of murder by casting lighting bolts at him or such nonsense, He said that man would be punished by man for his transgression of murder. And sense the individual Christian is prohibited to take any act of personal vengeance outside of self defense, by what other course does God direct His righteous judgment? He does so just as Jesus declares, "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above;...." -- John 19:11. These words were spoken by Christ when "Pilate" was informing him that he held the life of Christ Jesus within the words of his authority.

It's amazing how some can not or will not simply accept the scriptures just as they are written, and then declare it is ok to INTERPRET THEM. Go Figure. But still, this does not explain away the scriptural fact that "capital punishment", which was first instituted by God Himself, is somehow done away by any of the teachings of Jesus. In fact, was not our very salvation a product of capital punishment, used by Jesus to offer himself as the ultimate sacrificial lamb of God? And even the Christ declares there is a time and place to bear the sword, as He instructs His apostles to sell their extra clothing and purchase a sword -- Luke 22:32-36. Notice also, how quickly these "swords" were actually produced when the Christ informed them they would in fact be in need of them when they went to evangelize the world -- Vs 38, "And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough." Apparently they were already "packin" and "strapped" when the Lord told them of the future need to be as such.

Thus it is true that Christianity is a religion of love, tolerance, and acceptance, and we are instructed not to bring physical harm to another simply because of anger or through an act of vengeance, but on the other hand, self protection of both life and property are not declared as an unjust or unrighteous action anywhere in the New Testament scriptures, as Jesus Himself declares, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." -- John 15:13. And as said, Capital punishment was in fact demonstrated as just when one conforms to the righteous judgments of God -- Acts 5. (R)