Answer: It seems that you have a unique interpretation of Paul’s word, which is different from what we receive. Ever since I believed in the Lord, I have experienced the Chinese Communist government’s coercion and persecution, I have been unable to understand Paul’s words “Let every soul be subject to the higher powers.” I feel Paul’s words cannot represent what the Lord Jesus meant because the Lord Jesus had never said anything about “be subject to the higher powers.” Nor did the Holy Spirit. I feel that believing in the Lord should mean obeying the Lord’s word. The word of man should not be treated as the truth and as the word of God. It was after years of praying and seeking, I finally see that the CCP is an evil group that resists God. If one obeys the CCP, he is betraying God. We all know that the CCP is an atheist party that has been openly denying and resisting God since its rise to power. It designates Christianity and Catholicism as cults, the Bible as a cultist book of which countless copies have been confiscated and burnt, and even wantonly arrests and persecutes Christians. Countless Christians were beaten to cripples or death, and countless families were shattered. The CCP even pursues overseas, using economic incentives, political pressure and other means to extradite Christians who have fled to various countries. The CCP's iniquitous resistance to God and victimization of Christians are so numerous that it is outrageous! Tell me, can God allow His chosen people to obey such a perverse and sacrilegious evil regime of Satan that is blatantly against God? If we obey the CCP, aren’t we standing on the side of Satan? Since the CCP insanely resists, imprecates and profanes God, and tries to stop us from believing in God, it is the enemy of God. If we obey the CCP, aren't we resisting and betraying God? Many Christians of past generations were persecuted and martyred for following and witnessing the Lord. Did they obey those in office and in power? Could their martyrdom have been self-invoked punishment for resisting the ruling power? Would Paul have dared to condemn the martyrs of the Lord? I think Paul would not. Then what was the basis of Paul’s word? Could it be that Paul did not discern that most of those in power and office were demons who resisted God? That’s why I have doubts about Paul's word. I even question Paul’s word that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” because neither the Lord Jesus nor the Holy Spirit had so witnessed about the Bible. It makes me suspect that many of Paul's words originated from man’s intention. Hence I would not accept them as the truth. When I believe in God, I only obey the word of God and choose the way I should follow according to His word. As for the words of man, including those of the apostles, I would only use them as reference, even if they were written in the Bible. I would accept and obey them only if they are consistent with God’s word and the truth. Otherwise, I would not accept them. This is my point of view.

It is quite dangerous and difficult indeed for us to believe in the Lord in China. However, if we went by Paul's word to obey the satanic CCP regime and take the Three-Self Patriotic path, would we receive the praises of the Lord despite our physical safety? Would it guarantee us to be brought into kingdom of heaven when the Lord returns? I don’t think it’s possible. The Lord Jesus said, “Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it” (Mat 7:13–14). “You shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized with shall you be baptized” (Mak 10:39). “And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me. He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it” (Mat 10:38–39). The words of the Lord clearly tell us that we should enter at the strait gate and narrow way that lead to eternal life. The Lord also said, “And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me” (Mat 10:38). If we go by Paul’s word and obey the ruling authorities, is that entering at the strait gate and taking the narrow way? Is that bearing the cross in following the Lord? When believing in the Lord, if we all obey those in power and office under the reign of the CCP, the devil Satan, aren't we becoming people who resist and betray God? Then who will be left to spread the gospel, witness for the Lord and follow the will of God? Can we receive the praises of the Lord, reach good destination and outcome, by believing in the Lord like this? The Three-Self Church is a vase of religious belief fabricated by the Chinese Communist Party that is completely controlled by the Chinese Communist government. It doesn’t speak about the pure truth in the Bible, doesn't speak about loving and obeying God. It only speaks about patriotic love organization, enriching one’s family and making a fortune, glorifying God and benefiting the people. This is enough to prove that the Three-Self Church is actually a false church that has been reduced to an accomplice of the CCP that suppresses underground house churches and dedicated to monitoring house church activities. They even join hands with the Chinese Communist government to arrest and persecute the brothers and sisters who spread the gospel to witness for God. Isn't this Satan’s instrument of politico-religious alliance? Pastor Feng, I would like to ask: When people of the Three-Self Church obey the Chinese Communist government, are they actually obeying God or Satan? Will God commend the captives and puppets that capitulate to Satan? Can God admit into the heavenly kingdom those recreants who drag out an ignoble existence under Satan’s domain? Now the Lord Jesus has returned. He is the incarnate Almighty God who expresses the truth to perform judgment work in the last days for the cleansing, salvation and perfection of man in order to bring man into God’s kingdom. Amidst God’s appearance and work of the last days, all believers are faced with a major test in which they will be revealed by their own class, just as the Lord Jesus had prophesied: “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. … Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left” (Mat 24:37, 40–41). Almighty God’s appearance and work have revealed all people by their types. The tares and wheat, the good servants and evil servants, those who love the truth and those who hate the truth, have all been revealed by God’s work in the last days. It is time now to determine the outcome and destination of man. If man drags out an ignoble existence in fear of the CCP satanic regime’s coercion and persecution without courage to accept Almighty God’s work in the last days, what will be the outcome? Can this kind of men receive the Lord’s praises?

—The movie script of The Conversation