God and elections
I have non-denominational extended family who believe Romans 13:1 tells us God “chooses” who wins elections. Is it correct to assume “established” implies “chosen”? I’ve always thought God is foreknowing, and allows those elected to lead, but the election of leaders was a freedom he gives people.
You have a correct understanding of that verse. When it comes to worldly matters like elections, God provides a great deal of freedom for people. He lets them think about different options and then cast votes for the candidates of their preference. God certainly knows the outcomes of elections and he will use those outcomes according to his wisdom and will for the good of his Church.
Romans 13:1 teaches that God has established all governmental authority. Governmental authority is not the result of human reasoning or societal experimentation. Governmental authority is God’s work.
Romans 13:1 teaches that people in positions of governmental authority are God’s servants (Romans 13:4). This does not mean that all people in positions of authority represent God faithfully; there are some good servants and bad servants.
When the apostle Paul penned the inspired letter to the Christians in Rome, Nero was the Roman emperor. He was definitely no friend of Christians; his atrocities against them are well documented. Yet, the directives of “be subject” (Romans 13:1) and “submit” (Romans 13:5) applied even to him—not because his life or actions generated respect, but because he filled a seat of authority God had established. People today still fill seats of authority that God has established.