Romans 13?

Lawyer Michelle MacDonald, who faces DUI charges, just won the Minnesota GOP’s nomination to become a state Supreme Court judge. Just before getting the nomination, MacDonald explained how she would make decisions: Forget the law. It’s all about the Bible. 

"When judges used to enter the courtroom, they would hold the Bible over their head, like this. In the words of George Washington, it is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." 

She’s a bad historian, too. There’s no evidence whatsoever that Washington said that. (Even Christian pseudo-historian David Barton, who popularized that lie in the first place, later admitted there was no proof he said it.)

When Christians (or other religious folk) begin to talk this way, about their religion/book/creed being above the law, I am always reminded of the famous exchange between Sir Thomas More and his son-in-law, Will Roper (who went from being a fervent Catholic to being a fervent Lutheran back to being a fervent Catholic in a matter of a few years) in the play/movie A Man for All Seasons.

William Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!
Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
William Roper: Yes, I'd cut down every law in England to do that!
Sir Thomas More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man's laws, not God's! And if you cut them down, and you're just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!

Or, to dip a bit into the Bible that Ms. MacDonald wants to hold over her head (where she will, incidentally, not be able to read what is inside it), how about St. Paul's Letter to the Romans, chapter 13:1-7:  

1 All of you must obey the government rulers. Everyone who rules was given the power to rule by God. And all those who rule now were given that power by God. ² So anyone who is against the government is really against something God has commanded. Those who are against the government bring punishment on themselves. ³ People who do right don’t have to fear the rulers. But those who do wrong must fear them. Do you want to be free from fearing them? Then do only what is right, and they will praise you.

⁴ Rulers are God’s servants to help you. But if you do wrong, you have reason to be afraid. They have the power to punish, and they will use it. They are God’s servants to punish those who do wrong. ⁵ So you must obey the government, not just because you might be punished, but because you know it is the right thing to do.
⁶ And this is why you pay taxes too. Those rulers are working for God, and they give all their time to the work of ruling. ⁷ Give everyone what you owe them. If you owe them any kind of tax, then pay it. Show respect to those you should respect. And show honor to those you should honor.