Government and Politics

Disobey government?

Only when they try to make you disobey God! We do not disobey government until they force us to do so, just as you do not want your children to disobey until you put them in a situation where they cannot avoid it. When government makes laws requiring us to do something against clear and plain scripture, Christians obey God rather than men (Ex 1:15-21; Dan 4:16-18). When government makes laws forbidding us to do clear and plain commandments of the Bible, Christians obey God rather than men (Dan 6:10; Acts 4:19; 5:29).

But what about a very wicked government or ruler?

It does not matter how wicked a government or ruler might be in legislation, philosophy, civil conduct, or personal conduct. John and all Israel knew of Herod’s infidelities, but this did not reduce their civil responsibility to Herod at all. Neither are children relieved of honoring their parents due to parental sin. God will judge rulers for their wicked laws, thoughts, and deeds. Christians still give them honor and obedience to the full extent of their office (I Pet 2:13-17). It does not matter how they spend tax revenues, even for abortion or crucifying Jesus, you still render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s in all taxes (Matt 22:15-22; Rom 13:1-7).

But what if they are breaking the law or the Constitution?

It does not matter whether rulers violate the law or the Constitution of the land or not based on your incomplete knowledge of both. De facto rule is what is to be obeyed, for Jesus ignored Israel’s constitution, which was the Old Testament, for circulating money proved that there had been a change of authority in the nation (Matt 22:15-22). Your only scriptural right to legal recourse is when the chosen path of recourse is fully understand and fully accepted by the rulers, such as Paul’s appeal to his citizenship to avoid beatings (Acts 22:22-29; 16:35-40) and his appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:9-11).

Government and Politics

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