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As always, it is important to define our terms. It is not uncommon for government leaders to use their influence to seek to win over the people to a particular behavior. The government uses airtime on the radio telling us to eat our vegetables, to not smoke, to get vaccinated. One is not, however, disobeying the government if one is an unvaccinated smoker who thinks vegetables are great things to feed food, i.e. animals. Be careful not to allow anyone to condemn you for failing to heed their counsel.<\/p>\n
Second, to disobey is not the same thing as fomenting rebellion. It is one thing for Christians to meet together for worship against the command of the government. It is altogether another thing to grab your pitchforks, torches and Molotov cocktails and storm the Bastille. The former is disobeying the government. The latter is seeking to overthrow it.<\/p>\n
The apostle Paul not only makes a strong case on the necessity of obeying governing authorities, but does so in writing to the Romans, those under the most vicious regime that world had yet known. Just as we are too quick when disagreeing on this theological point or another to anoint ourselves the next Martin Luther so when government annoys us we are tempted to anoint ourselves the next Paul Revere. We are to bend over backwards to obey.<\/p>\n
There are, however, limits. The government is owed our obedience in all things, even things that are truly not their concern, unless or until they command us to do what God clearly forbids, or forbid us to do what God clearly commands. We see this principle carried out by Peter in Acts 5. Having been commanded to no longer preach in the name of Jesus Peter and the apostles ask the Sanhedrin, \u201cShould we obey you, or God?\u201d They continued to preach in the name of Jesus.<\/p>\n
Two things, however, they didn\u2019t do. They didn\u2019t seek the overthrow of the government. Nor did they resist the government\u2019s punishment of their behavior. Even in their disobedience they were obedient. So ought we to be. If the situation is dire enough that we have to disobey, it must be dire enough that we are willing to be jailed, punished, fed to the lions.<\/p>\n
This question is not one that only believers in Communist or Muslim countries must wrestle with. In our own day, in our own country, we\u2019ve had governments telling believers they must forsake the gathering together of the saints. In Canada the government has done the same. Even apart from COVID Canada has commanded believers not to proclaim those parts of the Bible that condemn sexual perversity. In 20 states in this country it is illegal to seek to help someone escape the sin of sexual perversity. In short, answering this question is no longer an academic exercise. It is likely to only get worse.<\/p>\n
Our calling as believers is to live with our unbelieving neighbors in peace with all men, as much as it is in our power (Romans 12: 18). Which means even when we must obey, we must do so with a spirit of meekness, just like our Lord. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As always, it is important to define our terms. It is not uncommon for government leaders to use their influence to seek to win over the people to a particular behavior. The government uses airtime on the radio telling us … Continue reading