So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
Acts 4:18-20

What is civil disobedience? It is when, based on conscience, a person believes he cannot obey the civil magistrates (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14). This is a rather serious matter since God ordained all civil magistrates, whether they be good or bad.

Are there ever times when civil disobedience is justified? Yes, there are. We are to obey the God-ordained civil authorities because God ordained them. We are to obey them, not because they are always right (they are not), but because God says to, and He is always right. That we disagree with them or because their rulings are wrong does not automatically give us green light to disobey them.

Except…

Except when God-ordained authorities command us to do what God forbids, or forbid us to do what God commands. Why is this the exception? Because no earthly authority can overrule or countermand God.

This gets tricky when there is a question as to whether the authority is actually countermanding God or we merely think this is happening. A current example is the state telling churches not to worship indoors and to wear face masks, because of the current virus problem.

I do not believe that the state is telling us we cannot worship or even to meet for worship. If that were the case, we would have to join Peter and John in refusing to obey the civil authorities, because God clearly commands us to worship, with other Christians. I believe the state is telling us we can not meet for worship in the manner in which we are accustomed. I believe we are able to meet and worship, but that we must be creative to find ways to obey both the civil authorities and God. As long as we can do both, I believe we should.

More on this next time…