Keith Mack
The topic of whether Christians can break the law is a complex and multifaceted one. On the one hand, Christians are generally expected to be good citizens and follow the laws of the land, as outlined in the Bible, which states that everyone must submit to governing authorities and that all authority comes from God. However, there are instances where a Christian may feel compelled to break the law, particularly when it conflicts with their religious beliefs or when they perceive an overwhelming injustice. This concept of civil disobedience is not new, with Jesus himself frequently breaking laws during his life, and biblical figures like Hebrew midwives and Rahab disobeying laws to follow God's commandments. Today, Christians may find themselves struggling with similar dilemmas, such as protesting against social injustices or sharing their faith in countries where it is illegal. Ultimately, each Christian must grapple with their conscience and seek God's will when deciding whether to obey the law or follow their religious convictions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Christians should obey the laws of the land | Yes |
| Christians should turn themselves in if they break the law | Yes |
| Christians can break the law if it contradicts the law of God | Yes |
| Christians can break the law to end oppression and injustice | Yes |
| Christians can break the law if they are prevented from worshipping God | Yes |
| Christians can break the law if they are prevented from reading the Bible | Yes |
| Christians can break the law if they are prevented from praying | Yes |
| Christians can break the law if they are prevented from talking about Jesus | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Christians and civil disobedience
The Bible says that Christians should obey the laws of the land and submit to governing authorities. However, this does not mean living one's life to please the world. There are exceptions when it comes to Christians disobeying and breaking the laws.
Christians are to be blameless in the eyes of the law as a way to serve God and be an example for the rest of society to follow. However, this does not mean that Christians should conform to worldly ideologies. Christians are constantly striving to live a life that honours God, and rulers have an obligation to be godly. When God's word and leadership disagree, Christians are faced with a difficult decision, and they must trust that God's word is true and that the Holy Spirit will guide them.
There are several instances in the Bible where civil disobedience is mentioned. For example, in Acts 5:27-29, the apostles were told by the governing authorities not to share their faith with others, but they replied that they must obey God rather than any human authority. Another example is found in Daniel 3, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow before an idol, which was the law of the Babylonian government, but they did not sin because worshipping idols is against God's law.
In some places, it is illegal to have Bibles or churches, and Christians in these places may choose to smuggle Bibles or meet in illegal underground churches. In other cases, Christians have participated in protests and direct action to challenge or break the law, such as in the case of immigration enforcement or abortion laws.
Some theologians, like Stanley Hauerwas, argue that Christians will always be in tension with the societies and laws in which they find themselves, and that there are times when breaking the law is justified in response to overwhelming injustice. However, others argue that Christians should follow governing authorities and that breaking the law is a sin. Ultimately, when faced with a choice between obeying the law and obeying God, Christians believe they must obey God.
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Christians breaking the law to honour God
The Bible says that Christians should obey the laws of the land. However, there are instances where Christians have broken the law to honour God. For example, in some places, it is illegal to have Bibles or churches, and Christians have smuggled in Bibles and met in illegal underground churches so that people can learn about Jesus. In the past, Christians have also peacefully protested or boycotted to demonstrate that God has called them to be people who are not prejudiced against race, gender, etc.
There is a strong biblical tradition of civil disobedience, including Hebrew midwives refusing to kill babies (Exodus 1:15-21), Rahab disobeying treason laws (Joshua 2), and the early Church refusing to honour Caesar as the primary authority in the world, seeing all human law as subordinate to God's law (Acts 5:29). Jesus himself broke laws, healing on the Sabbath and turning the tables outside the temple.
Christians must recognise that there has to be some authority and trust placed in the state, but rulers have an obligation to be godly, living out the virtues of mercy and forgiveness. When God's word and leadership disagree, some Christians believe that they must obey God rather than human authority. For example, in the book of Acts, the apostles were told by governing authorities not to share their faith with others, but they replied, "We must obey God rather than any human authority" (Acts 5:29).
In some cases, Christians have chosen to break the law to end oppression and injustice. For instance, in Glasgow, hundreds of people, including Christians, surrounded an immigration enforcement van, defying authorities and demanding that the people inside be allowed to return to their homes. In America, church leaders have continued meeting in breach of coronavirus legislation, and Christians have joined right-wing protests and riots, such as the Capitol riots, to stand up for what they believe in.
However, breaking the law can also have consequences, and Christians who break the law may face penalties, persecution, or even execution for their faith. Ultimately, Christians must use their discernment and seek God's will when deciding whether to obey the law or follow their religious beliefs.
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Christians breaking the law to end oppression and injustice
The Bible contains several instances of civil disobedience, with Jesus himself flouting the law by healing on the Sabbath and turning the tables outside the temple. In Acts 5, Peter and the apostles are also justified in breaking the law. The Bible also mentions Hebrew midwives who refused to kill babies, and Rahab, who disobeyed treason laws.
Jesus' resurrection is seen as a triumph over oppressive ways, and early Christians believed that oppression would eventually collapse, with Jesus Christ's kingdom established on earth. Christians are tasked with bringing about an end to oppression, and Jesus himself prayed for his followers, knowing they would face the same oppression he did.
Christians are often motivated to break the law or challenge it to end oppression and injustice. For example, in Glasgow, hundreds of people, including Christians, surrounded an immigration enforcement van, defying authorities and demanding that those inside be allowed to return to their homes. Chants of "These are our neighbours!" were heard.
Christian philosopher Francis A. Schaeffer, was in favour of civil disobedience, asking in his work, "Are we to obey the state no matter what?". Similarly, theologian Stanley Hauerwas has written about how the Church should not conform to worldly ideologies and has expressed sympathy for those who break the law in response to overwhelming injustice.
However, some Christians have sought change through policy rather than breaking the law. William Wilberforce, for example, was a Christian politician who worked to end slavery through policy, eventually leading to the abolitionist movement in the US and emancipation.
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Christians breaking the law to share their faith
The Bible states that God expects Christians to follow the law. However, it also says that God instituted governments, and that rulers have an obligation to be godly. This means living out the virtues of mercy and forgiveness, as demonstrated by Jesus.
Jesus is part of a strong biblical tradition of civil disobedience. He broke laws, such as healing on the Sabbath and turning the tables outside the temple. He also said to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. This suggests that Christians should obey the government, but only if the government is obeying God.
There are several examples of civil disobedience in the Bible. Hebrew midwives refused to kill babies (Exodus 1:15-21), Rahab disobeyed treason laws (Joshua 2), and the early Church refused to honour Caesar as the primary authority in the world, seeing all human law as subordinate to God’s law (Acts 5:29).
In some places, it is illegal to have Bibles or churches, and Christians have smuggled in Bibles and met in illegal underground churches. In other instances, Christians have protested or boycotted to demonstrate that God has called them to be people who are not prejudiced against race, gender, or genealogy.
Some Christians believe that there is a place for breaking the law, especially when confronted with injustice and its impact on wider society. For example, hundreds of Glaswegians surrounded an immigration enforcement van, defying the authorities and demanding that the people inside be allowed to return to their homes. This was seen by some as biblical obedience to Jesus' message in the parable of the Good Samaritan.
However, others argue that Christians should be good citizens and follow the law as a way to serve God and set an example for the rest of society.
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Christians breaking the law and turning themselves in
The Bible says that Christians should obey the laws of the land. However, this does not mean ignoring God's law. For example, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not sin when they refused to bow before an idol, despite it being the law of the Babylonian government.
Christians are called to be good citizens and to be blameless in the eyes of the law as a way to serve God. However, there are differing opinions on whether Christians should turn themselves in if they break the law. Some believe that Christians should strive to obey the laws of the government and only break them if they conflict with God's laws. In these cases, Christians should turn themselves in and accept the consequences. Others argue that Christians should not conform to worldly ideologies and that there will always be tension between the laws of society and God's laws.
For example, in some places, it is illegal to have Bibles, yet Christians smuggle them in. In other places, it is against the law to have a church, so Christians meet underground in illegal churches. In addition, some Christians have participated in protests and riots, defying the authorities to stand up for what they believe is right.
When Christians break the law, they are called to repent and ask for forgiveness from God. They should also strive to not repeat the sin. If there is a warrant out for their arrest, they should turn themselves in and resolve the legal case against them. However, Christians are not obligated to turn themselves in for minor infractions.
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Frequently asked questions
Christians are generally expected to obey the laws of the land and the authorities that God has placed over them. However, there are instances where Christians have chosen to break the law, such as in the case of social injustices or when the law contradicts their religious beliefs.
If a Christian breaks the law, they are expected to repent and turn away from that sin. If caught, they should accept the punishment without recourse.
Christians may break the law when it conflicts with the laws of God or their religious beliefs. For example, in the book of Acts, the apostles were told not to share their faith but refused, saying, "We must obey God rather than any human authority."
There are several examples of Christians breaking the law throughout history, such as protesting against social injustices, participating in the abolitionist movement, or sharing their faith in countries where it is forbidden.
