Civil Disobedience

Civil disobedience occurs when someone intentionally breaks a law that conflicts with God's commands. When civil laws require disobeying God's instructions, Christians must follow God's authority over human authority.1

Biblical Basis for Civil Disobedience

The Bible provides clear direction through the example of the apostles. As Grudem explains:

After Jesus had commanded the early apostles to preach the Gospel (see Matt. 28:19–20), the Jewish governing authority, the Sanhedrin, arrested some of them and commanded them 'not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus' (Acts 4:18). But the apostles Peter and John answered, 'We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard' (Acts 4:20), and later Peter proclaimed, 'We must obey God rather than men' (5:29).2

Duties to God and Government

Christians have responsibilities both to civil authority and to God. Colson writes, "Scripture commands civil obedience — that individuals respect and live in subjection to governing authorities and pray for those in authority." However, when government commands conflict with God's commands, Christians "are to obey God, not man. That may mean holding the state to moral account through civil disobedience."3

References

  1. Wayne Grudem, Politics - According to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), 88.

  2. Grudem, Politics - According to the Bible, 88.

  3. Charles Colson, God & Government: An Insider's View on the Boundaries Between Faith & Politics (Zondervan), Kindle Edition.

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