I have sometimes been criticized and even vilified by fellow Christians for speaking against the government and government officials when I believe they are violating ‘moral decency,’ ‘ethical principles,’ ‘biblical guidelines,’ and ‘the Constitution.’   I believe I am on solid ground scripturally, morally, ethically, and constitutionally in my position. 

However, some do not and adamantly insist that I am in violation of biblical guidelines.  Their favorite passage is Romans 13.  They insist that this is a direct command against what I do.   I want to look at that and ask a few questions in my consideration of resisting governmental tyranny as a Christian.

To be fair and honest, I must cite the biblical passage.

Romans 13:1-4 – “Let every soul be subject to the higher powers.  For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.  For rulers, they are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.  Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?  Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good.  But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”

Hopefully, we can agree upon a workable definition of ‘rebellion.’   I offer this definition, and hopefully, you can accept it.  “Rebellion is the disobedience to a lawful order and a lawful authority.”   If a police car turns on its red light, I must stop.   That would be a lawful order by a lawful authority.  Likewise, can we agree that “Rebellion IS NOT disobedience to an unlawful order or unlawful authority”?

Not to make this a sermon, but I ask you to consider Acts 5.  Peter and the other apostles were called on the carpet before the ‘governing authority’ and told to ‘cease preaching Jesus.’   Their response was, “NO, we ought to obey God rather than man.”  I ask, “Were they wrong?”  

Also, when the Founding Fathers and the Colonists, including many in the ministry, stood against the Tyranny of the British Crown because, in their view, the Crown had violated their God-given right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, were they wrong?  

The Declaration of Independence states:

“Any form of government becomes destructive of these ends; it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute New Government.” 

It seems clear that they believed that if the government violated man’s inalienable rights, it was okay to protest, criticize, and even abolish that government.   The list of grievances against the Crown was lengthy, and many preachers stood in their pulpits and encouraged the colonists to ‘resist.’   Some proclaimed that their resistance was obedience to God and His Word! 

I contend that Romans 13 cannot be used as an excuse for allowing despotism and the violation of basic human rights.  I suggest that the Bible directs us to ‘resist’ such a government and encourages people to ‘resist.’

If, as some have insisted, Christians cannot resist government ever, then what shall we do with America?   The American Revolution clearly demonstrated resistance to the government and authority.   The British Crown was the official government and had official rule over them. 

Yet, the colonists spoke out, criticized, and united in open resistance to secure independence and freedom.  If we accept the premise that we are forbidden to do so, the United States of America was formed in direct violation of God’s Word.   That would make it a cursed nation or should be.   I do not believe that premise.   I believe that America has been a blessed nation, and God’s hand can be seen in the liberation of this nation. 

How about Nazi Germany?  It was the official elected government of Germany, and Hitler was the official elected leader of that nation.   Yet, preachers such as Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer preached against the Nazi regime and Hitler.  Were they wrong?  

Should Nazi Germany still be the controlling government of that nation today, even in the face of the horrific atrocities in the holocaust and beyond!  I do not think that, and I do not believe that those who criticize me and other believers for our political involvement believe that either.

Martin Luther King, Jr. resisted the government and the law of the land in his pursuit of ‘Civil Rights.’   Was he wrong?  If Romans 13 forbids us from speaking against the government, he was.  What do we do with the criticism and outcry against those nations with horrible human rights violations and our involvement in any war in history? 

Our position as a nation has been that we were opposing evil.  However, if that evil is God’s minister and we are forbidden to stand against it, then we are opposing God and are in the wrong.   I do not believe that, and neither do you. 

Yet, when this nation, our leaders, and government violate human rights, trample on our Constitution, and wage war against the Christian faith in its mandates, edicts, and actions, are we to sit silent?  How can I?  How can I watch my fellow citizens be tyrannized regardless of what political party is doing the tyrannizing?  As a follower of Christ, how can I not allow ‘righteous indignation’ to rise in my heart and cry out against Wickedness and Evil?

We may differ on what we believe to be wicked and evil.  That is a legitimate argument, but to contend that we are forbidden to speak against what we believe to be direct violations of our American Constitution and God’s Word and in violation of our God-given rights and freedom, I believe, is a wrong position. 

• I pray for those that are in power.
• I pray for their souls. 
• I pray for their enlightenment.  
• I pray that God will guide their actions and footsteps into His chosen paths. 
• I pray they come to Christ and allow morality to govern their lives. 
• I pray for them and pray for this nation, but I cannot sit silent when I see evil running rampant. 

If I remain silent, then I believe that the words of Ezekiel in Ezekiel 3:18-20 apply to me, and God will hold me accountable for the blood of the innocent that I failed to warn. 

If you believe I am wrong, pray for my enlightenment.  If this enables you to understand why I am who I am and why I do what I do, then God bless you and pray for me.  I want nothing but the best for this nation, our people, and the world.   I wish no ill upon anyone and hate no one, but I must resist evil.

God bless you, and God bless America.