Responding to Evil Leadership

As Christians what should our response be to evil leaders?

God has put governmental authorities in place to be His representatives in the earth to maintain order and deal with evil deeds.  But when the leader is the one performing the evil deeds and requiring his subjects to perform deeds contrary to the Word of God, then that evil authority should not be obeyed. 

Romans 13:1 tells us to "be subject to higher powers."  In verse 3 of Romans 13 it says that the rulers are a terror to evil.  When they are no longer a terror to evil and are evil themselves I believe we must stand against that evil. 

When man’s requirements are contrary to God's Word, we must obey God rather than man, (Act 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.)

Recently I have been studying the life and writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  He was a Lutheran pastor in Nazi Germany.  He was one of the few church leaders/pastors who took a stand against Hitler and the evil Nazi policies from the very beginning. Eventually, at the request of his brother-in-law and after much agony over the decision, Dietrich joined the resistance movement within the government who were trying to do what they could to get Hitler out of power.  They hoped to stop the evil that was being perpetrated upon the German people, those being conquered, and especially upon the Jews.  Bonhoeffer spent the last couple of years of his life in prison and was hung just weeks before WWII came to an end, for his participation in the resistance.  This is an example of a Christian who felt he could not submit to the evil requirements of an evil leadership.  I personally applaud his actions within the church.  But I am still wrestling with the idea of his involvement in actively trying to take down the government. 

Romans 13:1-7  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Here is a link to a pretty good article about this by Chuck Baldwin, a pastor, radio broadcaster, and syndicated columnist.  http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20070810.html