Can Christians Oppose Government?

April 9th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Romans 13:2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

So what if our government went Nazi and promoted the slaughter of innocent people? How might Romans 13 then be interpreted? Did not the Jewish midwives defy the pharaoh to preserve Hebrew male babies when they were born? They “feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live” (Exod. 1:17). God honored their disobedience and “was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty” (v. 20).

Consider also Daniel and his friends, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael (Dan. 1) who were told to eat “from the king’s choice food and from the wine which he drank.” Of course they refused because God’s law was higher than the king’s law, for his food had been sacrificed to idols. Although they risked their lives in this rebellion, God blessed their faithfulness because what they rebelled against was contrary to their higher commitment which was God. Daniel’s respect for his superiors in the story is also notable, for he did not demand respect for his own beliefs but simply sought permission from Nebuchadnezzar’s commander to not defile himself (Dan. 1:8). There was no self-righteousness in his request, only respect.

A third example is found again in Daniel’s writings. When Nebuchadnezzar commanded Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to worship his golden image or else be burned in the fire, they refused, saying, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Dan. 3:16-18). Of course, God blessed their faithfulness so much so that after being thrown into the fire “the fire had no effect on the bodies…nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them” (v. 27).

Daniel presents another example of justified civil disobedience, for during his days a decree went out that forbade prayer to any other person than the king of Persia (Dan. 6). Nevertheless, Daniel openly prayed to his God three times a day, and although he was delivered to the lions for this, God closed the mouths of the lions and kept Daniel safe from harm.

From the NT, one notes how Peter and John were told “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18). In response they said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). Later, they would remain true to Christ’s commission (Matt. 28:19-20) in spite of the government’s demand that they do otherwise. Peter’s response to them when they caught him preaching again was, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:28-29).

Civil authorities have always existed as God’s servants, dating back to the OT. First, they maintain God’s justice by meting out punishment for crimes. Second, they are to deter would-be criminals. Third, they are to be impartial with law-breakers, convicting all who are guilty in spite of their wealth or social status. Fourth, punishment is to be swift (cf. Deut. 25:2). Finally, unless executed, criminals are to be pardoned or rehabilitated but never degraded (Deut. 25:3). Once they have paid the price for their penalty, they are to be accepted back into society.

Food For Thought
All Christians are commanded to obey civil laws. We are not above the law, but the laws of our land must line up with God’s truth if we are to obey them. Issues confronting the Church today are numerous as to what the law would require us to accept. When the day comes when churches are required to permit open sin, we will have to respectfully decline and perhaps rebel.