Civil Disobedience and Submission to the Governing Authorities

 Today I'm going to look briefly at a passage that teaches us to submit to the ordained governments that God has put in place.  My objective today is not to teach you to go out and willy nilly disobey the government, but to be aware that when government become oppressive and cruel (i.e. Tyranny) you have the option to disobey, but there will be consequences.

The book of Romans teaches us that we are to "submit to the governing authorities".  Honestly, this is one of my favorite verses of the bible because it points to the constant reality that God gave government for our good and we are obliged to submit to it.

There are many laws that are on the books that are designed to protect us and others.  For instance, texting and driving, speeding, and coming to a complete stop at stop signs are all laws designed to keep us and our communities safe.  To disobey one of these laws if foolish and can result in the injury and death of innocent people. We are probably all guilty of speeding at some point in our lives, but we shouldn't do it.  As one judge told me, "slow down!".  I think that is good advice no matter when you're driving or where you're driving.  

But, are there laws that we shouldn't obey?  Well, some would argue that the Jim Crow laws in the South were oppressive and cruel and should not be obeyed.  If the government suddenly decided to tell you that you have to go to mass at a Catholic church or that you must bow down to this or that idol, we have an obligation as a Christian people to disobey the governing authorities because by their tyranny and injustice they cease to be an ordained government instituted by God.  So, if you lived in North Korea, friend, you don't have to do what they say, but it would be wise for you to escape and remember that there are consequences to disobedience.  

Now, you have to understand that what I'm about to say has undergone a lot of thought and personal research.  There are also grey areas.  I can tell you from my own life that when the family court of Lancaster County disallowed me from contact with my daughter, I immediately considered them unworthy of obedience.  Now, I should have been wiser.  I shouldn't have been so brash, but I didn't understand the consequences that would ensue.  All I knew is that they took my baby girl away for no good reason and it was time to resist the authorities.  Yes, there were threats, but there were threats because my relationship with my daughter was being attacked by my first wife, her father, and the courts.

From personal experience I can tell you that I honestly did nothing wrong!  Now, I did break the law, but the laws were so unjust that no one should have enforced them.  I was ready to go to war and lay down my life for my child.  Thankfully, God has preserved me to this day.  

My advice is this: before you go breaking any laws you need to count the cost.  You need to be sure that those laws are actually oppressive and cruel (i.e. tyrannical) or unjust.  You need a lawyer.  You need a job.  And, you need to avoid going to jail as often as you can.  My advice is to be wise about your decisions and don't die on every hill.  Breaking the law is usually unacceptable, but there are times when you should because tyranny is not God's way of governing us.