Statism is a form of idolatry.   It is, at its heart, totalitarianism.   In Statism and Totalitarianism, the state (government) becomes a god with absolute control.   Statists look to the state as a savior, a substitute for the true God, so a Statists are involved in idolatry, and will be disappointed.   Statists are serving a god who will turn out to be cruel and who will not give them the satisfaction that they were desiring.

Statists become Statists for several reasons.   Some Statists are eager for power.   Most of these Statists think that they are good people and that they are wise, so who better than themselves to run everything.   They desire to take the place of God in every life.   Some are fully aware of their own evil nature, but they desire control for their own profit.   Some Statists become Statists because someone in control found some way to put them into slavery, bondage to the State.   Government programs to "help" people generally create dependencies.   The dependencies lead to slavery for the individuals who become dependent.   There are other Statists who become Statists because of education, which teaches lies and ignores the lessons of history and of the Bible.  

The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language defines statism as "The practice or doctrine of giving a centralized government control over economic planning and policy."   Collins English Dictionary gives statism this definition: "(Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the theory or practice of concentrating economic and political power in the state, resulting in a weak position for the individual or community with respect to the government"   The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language defines totalitarianism as "Of, relating to, being, or imposing a form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life, the individual is subordinated to the state, and opposing political and cultural expression is suppressed: 'A totalitarian regime crushes all autonomous institutions in its drive to seize the human soul' (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.)"

Wherever governments have approached the level of Statism, they have become oppressive, particularly toward those who are walking with Jesus Christ.   This is because a Statist or Totalitarian government becomes a god.   It becomes an idol.   As such, it does not want competition from the true God.

1 Peter 2:13-15 "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or to governors, as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.   For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:"   Is this advocating the idolatry of the Statist or the Totalitarian?   Of course not.   It is saying that God has set these governments into power.   When He is ready, He will remove them.  

Romans 13:1-6: "Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 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: 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. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing."  
God is not saying to only obey the government when it is just.   He is saying to obey the government.   Other verses in the Bible let us know the limits of this command.   When the government orders us to do something that is in conflict with God's will, then we cannot obey the government.   This was the case with the three Hebrew children in Babylon, which resulted in them being thrown into the fiery furnace.   This was the case with Daniel, which resulted in Daniel being cast into the lion's den.   This was the case with the early Christians who were asked to simply make a small sacrifice to an idol in order to spare their lives.   They chose to be murdered rather than to conform to the wicked command of the emperor.