When is civil
disobedience Biblically allowable, if at all? When is it Biblically required? What form
should it take? The Scriptures offer diverse counsel on these questions. For
one thing, we are to obey our governing authorities:
·
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human
institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent
by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is
the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of
foolish people. (1 Peter 2:13-15)
However, there are
clearly exceptions to this rule. If their rulings contradict those of God, we
must obey God rather than the government. When the Apostles has been taken into
custody, the Sanhedrin forbade them to speak of Jesus. However, Peter and John
boldly retorted:
·
“Whether it is right in the sight of God to
listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of
what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20; 5:29)
Obeying God rather
than man is a principle with strong and consistent Biblical support. Puah and
Shiphrah, Hebrew midwives, were compelled by their Egyptian lords kill the male
Hebrew babies, but they wouldn’t and lied to the Egyptians about failing to do
so. Consequently, God rewarded them for their disobedience (Exodus 1:15-21).
When then, is it
justified to lie? Perhaps to avoid a greater sin, like not telling the National
Socialists that you are not hiding Jews, which would lead to their murder.
Perhaps
counteracting the greatest sins, for example, murder, would justify greater
acts of civil disobedience:
·
Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did
not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who
keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his
work? (Proverbs 24:11-12)
These verses take us
a step further. Civil disobedience is not only permissible, but it is sometimes
mandatory. One church attender recalls hearing the cries of Jews as the cattle
cars passed their church on the way to their death camps. The church would simply
sing louder. Would God hold them to account for their “silence.” The verses
above would give us an emphatic “Yes!”
What does this say
about our relative silence in the face of the neighborhood abortion clinic?
What should we say to feminists and politicians who even celebrate the murder
of the unborn?
How far should civil
disobedience take us? Can we find a Scriptural understanding behind which the
Church can march? I am now praying about moderating this discussion among a
panel of Christians. Please join me in prayer regarding this difficult issue!
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