Divine Authority and the Limits of Civil Obedience

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)

Although the above passage is written to the church, it does not apply only to the church—it applies to everyone, both believer and unbeliever alike, for scripture says that "whoever" resists the authority resists God's institution. In effect, those who resist their governments are resisting God Himself, and as a consequence, they bring God's judgment on themselves. God is not a God of disorder but of peace, and so He does not condone any disobedience to a nation's laws (1 Corinthians 14:33).

For example, if a nation's law states that people must drive on the left-hand side of the road, God expects the citizens of that nation to obey that law. If an individual decides to drive on the right-hand side of the road, they are promoting lawlessness, which God will not condone, and He will therefore judge that person. We see that when we transgress against the laws of a nation's government, we sin against God and thus incur His judgment.

However, when a nation's laws contradict the laws of God, things are different, for God expects men to obey His laws rather than the laws of men (Acts 5:29). In other words, God's laws supersede man's laws. For example, if a nation were to pass a law mandating their medical practitioners to perform abortions on demand, God would expect those citizens to disobey that law, for it violates His law which states "you shall not murder." In such instances, individuals who disobey man-made laws that contradict God's laws will not be judged by God but rather will be blessed by Him.

The Egyptian midwives Shiphrah and Puah learned this lesson when they refused to obey their government's law to kill all male Hebrews at birth. Scripture tells us that because they feared God rather than the laws of men, God dealt well with them and provided households for them (Exodus 1:15-21).

Nevertheless, the scriptures clearly teach that God judges people who contravene a nation's laws. How does God do that? The passage above declares that God gives governments the authority to enforce their laws through the use of the sword. In other words, God not only authorizes but also requires governments, as His ministers, to punish their citizens when they transgress a nation's laws.

In this passage, the Holy Spirit warns people to be fearful of breaking the law because their governments are God's avengers executing wrath on those who transgress. This implies that God expects societies to have effective law enforcement structures in place—police, judiciary, and penal systems—so that swift justice can be served in their communities. Consequently, it is in societies where the rule of law is strictly and swiftly enforced that people become fearful of breaking the law. The opposite is also true, however, for scripture teaches that societies become increasingly wicked when the rule of law is not strictly and swiftly enforced (Ecclesiastes 8:11).

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

(1 Peter 2:13-14)

In the above passage, the Apostle Peter teaches the church the same principle as the Apostle Paul. He adds to it by telling us that the reason we submit ourselves to the authorities is for the Lord's sake. Nevertheless, he reinforces the truth that the authorities are there to punish evildoers and reward those who do well.

'Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, animal for animal. 'If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbour, as he has done, so shall it be done to him--fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him. And whoever kills an animal shall restore it; but whoever kills a man shall be put to death. You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country; for I am the Lord your God.' "

(Leviticus 24:17-22)

The above passage gives us insight into what God means when He tells the governments of the earth to use the sword. This passage very clearly teaches the principle that God expects the punishment incurred for a transgression to be in direct proportion to the offence committed. In other words, the punishment should not be lighter than the offence, but neither should it be more severe than the offence committed either—in that way, justice must be served. Governments that are obedient to use the sword appropriately can expect to receive the blessing of God.

Michael E.B. Maher

The Church and the State

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