What Does the Bible Say About Obeying the Laws of Government?
It is a good rule of thumb in civilized societies that we obey the laws of the land.
We each have been part of the democratic system where we have elected the parliaments that create the laws of the land.
In that sense we all have a part in the way these laws develop - and as such they should be respected.
What If Laws of the Land Conflict With the Laws of God? There are situations where laws of the land may conflict with your understanding of the Laws of God.
What should you do in such circumstances? In Deuteronomy 11:27-28 we read:
Are There Exceptions to the Rule of Obeying God First? This depends on how you view the situation you're facing.
When you can save lives by breaking a commandment, saving life is the alpha and omega.
A practical example: if, during the Second World War, you were faced with having to point out fellow Jews, you can lie and fake memory loss to save the lives of your friends and family.
If you are facing severe hunger, and passing by a fruit trea you may take one fruit to save your life.
Though hunger isn't anything we normally see in the western world, the principle still applies.
To say it more clearly, you should use careful judgment in the way you apply laws, rules and regulations.
This could also apply in situations where you have a dispute with your neighbor.
He may want to build a small building for his car, and it may take a bit of your view.
You have two options: you can fight the decision afterwards, or you can try to find a mutual compromise.
Searching for that mutual compromise shows your neighbor you're willing to be flexible.
But you can achieve much more by taking another person's wishes into consideration.
This is the same criterion an all-knowing, loving God uses.
He requires obedience, but is also aware of our good will.
When we strive to obey, disobedience will be a rarity whereas disobedience would be rampant if striving to obey was absent.
So we should strive to obey God first, always.
If obeying could cause human life to be lost, we should adapt to the situation at hand.
We each have been part of the democratic system where we have elected the parliaments that create the laws of the land.
In that sense we all have a part in the way these laws develop - and as such they should be respected.
What If Laws of the Land Conflict With the Laws of God? There are situations where laws of the land may conflict with your understanding of the Laws of God.
What should you do in such circumstances? In Deuteronomy 11:27-28 we read:
"A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.We should therefore obey the commandments of God FIRST.
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Are There Exceptions to the Rule of Obeying God First? This depends on how you view the situation you're facing.
When you can save lives by breaking a commandment, saving life is the alpha and omega.
A practical example: if, during the Second World War, you were faced with having to point out fellow Jews, you can lie and fake memory loss to save the lives of your friends and family.
If you are facing severe hunger, and passing by a fruit trea you may take one fruit to save your life.
Though hunger isn't anything we normally see in the western world, the principle still applies.
To say it more clearly, you should use careful judgment in the way you apply laws, rules and regulations.
This could also apply in situations where you have a dispute with your neighbor.
He may want to build a small building for his car, and it may take a bit of your view.
You have two options: you can fight the decision afterwards, or you can try to find a mutual compromise.
Searching for that mutual compromise shows your neighbor you're willing to be flexible.
But you can achieve much more by taking another person's wishes into consideration.
This is the same criterion an all-knowing, loving God uses.
He requires obedience, but is also aware of our good will.
When we strive to obey, disobedience will be a rarity whereas disobedience would be rampant if striving to obey was absent.
So we should strive to obey God first, always.
If obeying could cause human life to be lost, we should adapt to the situation at hand.
