Views: 2<\/p>
[Note: <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 1<\/strong>\u00a0page.]<\/span><\/p>\n Only two spheres\/sources of authority exist\u2014human and Divine: \u201cRender therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar\u2019s; and unto God the things that are God\u2019s\u201d (Mat. 22:21; cf. 21:25). Divine authority is supreme\u2014whether or not men acknowledge it\u2014and He will eventually exercise it utterly (Mat. 25:31\u201346). Since the incarnation of the pre-incarnate Word in the Person of Jesus Christ, Deity has exercised Divine authority through Him. Jesus possesses \u201call authority…in heaven and on earth\u201d and He is \u201cfar above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come\u201d (Mat. 28:18; 1 Cor. 15:22\u201325; Eph. 1:21; cf. 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 1:5).<\/span><\/p>\n Civil authority as an entity exists with God\u2019s sanction: \u201cThe powers (not necessarily the person in power) that be are ordained of God…\u201d (Rom. 13:1; cf. 1 Pet. 2:13\u201315), and rulers are ideally \u201cministers of God\u201d (vv. 4, 6) to reward\/protect good works and to punish evil works (v. 3; cf. 1 Pet. 2:13). Those who fail to do so, fail both the public they are sworn to protect and their God-given duty. Generally, Inspiration charges us to obey civil authorities: \u201cLet every soul be in subjection to the higher powers,\u201d and resistance amounts to withstanding God\u2019s will (Rom. 13:1\u20132; cf. Tit. 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13). Thus Paul commands us to pray \u201cfor kings and all that are in high place\u201d (1 Tim. 2:1\u20132). \u00a0In light of the foregoing, can a Christian, with the Lord\u2019s approval, ever resist the laws of his government? The Bible clearly answers that he not only can<\/strong>, but in certain circumstances, he must <\/strong>refuse to obey them\u2014thus engaging in \u201ccivil disobedience.\u201d Consider some Biblical examples of such God-approved behavior:<\/span><\/p>\n The case involving the apostles and the Sanhedrin court is particularly illustrative. Jesus had ordered them to preach the Gospel in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8), but the court ordered Peter and John, under threat of physical harm, to cease preaching (4:18). When all of the apostles were arrested for resuming their preaching the court reminded them of its earlier ban. Peter responded with words for the ages whenever servants of God are faced with human-Divine law conflicts: \u201cWe must obey God rather than men\u201d (Acts 5:29).<\/span><\/p>\n As then, so always: civil government is no better than the persons who sit in seats of power and make laws, as our founding fathers well recognized. John Adams summed up this\u00a0recognition: \u201cWe have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion….\u201d Morality<\/em> and religion<\/em>\u00a0in Adams’ quote referred to principles imposed by the Bible.<\/span><\/p>\n Consummately evil autocrats who neither fear God nor regard man (Luke 18:2) have for some time controlled our nation\u2019s levers of power. The ruling of five such black-robed unelected amoral despots imposed their will upon 300+ million citizens on June 26, 2015, usurping the authority of Almighty God regarding the meaning of marriage<\/em>\u2014God\u2019s oldest institution, predating all civil governments. This new edict places all Bible believers on the wrong side of the law, portending grievous, far-reaching effects for those who refuse to bow down before it.<\/span><\/p>\n Let us pray that evil people in power will be deposed and that people who have Biblically-rooted moral values will gain influence. Let us obey civil government in every way that does not violate God\u2019s Word, but let us steel ourselves to resist any and every law that contradicts God\u2019s Word\u2014whatever the cost (Rev. 2:10).<\/span><\/p>\n [Note: <\/strong>I wrote this article for and it was published in The Lighthouse, <\/em>weekly bulletin of Northpoint Church of Christ, Denton, TX, July 5, 2015, of which I was editor.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution<\/strong>: From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 2[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 1\u00a0page.] Only two spheres\/sources of authority exist\u2014human and Divine: \u201cRender therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar\u2019s; and unto God the things that are God\u2019s\u201d (Mat. 22:21; cf. 21:25). Divine authority…<\/p>\n\n