You are right, we do have a duty to obey God first, and thus the government up to that point where it goes against God.  But, if given the choice between a government that contradicts God, and a government that doesn't, which one should Christians choose?

@radicalramblings - The Christian should always choose the government that God has given him or her.

@ProudToBeAChristianFruitcake - The government we have is one that is based on choices we make as voters.  What then, should we as Christians, do?  Should we abstain from the process altogether, trusting God to give us the government that he wants us to have?  Should we base our votes on that which will protect our ability to serve God while still obeying the government?  Or should we base our votes on that which will put our service to God at direct odds with the rules of the government?

"the Bible does not seem to say anywhere "you have a right not to be searched by the government" so we cannot refuse to obey the new limits. We can write to our representatives, and work to get the law changed, but until it is changed, we have to obey the law, as the Bible is silent on the issue".

It almost sounds as though you're saying Christians should just accept whatever government shucks at us because there isn't a provision that speaks otherwise in the bible.  As a citizen living in a nation that is gradually bleeding to death, I feel the need to fight for the liberties we're losing.  I see no reason whatsoever that I should give those freedoms over willingly to a government, just because I'm a Christian.  That, would make Christians the weakest citizens in this nation, would'nt it?  A group of people content to just sit and let these rights and freedoms be taken away from us, and from others too, without a fight at all?

There are terrible things happening to people in other countries.  Far worse than here.  Are these people, if Christian, supposed to just endure this, rather than trying to find a way out of that country?  In your remark to Radical Ramblings you said,    "The Christian should always choose the government that God has given him or her".  Does that mean that God intends for the Christian to be trapped in a country that does terrible things to it's people, just because the bible is silent on that particular means of torture?  Should we here in the United States who have abundant wealth in comparison to many other countries, even bother to try to feed the hungry in other countries, or are we only to feed the hungry non-Christians, and let the Christians choose the country that God has given them?

By the way.  I like the patriotic theme of your site, with the flag fluttering in the breeze, but the United States isn't mentioned in the bible either, right? 

@saturnnights - You missed a couple sentences in my post.

"We can write to our representatives, and work to get the law changed, but until it is changed, we have to obey the law, as the Bible is silent on the issue. "

I do not care, if anyone protests, or works to change a law they feel is unjust. But until that law is repealed, it must be obeyed, unless it conflicts with God's law, then it can be ignored completely.

@ProudToBeAChristianFruitcake - Part of living in the US is the ability and the freedom to protest, and writing our representatives, as you said. 

Okay...  let me give you an extreme hypothetical question:

If a law is passed, saying certain people in our country are to be rounded up, and police crash down my door to take my family to 3 or 4 seperate locations for detainment, what am I allowed to do according to the bible?  I have to obey the law, right?  I have to allow my family to be taken away, without a fight, because I'm obeying the authority God has put in place...  right?  At that point, I won't have time to write a letter, and my protests to the police may result in nothing more than being tasered, or worse. 

There may not be anything specific in the bible about martial law, but there are teachings about the responsibility of husbands and fathers.  I can't see that standing back and allowing them to be taken, without a fight would be God's will.  This is a "let's pretend" scenario, but it has happened before in other countries.    

@ProudToBeAChristianFruitcake - What about Christians living in nations where public worship or evangelism is illegal?  The Bible doesn't say, you must evangelize in public on the streets and it doesn't say you must meet in a public church building every week.  In fact, these activities in the early Church were largely behind closed doors.  Should the persecuted church sit down, shut up, and enjoy their cheese?  When their activities are bringing hundreds to Christ every day, I think not.

@saturnnights - @radicalramblings -  You know, we could sit here, and try to rationalize our way out of obeying the Bible,  but Romans 13:1-7 parts of which I have already quoted, and other Bible Verses, clearly teach our need to obey the Government. Take  Titus 2:11-3:2 for example

11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 15Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

1Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

In this passage, we are told to live self controlled and upright & godly lives. That was in chapter 2, in Chapter 3, the thought continues and Paul tells Titus to remind them (Christians, Titus was teaching) to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be ready for good works, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarrels, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy towards all.

How are we supposed to do that, if  we consider the Government to be an evil entity? 1 Peter 2:13-15 continues the thought

13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Here we are told to be subject to every human institution, and it goes on to name some. We are told to be subject to the government, that is all I am saying we need to do, to be subject, unless it contradicts God's law.

In Acts 16:21 some people make an accusation against Paul & Silas and say that Paul & Silas teach some practices that it is not lawful for them as romans to practice. Paul and Silas had done no such thing, however, if we do not submit to the government, we make that accusation to be true.

@ProudToBeAChristianFruitcake - You are ignoring my question.  It is clear that we are only to obey the government to that point where it does not contradict God.  On that we agree.  My question is, when we are presented with a choice between two types of government - as we are in this nation - which should we as Christians choose - the one that allows us to obey Christ without disobeying the government, or the one that requires us to disobey the government in order to obey Christ?  

Kind of avoided my hypothetical too.

  "Here we are told to be subject to every human institution, and it goes on to name some. We are told to be subject to the government, that is all I am saying we need to do, to be subject, unless it contradicts God's law".

I live by the laws here in the US.  I have no choice, unless I wish to take a chance at jail, fines or imprisonment.  However, when a government tortures it's prisoners, I believe as a Christian, I should speak up in objection.  I should let everyone I can know that, these are the unjust things our representitives are doing.  I am hoping for change, maybe in some little way, and hopefully more.  That change will ultimately affect the way I live and others live too.  We are supposed to, as Christians expose the tactics of darkness.  If a government attacks it's own, lies or intentionally misinforms, and is manipulating events to bring forth changes for personal monetary gain, I should speak out against it.  I firmly believe that.  I believe that can be backed by the bible. 

Ephesians 5:8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
   "Wake up, O sleeper,
      rise from the dead,
   and Christ will shine on you."

"14or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people."

Here it states to only praise those "governers" who do good. Therefore giving us the ability to hold in contempt those who are doing evil under gods view. That is, the government.

@mysticalchild - 13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.

You misquoted verse 14, it is not refering to governors who do good, it is saying that the government was sent by God, to punish evildoers, or praise those who do good.