Keith Mack
The Bible has a lot to say about the law. In Romans 13 1-2, it says that we should abide by the law, but there are also verses that suggest that we should break the law if it conflicts with God's laws. For example, in Acts 5:29, it says that Christians must obey God as ruler rather than men. Similarly, in Mark 12:17, Exodus 1:15-17, 2 Kings 19:14-37 and Acts 5:38-39, the Bible suggests that we should be willing to break unjust laws and accept the legal consequences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Obedience to government laws | Christians are law-abiding citizens, but when government requirements conflict with God's laws, Christians "must obey God as ruler rather than men" (Acts 5:29) |
| Submission to authority | Followers of Jesus, such as Paul and Peter, submitted to the authorities by accepting the legal consequences of their actions, even when they deliberately disobeyed laws that conflicted with God's commands |
| Respect for government | Breaking unjust laws to highlight and protest their injustice should be accompanied by a willingness to submit to the punishment for breaking such laws, demonstrating respect for the role of government |
| Contextual interpretation | The Bible should be interpreted as a whole, and individual verses should not be taken out of context to justify a particular idea or desire |
| Ethical guidance | God, not the law, dictates ethics, and Christians should be willing to break unjust laws while maintaining non-violence and respect for authority |
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What You'll Learn
- Christians are law-abiding citizens, but when government requirements conflict with God's laws, they must obey God
- Paul, Peter and other followers of Jesus deliberately disobeyed laws that conflicted with God's commands
- The Bible must be taken as a whole, and not used out of context to justify a particular idea or desire
- The law does not dictate our ethics. God does
- Gamaliel's advice in Acts 5:38-39 is relevant to the question of whether to abide by the laws of the country you are in
Christians are law-abiding citizens, but when government requirements conflict with God's laws, they must obey God
Christians are generally law-abiding citizens, but when government requirements conflict with God's laws, they must obey God. This is based on the Bible verse Acts 5:29, which says that Christians "must obey God as ruler rather than men".
This idea is supported by the actions of Paul, Peter, and other followers of Jesus, who deliberately disobeyed laws that conflicted with God's commands while still submitting to the authorities by accepting the legal consequences of their actions. For example, some Christians today protest unjust treatment of refugees or environmental injustice, and are willing to break laws that are wrong and unjust, but they do so in a peaceful manner and submit to the legal consequences of their actions.
The Bible verse Romans 13 1-2 is often interpreted as saying that Christians should abide by the law, but this interpretation has been challenged. Some argue that this verse should not be used out of context to justify a particular idea or desire, and that the Bible as a whole teaches that Christians are not bound by ungodly laws. Instead, the role of government should be respected, and if a Christian breaks an unjust law to protest its injustice, they should be willing to submit to the punishment for breaking such laws.
Overall, while Christians are generally law-abiding, they must ultimately obey God rather than men when there is a conflict between government requirements and God's laws.
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Paul, Peter and other followers of Jesus deliberately disobeyed laws that conflicted with God's commands
Similarly, in Acts 5:29, it is written that when government requirements conflict with God's laws, Christians "must obey God as ruler rather than men". This means that while Christians should generally abide by the laws of the country they are in, they are not bound to obey laws that go against God's commands.
Paul, Peter, and other followers of Jesus demonstrated this by submitting to the legal consequences of their actions when they broke unjust laws. For example, some of them stage hippie sit-ins on the floor of their local government representative's office to protest the unjust treatment of refugees. Others chain themselves to bulldozers to protest environmental injustice. By doing so, they show their respect for the role of government while also standing up for what they believe in.
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The Bible must be taken as a whole, and not used out of context to justify a particular idea or desire
The Bible is a complex and multifaceted text that should be interpreted as a whole, rather than through the lens of individual verses taken out of context. While some verses, such as Romans 13:1-2, encourage Christians to abide by the laws of the land, there are also numerous examples of Biblical figures deliberately breaking laws that conflict with God's commands. For instance, Jesus was accused of misleading the people, but Pilate found him not guilty of any charges (Luke 23:13-16 NIV). Similarly, Paul, Peter, and other followers of Jesus disobeyed laws that went against God's will, even as they accepted the legal consequences of their actions.
The Bible also recognises that civil authorities can abuse their power and enact ungodly laws. In such cases, Christians are not bound to obey these laws but should instead follow God's commandments. This is exemplified in Acts 5:29, where it is stated that Christians "must obey God as ruler rather than men".
It is important to note that the Bible does not advocate for lawlessness or anarchy. Christians are generally expected to be law-abiding citizens, as seen in Mark 12:17 and Exodus 1:15-17. However, when faced with unjust laws, Christians may choose to break them as a form of protest or to highlight their injustice, while still submitting to the legal consequences. This approach is exemplified by radical clergy members who engage in non-violent civil disobedience to protest issues such as the treatment of refugees and environmental injustice.
In conclusion, the Bible should not be used to justify breaking government laws without careful consideration of the broader context and the underlying principles it espouses. Christians must weigh their allegiance to civil authorities against their commitment to God's commandments and act in a manner that demonstrates respect for both.
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The law does not dictate our ethics. God does
Obedient Christians are law-abiding citizens, but they are not bound by ungodly laws. The Bible has to be taken as a whole, and one or two verses may not be used out of context to justify a particular idea or desire. For example, in Luke 23:13-16, Pilate examines Jesus and finds him not guilty of any charges. He did not break any laws.
Paul, Peter, and other followers of Jesus deliberately disobeyed laws that were in conflict with God's commands, but they still submitted to the authorities by accepting the legal consequences of their actions. They showed us the way to interpret Romans 13: if we break an unjust law to highlight and protest its injustice, we should be willing to submit to the punishment for breaking such laws, so that we demonstrate our respect for the role of government in general.
Christians should abide by the laws of the country they are in at the time. If they break the laws, then they should expect to be punished for it.
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Gamaliel's advice in Acts 5:38-39 is relevant to the question of whether to abide by the laws of the country you are in
> 'Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39. But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.'
Gamaliel's advice is relevant to the question of whether to abide by the laws of the country because it highlights the importance of respecting the role of government and civil authority, even if one disagrees with their laws. Gamaliel's advice suggests that if a law is unjust, it will ultimately fail, but that does not mean that one should actively work against it. Instead, one should submit to the legal consequences of their actions, as Paul, Peter and other followers of Jesus did when they broke laws that conflicted with God's commands.
Gamaliel's advice also recognises the potential consequences of breaking the law, as the Jewish rulers were afraid of provoking the Roman power. This is relevant to the question of abiding by the laws of the country because it highlights the potential risks and consequences of breaking the law, which should be carefully considered.
Overall, Gamaliel's advice in Acts 5:38-39 provides a thoughtful and prudent perspective on the question of whether to abide by the laws of the country. While one should ultimately follow God's laws above man's, Gamaliel's advice suggests that it is wise to respect the role of government and civil authority, even if one disagrees with their laws.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bible says that Christians should be law-abiding citizens (Romans 13:1-2). However, when government requirements conflict with God's laws, Christians "must obey God as ruler rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
The Bible says that Christians should abide by the laws of the country they are in (Mark 12:17). If they break the laws, they should expect to be punished for it.
The Bible says that Christians should submit to the authorities by accepting the legal consequences of their actions, even if they break unjust laws (Romans 13).
The Bible says that Christians should respect the role of government, even if they disagree with its laws (Romans 13).
