Thank you for the Biblical question on civil government, “What does the Bible say citizens should do when the government steps out of bounds?”
In our modern period, the Christian Church and Christians have been and may continue to face an unparalleled attack on the Christian faith and their practices. Will the pandemic become a future bases to restrict religious freedom and its expressions of worship? I believe so
The stage is being set as never in American history or even in world history that a civil government ruling will control religious worship which will lead to religious belief. If a civil government can restrict religious worship, then it is a short step to restrict religious teachings as being non-scientific and detrimental to society.
What should citizens and in particular Christians do when government overreached their authority and imposes their authority over its citizens?
The Apostle Paul writes an overarching principle in Romans 13, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages). Citations are from the New International Version.
There are two Biblical examples that I would like to cite as how Christians are to respond to a law that violates one’s belief and practices. Those two examples from the life of Daniel in Babylon that citizens and or Christians can learn.
A. Daniel 1 says this to seek a compromise or alternative with civil authorities, if all possible. The text says this, “8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead” (NIV).
Daniel didn’t hold a protest by starving himself or sought to change or overthrow the government. He tried to work within the civil government to find an alternative that would satisfy the civil law. He was not in a position to change the law since the government was a monarch.
B. Daniel 3 says that Daniel’s three friends refused to worship an idol and were willing to suffer the consequences of their decision.
The king commanded that everyone bowed and worshiped the idol that he made. The three Jewish friends refused to bow down and the consequences was being thrown into the fiery furnace.
Daniel 3 says this, “Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (NIV).
The principle is that Christians and or citizens have a right to refuse to obey a law. The individuals who refused to obey must consider the consequences and accept the consequences of their decision. That decision may include imprisonment and death. The three friends didn’t resist the death sentence.
Christians and citizens have a right to follow their personal conscience and conviction. Their personal conviction doesn’t entail destroying properties, but allows for peaceful disobedience. If a law is unjust, then it calls for citizens and or Christians to seek to overturn the law by appeal to civil authorities. If the law can’t be overturned, then those individuals must decide whether they are willing to pay the penalty regardless of imprisonment or death for their decision. Christians, not necessarily citizens, are called to submit to civil law and to demonstrate their sacrifices of property or personal freedom for what they believe. I don’t believe Christians are called to overthrow the government but to trust God to change the officials of the government even as they see the innocent behavior of Christians toward them and the laws.
In our Republic, Christians who are citizens of this country have the right to voice their opinion, to demonstrate peacefully as the Constitution grants. and to vote for changes through the local, state, and national representatives. Christians are called to fulfill their civic duty by being actively involved in the community, not being passive to the condition of our society.
SUMMARY: Christians and or citizens are given the right to vocalize their opinion and to vote for change. If Christians fail to exercise that right, we have only ourselves to blame for not attempting to change the outcome of an election. Whether one is in the majority or minority, the right to vote is a special right given to its citizens and Christians are to exercise it.
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