Paul gives two reasons why Christians must obey government. 1) Because of wrath, that is, to avoid the punishment that government executes on those who do wrong. 2) For conscience sake, that is, because we want to keep a clear conscience before God, who has established government and commands us to obey it. This second reason means that even where there is no likelihood of arrest or punishment, Christians should be fully obedient to government. Both Jesus and Paul direct Christians to pay taxes to the Roman government, which was certainly not pure or righteous in all its action. As with all commands of God, we should try to obey this one joyfully and not grudgingly. Whenever we tend to become discouraged with the imperfections of our government, or the burden of taxation that it imposes upon us, we would do well to remember that the alternative, anarchy, is far worse according to Judges 17-21. So when should a Christian disobey civil government? The answer is: When a civil government refuses people the liberty to worship and obey God freely, it has lost its mandate of authority from God. Then the Christian should feel justified in disobeying. Thomas Jefferson believed that when a government began to be tyrannical, it was the right and even the duty of the citizens to rebel against that government. The Christian, however, is called to bear with his government wherever possible. Jesus did not call for a revolution against Rome, even though it was an oppressive conqueror of Israel. On the other hand, the apostles refused to obey an order not to preach and teach in Jesus name according to Acts 5:27-29. “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us?” But Peter and the other apostles answered and said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Whenever the civil government forbids the practice of things that God has commanded us to do, or tells us to do things He has commanded us not to do, then we are on solid ground in disobeying the government. Blind obedience to government is never right. However difficult or costly it may be, we all must reserve the right to say no to things that we consider oppressive or immoral.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:36:04 +0000
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