Romans 13:4
Romans 13:44For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
Watchtower commentary takes as describing the authority of human governments under Jehovah's "relative authority" — they are placed in their positions by God for the maintenance of order. JW theology obeys human laws as long as they do not conflict with Jehovah's commands; the cosmic-neutrality doctrine means Witnesses do not vote, run for office, serve on juries, or perform military service, but they pay taxes and obey civil law.
Verse 4 is decisive against cosmic neutrality. Paul says the civil authority is "God's minister" (NWT) — not Satan's agent. He says it "bears the sword" — wields legitimate coercive force — and is "an avenger to express wrath." If the government bears God's commission to enforce justice, then participating in justice (jury service, voting for righteous laws, lawful military service in defensive contexts) is participating in God's appointed minister at work. Paul himself appealed to Caesar () — using the civic machinery of Rome to protect his apostolic ministry. The Watchtower's blanket withdrawal from civic engagement reads against the verse's plain force: God's minister is not a satanic counterfeit but a divinely commissioned servant of justice.