God and Civil Disobedience

This month (June) is the anticipated response from the SCOTUS, the Supreme Court of the United States, regarding how the court system will view the legalization of homosexual ‘marriages.’ Will there be an established normalization of such unions by the US government? Will they defer to the authority of the individual states? Are decisions like this grounds for civil disobedience? Nobody knows the answer to these questions, although many homosexual activists and sympathizers suggest legitimization is a foregone conclusion. Whether it is or isn’t remains to be seen, but regardless of the result we, as dedicated followers of Christ, should be prepared for whatever follows the high court’s decision.

Many well-intended (and angry!) believers suggest active resistance to an ungodly court ruling. A few have even gone to the extreme of voicing bloodshed! Others have encouraged resignation and acceptance of that lifestyle as an inevitable fact. Still others propose that Christians do nothing, because “it doesn’t affect us.” But what does God say about situations like this? What would He have us to do? As with everything else in life, our responses to events like this should be centered on God’s Word. It helps us to know where to take a stand between God and civil disobedience.

There was another situation at the beginning of the church which shared similar characteristics to what we face today. Shortly after the Ascension of Christ the Apostles and the other believers in Christ were confronted by the leaders of the Jewish nation. There was no small amount of jealousy these leaders felt toward the disciples, as the people grew increasingly receptive to hearing – and believing – the gospel which was preached. To end the spread of this supposed heresy the leaders had arrested the Apostles and threatened them with severe punishment should they continue in their evangelism. The response of the Apostles to these threats sums up their understanding of what it meant to follow Christ;

Acts 5:29-30
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Wait a minute! What about all those passages that tell us we’re supposed to submit to earthly authority? Aren’t we supposed to “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17)? There are many people who claim that to oppose legitimate authority is to oppose those God has placed in those positions. Is that really the case, or is something else going on that we need to look at?

Peters response showed that the disciples were more concerned about being faithful to the Word of God than being faithful to any earthly authority. Did they actively look for ways to break the law? Were they intentionally stirring up strife and contention among the populace? No, they weren’t.  They were, however, committed to hearing from God and in their subsequent obedience to His direction. They were following Christ. Does that mean they were being led by God to be disobedient to civil authority? Yes, that’s exactly what happened.

Prior to this confrontation, Jesus had left specific instructions for His disciples.  They had asked Him if He would establish the nation of Israel as promised. His reply to their question was;

Acts 1:7-8
“It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The decision to follow the commandment of Christ superseded any allegiance they had to the national leaders they were confronted by. Situations just like this one is what He had prepared them for, and what He had forewarned them of. They would have to make a choice!

Not only did they make the choice to be a witness for the risen Lord (the only sensible choice, to be sure), but they used it as an opportunity to witness to the very ones they were disobedient to! Peter went on the lay out the reason why their obedience was due to Christ alone;

Acts 5:30-32
“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Pay particular attention to the last sentence. The Holy Spirit is not given to just anyone, but “to those who obey Him [Christ].” Why did the Jewish leaders want them to stop speaking about Jesus? Because they didn’t know Him, and definitely weren’t obedient to Him. Jesus Himself had testified that the world didn’t know Him (John 3:19; 7:7; 14:17). The same is true regarding the majority of those in positions of authority in government. While they may be in their positions due to the will of God, their actions do not necessarily warrant blind obedience.

A decision must be made by anyone who truly desires to follow Christ; they will follow the leading of their Lord, despite the fact that there will be opposition from others. Sometime that opposition even comes from those who profess to follow the same Lord! How can this kind of strife come from following the Prince of Peace? Because we are at odds with the world, and all that is within it. Jesus warns us that there will be difficulties ahead. They may come from the world, but they may also come from members of your own family or from other professing Christians;

Matt 10:34-39
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;  and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Jesus does not desire to cause conflict for the sake of conflict, it’s just the natural result of a cultural clash between heaven and earth. It comes from the obedient acts of those who have heard from Him and have determined to “take up your cross, and follow” Him. If civil disobedience (performed with respect and gentleness) is called for, we must answer that call with grace and humility.