Even when we disobey an unjust or immoral law, we benefit the ruler and the people of the nation as a whole. We benefit those in authority because, due to our disobedience, they are confronted with the reality of their rebellion against God. Our Christ-obeying disobedience gives them opportunity to recover themselves, and turn from their unjust and/ or immoral deeds. We benefit the people of the nation as a whole because we act as a check against tyranny. Our fealty is to Christ first, not to man, therefore when the State makes law that commands that which God forbids or forbids that which God commands, we obey God rather than man. This benefits the entire nation. The tyrant government is not allowed to continue unchecked in its tyranny. This is one way in which Christianity preserves liberty for a nation. As Christians, we suffer at the hands of the State due to our disobedience of their unjust or immoral laws or decrees. The rest of the nation benefits from our suffering because we help rein in a tyrannical government. This has been the history of the Church. But the ungodly don’t see it. They prefer select parts of history where Christian men affirmed the pagan doctrine of the divine right of kings by positing an unbiblical interpretation of Romans 13 and teaching unlimited obedience to the State. Like Daniel said to Darius in Daniel 6: 22 “O king, I have committed no crime against you.” In other words, an unjust or immoral law is no law at all. As Christian men and women, may we stand true to Christ, and to the law and Word of God. The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates, Matthew Trewhella
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 00:55:47 +0000
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