The film script below is what I wrote for a video documentary in the summer of 2007.
I had considered arranging the film script format into a “script-
The article below is what God has put on my heart, and it may be a little overwhelming to some, so it would be suggested that parts of it would be read a little at a time, and then study on it and think about it before continuing.
If a person had never touched a violin before, you cannot teach him Mendelssohn’s
Violin Concerto in E-
Scene makeup: Desk with backdrop of a blue tarp for a blue screen. Backdrop set to a scenic photo.
Narrator:
Welcome to Romans 13, Then and Now, and I am Ambassador Philip, and I pray that the Lord’s blessings will be upon you as you view this film.
Everyone has a favorite verse in the Bible, like John 3:16, or Psalms 23, but if you were to asked a government official what their favorite scripture is, they won’t tell you but it most likely is, Romans 13.
Let’s go through Romans 13 and see what it says.
Fade
Written dialog with Narrator speaking
Use Arial font and 14pts.
Background blue with 50% translucent (R 0; G 0; B255) and text, gold (R 255; G 192; B 0) with photo: bluebonnetsnake
Perform cuts during the reading of dialog when needed
Rom 13:1-
1 Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
2 Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same;
4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.
5 Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
9 For this, "You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself."
10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. (NAS)
Fast Fade
Back to Desk scene
Narrator:
Whoa! What is this saying?! Are we to obey those in government no matter what? Looking at Romans 13 in the New American Standard Version reminds me of a dictatorship, and if Romans 13 is the excuse for governing authorities to have a dictatorship, then Romans 13 is contradictory to the rest of the Bible. For in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy shows God’s theocracy. So, what does Romans 13 really mean?
Since according to Romans 13 we have to obey the government of whatever law they establish, no matter what, we obey. Hmm, what would people do if this happens?
Fade
Photo of George Bush
At the presidential podium.
Narrator at best George Bush imitations:
“I make this proclamation, that those who read the Bible are considered terrorists and must be exterminated.”
Fade
Photos of a church and Nazis
giving a Hitler salute overlapping
Narrator in a mocking voice:
“Yes, sir. You’re the boss, sir. We do everything you say, sir. Romans 13 puts you in command.”
Cut
Back to desk Scene
Narrator:
Why do the churches have to think that man’s government is their authority when God should be their highest authority? What is holding them back from going the extra mile to help establish God’s Kingdom?
Translations of Romans 13 say to obey man’s government no matter what, but the Bible also says to obey God as well, so the church obeys God under the authority of man’s government.
The government of man wants all the authority over everybody, but they also want this world to be a happy place for themselves. Therefore, rules are placed over the church to obey so they don’t get outside the authority of the government of man. These rules are known as 501(c)3. So, how does the 501(c)3 help establish God’s Kingdom?
Cut
Written dialog with Narrator speaking
Use Arial font and 14pts.
Background blue with 50% translucent (R 0; G 0; B255) and text, gold (R 255; G 192; B 0) with photo: bluebonnetsnake
Perform cuts during the reading of dialog when needed
Narrator:
Listed here is a few of commands the IRS gave to the church to follow.
1. Be incorporated.
2. Have a recognized creed and IRS approved worship.
6. Have ordained ministers.
7. Have ministers educated in state accredited colleges.
8. Be neutral on political issues.
9. Have tax exempt status issued by IRS.
13. Have pastor answer to the IRS as to the daily activities of the church.
14. Let IRS be privy to all financial transactions including sources, donors, expenditures, and if cash is used, the leadership will be a likely suspect of money laundering.
15. Have books and records available to the IRS at all times.
16. Have pastor inform IRS of names off all donors.
18. Use only IRS approved methods of fund-
22. Advocate and promote racial integration, and not oppose racial integration.
23. Not to publicly oppose licensing of church ministries.
24. Not to engage in political activities opposing pornography.
25. Not to support legislation saying that children belong to parents not state.
28. Not to actively participate in opposing the public school system.
29. Not to publicly declare that the church is to obey God rather than government.
30. All marriages must be licensed by the state and performed by a licensed preacher.
31. Take no public stand against racially mixed marriages.
Fade to desk scene