Civil Disobedience: Do we always have to obey government?

The answer is: “Yes” and “No.”

The question is: “Do we always have to obey the government?”

My answer may seem uncommitted at best or ambivalent at worse, but that is because the question is complicated. I could have said, much to the chagrin of morality philosophers, “It depends.”

That’s because it does. Do we always have to obey government? Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no.

In this article you will find two explanations for the “yes”–why we should obey government. You will also find one example of when “no” is the better answer.

Determining in our own minds how we, especially as Christians, need to view the authority of government is crucial given the instability of our world right now. I am writing this toward the end of 2020, which, in case you are reading this many years in the future, has been chaotic, to say in the least. If you’re reading this anywhere close to 2020, you are nodding in agreement.

This year the government has asked us to do some things we never thought would happen. We closed our business and churches, canceled family activities, and started wearing face coverings in public. While some believed these measures were necessary, and others viewed them as utter nonsense, we complied. Not that we had much of a choice. In some cases, we were given recommendations; in others, mandates.

The question that many of us are asking, though, is this: How far is this supposed to go? At what point should we stop falling into line with whatever the “experts” advise government officials to command us to do?

Fortunately, the Bible does give us the correct answer to this question, and clearly so, in my opinion. So, let’s begin by looking at the two reasons that we should obey government. Then we’ll consider when we should not.

1. We should obey the government because it is commanded by God

What else do we need, really?

God set up government to oversee civil matters. When we obey government, then, we are obeying God. When Paul wrote to the Romans, he gave them clear instructions about their relationship to government:

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. (Romans 13:1-5)

These people were supposed to obey the civil authorities. Let that sink in for a minute. They didn’t live in America, but in the wicked empire of Rome. Not exactly what I would call a bastion of godliness.

2. We should obey government because it demonstrates that we are not rebellious

While we may prefer to rebel when government officials ask us to do something we do not like, obedience signals that we are willing to comply as much as we can. We are not a rebellious people and want to live in harmony with government.

When Peter wrote the first book we know by his name, he called his readers “pilgrims of the Dispersion.” These were primarily Jews who were living in exile, having left their homeland because of ethnic and religious hostility. He warned them that their faith would be tested and they would experience great trials, and even death, at the hands of government.

Then, in a surprising twist, he imparted some specific instructions for how to relate to their government:

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake…(1 Peter 2:13)

What? They were supposed to submit to an ungodly government? Yes.

Remember that these folks, like the Romans, were not living in America. We have something special here. If America does not have an overtly godly heritage, it has at least some foundation in Judeo-Christian values. They, on the other hand, had no Declaration of Independence, Constitution, or First Amendment. They could not go to court to fight for religious liberty. But what did Peter say? Submit anyway.

He didn’t say, “If you like it.” He didn’t say, “If you agree with it.” He just said, “Do it.”

And don’t just “do it.” Do it “for the Lord’s sake.” We are God’s representatives to the world, and how we act reflects on His character. That is why Peter continues…

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men…(1 Peter 2:15)

People like to spread rumors. We should live in such a way where folks would say, “There is no way that is true!” When we live in constant rebellion against authority, we invite blame.

If we, however, as Christians, can prove that we want to submit to civil authorities, we earn the right to dissent when necessary.

That brings us to our third point: sometimes we must refuse to submit to government.

3. We should submit to government unless laws of government conflict with laws of God

Occasionally we may find ourselves trapped between two conflicting requirements, or two “absolutes.” On one hand, we are to obey God. On the other hand, we are to obey government. But what if they conflict?

Norm Geisler offered a philosophy he called “graded absolutism.”[i] When we find ourselves faced with two conflicting absolutes, we must choose which holds the most authority. In this case (as in all others, I guess), the answer is God. After all, He not only designed government and delegated its authority, but He also created the universe to begin with. I’m thinking that qualifies one for superiority.

God, as the supreme authority, He has delegated some authority to government. However, when government steps outside of its role, we still answer to Him.

If I owned a business and hired you as an employee, you would be required to submit to the manager I put in authority over you. However, if that manager were to ask you to do something against my wishes, your moral response would be to disobey him. In that case, I would be the higher authority, and the manager has no right to change my rules.

When the government requires us to act in contradiction to God’s clear commands, we are not only justified if we disobey, but we are required to do so.

As our nation becomes increasingly liberal, I fear that we will have to face these kinds of decisions frequently in the future. However, it is wise for us to choose our battles. In trivial matters, we should show government officials that we want to submit. We will pay our taxes, observe building codes, and maybe even wear face coverings for a while.

If government stays in its lane, everything will be fine. But we recognize that God is the supreme authority, and we cannot, for any reason, disobey Him. That’s where we draw the line.

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[i] Norman L. Geisler, Christian Ethics: Contemporary Issues & Options, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2010), 97.