“Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good” (1 Peter 2:13-14 HCSB).
While this passage from 1 Peter outlines our relationship to human government, the Biblical Scriptures are realistic concerning the challenges that often accompany that relationship.
For instance, Israel’s King Solomon once remarked, “Don’t be surprised when you see that the government oppresses the poor and denies them justice and their rights” (Ecclesiastes 5:8 GNB). This observation still rings true today. When faced with the challenge of navigating through layers of civil bureaucracy, municipal corruption, and/or administrative incompetence, those who are financially disadvantaged are often the ones who suffer most.
Solomon also offered a brutally honest assessment regarding the extortionary nature of some who hold positions of governmental authority: “One officer is cheated by a higher officer who in turn is cheated by even higher officers. The wealth of the country is divided up among them all” (Ecclesiastes 5:8 NCV).
These negative characteristics bring us to the question of civil disobedience in its various forms. Are such acts justified in light of our text from 1 Peter 2:13-14? Well. we have already examined one justification for civil disobedience. That justification involves governmental ordinances that conflict with clear Biblical teaching. In such instances, our ultimate responsibility rests with the highest authority, that being God Himself.
In addressing this question, 1 Peter 2:13-14 alerts us to an important aspect of God’s intent for human government: such governments are appointed “…for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.” When a government declines to punish criminal activity (or criminalizes Biblically appropriate behaviors), then civil resistance may represent an appropriate response.
In addition, the following questions may factor into a decision to engage in acts of civil disobedience:
1) Does the government seek to prohibit (or inhibit) the free exercise of religious beliefs?
2) Has the government mandated an action that clearly violates Scriptural tenets or conscience?
3) Is the government promoting or endorsing policies that are clearly unbiblical?
Finally, it’s important to seek Godly counsel and address these questions with prayerful forethought before we initiate such action, even if that response seems Biblically justifiable. To borrow another cautionary message from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, “…remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do” (Ecclesiastes 11:9 NLT).