The Bible makes it clear that, as believers, we are to honor and obey governing authorities.
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. (Romans 13:1-5, NLT)
Romans 13 is specifically referring to situations where the government is enforcing just and moral laws - for the Scripture says, “They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.” By obeying the laws of the land, we keep a clear conscience. Only those who do what is wrong should fear the government. But what happens when doing what is right is prohibited by a governing authority?
What are we to do when the government itself becomes corrupt or puts laws in place that are anti-Biblical? There are actually several examples in Scripture of civil disobedience.
The Hebrew midwives disobeyed Pharaoh’s order to murder baby boys. They disobeyed the law of the land. (Exodus 1:17)
Obadiah hid the prophets of God from Jezebel - in doing so, he disobeyed the governing authority. (1 Kings 18:4)
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego disobeyed the laws of the land that commanded them to bow to and worship a statue of the king. (Daniel 3)
The early church disobeyed the laws of the land by proclaiming the gospel.
27Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. 28“We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!” 29But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. (Acts 5:27-29, NLT)
Even today, persecuted churches around the world meet in underground services. They do so at the risk of their own lives.
It is clear, from both Scripture and church history, that whenever the church is faced with the decision to obey God’s Word or the Government’s laws, we are to choose obedience to God’s Word.
And that’s not always easy. The right thing to do isn’t always clear. Programmed, hypnotized mobs and masses of people wag their fingers at anyone willing to stand for truth. Thinking themselves virtuous for repeating the popular opinions of the day, many well-meaning people can actually become hindrances to the truth.
They say, “You’re setting a bad example.” But shouldn’t our example be to obey God?
They say, “You’re going to cause us to lose what freedoms we have.” But if the exercise of a freedom can cause me to lose it, is it really a freedom? What then would be the point of having that freedom if I’m not free to carry it out without losing it?
They say, “Love your neighbor.” Is standing for truth not loving?
Disobedience toward the Word of God - whether done in the name of love, convenience, or even safety - is ultimately still disobedience.
My point is simple: we ought to work with and honor governing authorities, even in the difficult-to-navigate circumstances. But when a clear line is crossed, we must be willing to respectfully resist. As much as is possible, work together with governing authorities. But if their hands become so heavy that we cannot move, if their demands become so unreasonable that we cannot practice all of God’s commands, then it is time for action.
And, believer, it is time for action.
It’s simple: if ever there is a conflict between what we are commanded to do in Scripture and what we are commanded to do by a government, we are to obey the Word of God. Always. No exceptions.
Let us not trade obedience in the name of safety and peace. Let us not act in fear and call it wisdom.