Is it a sin to break the law?

That very much depends. Because we are sinners we all face the temptation to become a law unto ourselves. God gave us civil government, and gave civil government the “power of the sword,” the right to impose law by force, for our good and for our protection. The difficulty is that this same sin nature that can lead us astray likewise afflicts those who govern. Which is why we have bad laws, tyranny and injustice from the very people called to enact justice. In our own day we have a federal government that is increasingly hostile to Christians, and increasingly the law reflects such.

Wicked government can and does create unjust laws. The progressive income tax, wherein those who make more not only pay more, but pay a higher percentage of their income to the state, is but one example. Is it a sin to break such a law? Yes. We are commanded to pay our taxes. Not just good taxes, fair taxes, just taxes but our taxes. The Bible doesn’t teach that we must obey just laws but the unjust we can defy at will.

Another form of unjust laws are those laws that extend beyond the lawmaker’s jurisdiction. This is one place the question becomes more subtle. If, for instance, the federal government mandates that I not grow more than X number of bushels of corn on my land, it has stepped well beyond its appointed jurisdiction. Nothing in the Constitution grants the federal government any say in what I do with my crops. That said, the Supreme Court, in clear violation of the Constitution, says federal law can restrict what I grow on my land. I believe I still have a duty to obey.

Suppose, however, that I receive notification from Canada, from the Governor of Utah or my next door neighbor telling me how much corn I can grow on my land. This jurisdictional failure is a horse of a different color. I am perfectly free to tell these interlopers to pound sand. The difference is that in the first instance the US federal government is legitimate government here exercising illegitimate overreach. In the second instance there is no legitimate rule by those butting into my affairs.

The Bible is clear on our duty to obey the government, calling us to submission even when it hurts. There is, however a limit. Because God is the source of all authority, and of all law, our ultimate calling is to obey Him. Which is why the church has always taught, in line with Peter’s response to the authorities commanding him to no longer preach Jesus, that we must obey God rather than man, that we not only may but must disobey any government that expressly commands us to do what God expressly forbids or expressly forbids us to do what God expressly commands.

Even here however we remain, as much as possible, law-keepers. We do this is two principle ways. First, if we must disobey, we don’t resist the judgment of the state on us. If Christians are forbidden to preach that homosexuality is a sin, we will continue to preach it. When they come for us, however, we will go peaceably. The other way we continue to bow to the law in such hardships is we don’t suddenly take it upon ourselves to overthrow the unjust government.

With respect to unjust laws, and the state doing what it ought not, and failing to do what it ought, believers are called to be prophetic, albeit obedient. With respect to laws requiring that we disobey the living God, believers are called to be defiant, but humble.

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