Is there ever a time when it is not right to obey human government? Yes. When human government orders believers to do what is contrary to God, we must obey God. This is what happened to the early church. Look in Acts 5:27 and following: “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5:27-29).
Advertisement
The question of Christian civil disobedience is not a new question. It came to the Christians in Rome. When told to curse Christ and worship Caesar, Christians said no. Recently I personally interviewed a Roman Catholic priest in Tirana, Albania, whom the Communists had ordered to curse Christ. I saw the marks on his back from the daily whippings he received for five years because he disobeyed the government to obey Christ. If Christian parents are ordered by the government NOT to pray with their children, what must those Christians do? Francis Schaeffer, one of the greatest pastor-theologians of last century, preaching from the pulpit of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in 1982, said this: “When the government negates the law of God, it abrogates its authority. God has given certain offices to restrain chaos in this fallen world, but it does not mean that these offices are autonomous, and when a government commands that which is contrary to the Law of God, it abrogates its authority.”1
May that never happen in our nation. But one way we can prevent it from happening is by voting and encouraging political involvement that promotes biblical values in human government. That is, in fact, the greatest way to honor government — being involved in it.
Prayer
The third word that defines the relationship between biblical faith and human government is prayer.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
This is a critical passage. In 1 Timothy, Paul is teaching Timothy what must be done about problems that have arisen in the church. In 1 Timothy 2, Paul turns to worship. He is saying that prayer must be prime in the public worship services of the church in Ephesus. This may amaze you; he charges that prayers be made for those in authority. Then he says why: in order that Christians may lead a quiet and peaceable life. Human government provides an authoritative cover under which the church may carry out the great commission. It follows then, that we should pray for the government.
