"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience."

This passage is often quoted by believers who find it wrong or even sinful to dissent with the authorities but citing Romans 13 to justify silence to government abuse of power is misusing the biblical passage itself.

Yes, "we are called to submit to authorities" but let us remember that we are living in a democratic country where peaceful, intellectual, and moral dissension is allowed. It is not being "not submissive." It is democracy at work. It is only unlawful in countries that are not democratic and/or ruled by dictators.

And then sometimes this passage is misquoted as saying that to go against the government is to go against God Himself. Note that it actually says "what God has instituted."  And what did God institute? A servant.

A servant is only a servant when it has a master. The government is God’s servant regardless whether it finds the Master "stupid." It is under His authority hence, it, too, should fear the very sword it bears because it can also do wrong. It does not have a free pass just because it was instituted by God. If this were so, then the Old Testament would be much thinner as all the prophets called out the rulers of their day for their evil ways. Mordecai even defied the authorities and we celebrate and commend him for it because he stood up for what is right. We, the church, need to do the same thing. We have the moral responsibility to call out the government for any wrongdoing, and not just offer to wash its feet. In a slowly eroding democracy which may possibly threaten our freedom to worship, it is a "matter of conscience" when we see our population dropping due to “nanlaban” and when shirtless kids become corpses the following sunrise.