Bible Christians (as opposed to churchy “Christians”) have always known that we must obey God in all things.
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Bible Christians (as opposed to churchy “Christians”) have always known that we must obey God in all things. The Bible has precedence over any and all Constitutions! However, most Christians have never considered the possibility of disobeying authorities. We have been taught that if it is law, it is right and should be obeyed; however, that is simply not true.
Frederic Bastiat, the French authority on law, wrote, “There is in all of us a strong disposition to believe that anything lawful is also proper. This belief is so widespread that many persons have erroneously held that things are just because the law makes them so.” But laws cannot make something just. It can make anything legal (abortion, homosexuality, etc.) but not just.
I am not obligated to resist every unjust law nor every unconstitutional law, but I am obligated to resist any law that conflicts with Bible principles such as a license to preach. The 55 mile per hour speed limit was a ridiculous law. We are told it saved lives, but if we really want to save lives, let’s enforce a 35 mile per hour limit! (If government really wants to save lives, then they would do something about liquor and drug laws, but don’t hold your breath.)
There are some laws I may resist and others I must resist. Any law that is contrary to the Bible must be disobeyed, and I must be willing to pay the price.
Francis Schaeffer wrote, “Let us not forget why the Christians were killed. They were not killed because they worshipped Jesus,…Nobody cared who worshipped whom as long as the worshipper did not disrupt the unity of the state, centered in the formal worship of Caesar. The reason Christians were killed was because they were rebels.” The issue was, and is today, who will sit on the highest throne. I say it is Christ.
I caution each Christian to make sane, sincere, and scriptural decisions concerning resistance. It is serious business, not to be done frivolously.
Ambrose said in 385 A.D: “What belongs to God is outside the emperor’s power.” It still is today!