What about Christians and civil disobedience?

Most drivers are unaware that every time they go over the speed limit, turn a corner without signaling, cut off other drivers, or drive with a hamburger in one hand, they are disobeying God. They might say they are breaking the law, but with the prevalence of these “crimes” it seems doubtful. Since these violations have become so common, it appears most would not even think twice. However, the Bible does say, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Romans 13:1)

That said, is there a place for civil disobedience? The Bible says there is, but it is not about protesting those laws that step on human rights, comforts or conveniences. The only time God says we can ‘break the law’ is when that law goes contrary to a direct command from Him.

In the early church, the disciples were teaching people about Jesus. The governing authorities didn’t like it and arrested them. When they were set before the council, the high priest questioned them. “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

At that, Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:27–32)

Since these authorities claimed to be religious and keepers of God’s laws, what could they say? They “beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.” These Christians then left the presence of the council and were “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” (Acts 5:40–42) The law of God was honored, even as they disobeyed the ‘law’ ordered by the authorities. Not only that, they used the incident to proclaim the Gospel!

Daniel and his three friends set an example too. The king Nebuchadnezzar built an image and passed a law that when certain music played, everyone had to stop what they were doing and worship the image. If not, they would be immediately cast into a burning fiery furnace.

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused, the king mocked them saying “Who is the god that will deliver you?” but they said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:13–18)

They were tossed in the furnace. It was so hot that the flames killed those who threw them in, but these three were protected. The king saw, “Four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” (Daniel 3:22–25) The fire “had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.”

Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.” (Daniel 3:27–28)

God delivered these and later delivered Daniel from a den of lions, but deliverance is not a guarantee. When Jesus was brought before Pilate and questioned, He said to this man, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world . . . You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:33–37)

Even as he heard this profound claim, Pilate chose to obey the earthly authorities. He crucified this King of the Jews, the King of God’s kingdom.

From this I realize that if I am in a position where I must obey God rather than those in authority, I could suffer, even die for submitting to God. Yet He, who is sovereign over all other authorities, can use whatever happens to me to bring glory to Himself. My part is to trust Him and use such situations to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

Justice for godliness?

When it comes to justice, many people are willing to defend their own rights, but easily look the other way when others are trampled. Justice and persecution are largely unfamiliar topics since I’m not a poster girl for unjust treatment, yet there are others who suffer abuse and are even in prison when they are not guilty of anything other than loving Jesus. 
 

Although not a crime in our part of the world (yet), there are places in our modern world where preaching the Gospel is illegal, even punished by death. Followers of other faiths are free to speak of their beliefs but not Christians. It was the same in Bible days. Some of the disciples were tortured and martyred for believing in Jesus and the Apostle Paul was thrown in jail for preaching the gospel.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:8–13)

Paul had a unique way of dealing with this injustice. He didn’t put himself or his rights out front. Instead, he was motivated by a deep love for others. He also remembered what happened to Jesus Christ and considered it an honor to suffer for the same reasons. He knew that the Word of God had power to save souls for eternity, even if the one who preached it was in jail. Because of this attitude, he was able to endure what was happening to him.

Jesus earlier told the disciples that they would suffer for believing in Him. He even told them to consider it an honor to do so, for persecution identified their allegiance, and they would be rewarded.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11–12)

Why do followers of Jesus Christ receive such unjust treatment? In my country, there is a great cry for tolerance in the name of every other religion, but Christians are not given the same freedom. It is okay to be angry and hate us for what we believe. It is as Jesus said…

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. (John 15:18–21)

Jesus said they do it because we are of a different citizenship. We belong to heaven and for some reason that makes people hate us just as they hated the One we call our Lord and King. They also hate our message for it calls them out of the world too, and for most, they love their sin and do not want to change.

Paul knew he would be treated unjustly. The Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:15–16) and the other apostles learned that this was an honor. “And when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” (Acts 5:40–42) 

This does not happen as much here as it did there. Perhaps the freedom of living in North America has spoiled us? Perhaps we take for granted the fairness that has characterized our justice system (that is now failing)? Or we assume the blessing of God includes comfort and being tolerated, even well-liked? 

The Bible does say, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12), yet in North America, most of us are protected by law, godly or not. In other parts of the world, Christians die every day because others hate them simply for being godly people. 

I’m not sure how I would respond to severe persecution. My hope is that I would look to Jesus and identify with Him, appreciating how He suffered for my sake and considering it a privilege to be like Him. Yet I fear that I’m not there yet, and that I would defend myself rather than endure for the sake of the Gospel.

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Lord, today’s reading says that “the highest bidder for the crown of glory is the lowliest wearer of the cross of self-denial” which says to me that I cannot credit the justice system for any lack of persecution in my life. Rather, the reason could easily be that my life is characterized more by me-first than self-denial. Jesus, You know. I’m grateful that many of Your people still have freedom to believe and proclaim the Gospel, but know that a day is coming when this will not be so. May You work in my heart so that I will not shrink back when that day arrives.