The founding principle of Resistance under God is stated by Peter before the Sanhedrin:
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 4:19-20 (NKJV)
While not directly stated, Peter implies that one must obey God above all human rule and authority. The basis for such a choice is to enable telling the truth about Jesus. Jesus declared that He was the Truth (John 14:6) -- in a sense the Source of Truth -- of all things. Thus, the age old principle that "all truth is God's truth." It is the nature of God to promote truth and reality over any deception.
Thus, as a man called to the Gospel Ministry today, I am called in part to assert the truth in all things, and resist deception by pointing it out. Just as Ezekiel did some really strange things in communicating the Word of God to His People, preaching can mean all sorts of actions, not just words. There is an unspoken assumption that one will live out the meaning of what one preaches.
We also need to recognize that some folks to whom we might declare the truth are simply unable to use it. Jesus warned us in Matthew 7:6 that we should be wary of revealing the truth to some, who would use it as a pretext to destroy our ministry. Do not assume the whole world is your mission field; there are some you avoid.
When we consider how to apply this to political or civil actions, it gets real murky fast. Many find in Paul's instruction to obey the civil law enforcement in Romans 13:1-7, and in Peter's echo in 1 Peter 2:13-17, a blunt requirement to abide by civil law regardless of how just or unjust it may be. But it was Paul who craftily used Roman Civil Law against Jewish Civil Law to avoid the wrath of those seeking to end his ministry (Acts 25:1-12). It was Peter who unlawfully walked out of jail (Acts 12:5-17), and evaded arrest for quite some time. Whatever those written words say, it is obvious they cannot be taken as literally as some believe.
However, we cannot use the Old Testament so easily. Many times a Hebrew would rise up against tyranny and be called a hero. One of the most repugnant examples to our Western minds is that of Ehud (Judges 3:12-30). He committed murder, assassinating his "lawful" ruler, and escaping from justice, as well. We cannot claim our government was ordained to be holy in that sense, because the throne of David was once and for all occupied by Christ. The Covenant of Noah (Genesis 8-9) assumes fallen man is doing the governing in every other situation. Still, whatever Peter and Paul were telling us, there are circumstances under which obeying the civil law are harmful to the Kingdom's purpose.
Perhaps we can suggest an ethic, a principle upon which to act. First, we have to allow those uncomfortable with resistance to civil authority to opt out, and with good grace toward them. Each must follow his own conscience, because there is obvious ambiguity in deciding where to draw the line. For those who feel called to resist, we must first be certain our motives are not carnal and selfish. Nor can we become a participant in the motives and struggles of fallen man's fallen government. Only in some few individual cases can we claim a standard "to liberate the oppressed." Where there is oppression and tyranny, we may act judiciously to resist it in some individual cases, with the intent to free the victims immediately. The applicable Old Testament principle is "when the Lord delivers them into your hands."
Not every unpleasantness in this world is due to tyranny. Since the Fall from Innocence in the Garden of Eden, we live in a fallen world, and complete happiness is not possible. This world is a miserable place, and we hope to leave it as soon as God permits. It should not even be a goal to gain happiness. The goal is to lessen the misery of life here by ending unnecessary suffering when it is in our hands to do so. If the suffering is justified, or is simply a part of living, to fight it is to be a fool, and to ask for neurosis.
There are plenty of things that people in positions of power do to others that is clearly based in bad motives. Surprise. Money and power are not inherently evil; congratulations to those who achieve it. To abuse power is evil, and we expect it. Using it for unjust gain, for a measure of control that is only self-serving, to keep back someone else from a fair chance to compete, etc., these are from evil motives. Anyone reading the Bible can find plenty of bad motives identified. Lots of evil fails because God Himself opposes it. We should not declare ourselves His agents to right all wrongs.
There needs to be some real chance that our actions will serve to help others in the immediate. Resistance on sheer principle alone is is a waste of God's resources. It's all good and noble, but don't be a fool. Help people who need help, when God makes it possible. Unless you are certain you are called to martyrdom, getting in the way of government is also a waste of God's resources. You'd be surprised how many sinners are granted noble motives to resiste tyranny.
Who is the Tyrant we resist? Satan. Any entity large and powerful enough to do harm, and does intend to do so for evil motives is not the focus (Ephesians 6:10-13). Satan's agents for tyranny aren't the real enemy. Notice what Webster says about that word, tyrant
tyrant 1 a: an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution b: a usurper of sovereignty 2 a: a ruler who exercises absolute power oppressively of brutally b: one resembling an oppressive ruler in the harsh use of authority or power
The obvious association is any form of government. All governments bear the sword. If they are reluctant to use it, they will fail due to rising chaos. If they do their job, it's impossible to avoid hurting the innocent. To some degree, we can also include any business that has no interest in serving the customer, but in controlling him. Please note that simple bad ethics in a field where there is broad competition will usually drive customers away. It's when the business is in a position to exercise dominant control over a market, and can't resist the temptation to oppress, that they become a form of government.
Know that these things are evil; call them that. Know also you can't really expect to change things by getting too deeply involved in direct resistance. View your own involvement as victim with some detachment, because your puny human life belongs to this fallen world. Your eternal soul is much more important. It belongs to an Eternal Kingdom.
Ed Hurst
Revised 06 January 2007
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