Should Christians ever disobey the authorities?
In several countries, talking about Jesus or engaging in Christian practices is either prohibited or severely restricted. These restrictions often stem from laws against proselytizing, anti-conversion statutes, or broader limitations on religious expression. Notable countries include North Korea, Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Sudan, Laos, Egypt, and Turkey. In these countries the practice of Christianity is prohibited, making any discussion about Jesus illegal although enforcement of these restrictions can vary. In some countries, while Christianity may not be outright illegal, activities such as proselytizing or public discussions about Jesus can lead to severe penalties.
Just as the Jewish authorities opposed Jesus’ teaching, so other religions recognise that what Jesus taught is powerful if let off the leash. Many of these countries have a dominant religion, whether Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or atheism in communist states and therefore view Christianity as a threat to their religious identity.
In Islamic states, their religion is deeply tied to national identity and consequently converting from Islam to Christianity is considered apostasy, punishable by imprisonment or death.
In Hindu & Buddhist nations such as India, Nepal, Myanmar or Sri Lanka, Christianity is seen as a foreign religion that threatens traditional culture so they have anti-conversion laws.
In Communist countries such as China, North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam, Christianity is seen as a challenge to state control. Their governments want loyalty to the state, not to God and so Christian churches are heavily regulated or forced underground.
Many governments such as those in China and North Korea fear that Christianity brings Western values such as democracy, human rights, and religious freedom and can therefore act as a tool for foreign influence, consequently they restrict its teaching in order to maintain political control.
In many societies, leaving the traditional religion (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.) is seen as betraying both family and culture. As a result converts to Christ face social rejection, loss of inheritance, or even violence. In places like India and Pakistan, mobs sometimes attack Christians because they believe they are destabilising society.
In summary, various reasons are given for prohibiting Christian worship or even discussions about Jesus and these are:
1. Christianity teaches freedom of conscience – This challenges authoritarian control.
2. Christ calls for loyalty to God over the state or traditional religion – This is perceived as a threat to national or religious unity.
3. Christ gives hope and the possibility of change – Many regimes survive by keeping people oppressed and controlled.
4. Christianity is powerful and can grow even under persecution – This makes it harder for governments to eliminate it. This is being seen dramatically in countries such as China and Iran
How should Christians react?
Nero was the emperor of Rome between 54-68 AD. He saw any beliefs that undermined his authority as treasonous and he was deeply opposed to them. The Great Fire of Rome occurred in 64 AD and Nero himself was suspected of having caused this. Tacitus recorded:
“To get rid of the report (that he had started the fire) he fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace.”
Paul wrote his letter to the Romans during Nero’s reign and insisted that all Christians should live subject to the rules of the authorities, however unfair they may appear:
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.” Romans 13:1-7
This is very clear teaching from God, even when the authorities are unjust and even cruel, Christians must do their utmost to do what is right. Paul himself was beheaded during Nero’s reign.
The apostle Peter was also executed during Nero’s time, probably by crucifixion, but he also wrote:
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor.” 1 Peter 2:13-17
Christians must therefore submit to the laws of the land but there is a limit. Paul and Peter were establishing in principle what our Lord Jesus lived out in His humanity. John Stott wrote in his commentary on Romans 13:
“Paul means rather that all human authority is derived from God’s authority, so that we can say to rulers what Jesus said to Pilate, “You would have no power [exousia authority] over me if it were not given to you from above.” Pilate misused his authority to condemn Jesus; nevertheless, the authority he used to do this had been delegated to him by God.”
Jesus submitted to an authority that was in no way out for his good nor was it punishing those who were acting wrongly toward Him.
Does this require absolute obedience to the state? Not if we have understood Acts 5 correctly. The apostles had been rearrested and were brought before the Sanhedrin, the same body that had condemned Jesus. The high priest said to them:
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” Acts 5:28-32
Their reply before the Sanhedrin was the very thing the authorities had forbidden them to talk about! We are to submit right up to the point where obedience to the state would entail disobedience to God. But if the state commands what God forbids, or forbids what God commands, then our plain Christian duty is to resist, not to submit, to disobey the state in order to obey God.
Many Nazi leaders at the Nuremberg Trials (1945–1946) used the ‘I was just following orders’ defence, known as the ‘superior orders defence’. They argued that they were obliged to obey their superiors under German law and that they therefore bore no moral responsibility since they were acting under orders. Robert H. Jackson, the Chief U.S. Prosecutor, said in his opening statement, that Nazi crimes violated not only human laws but also a higher moral law. He emphasized that there were universal moral principles that no government could override.
Similarly all people today must be informed and persuaded by the evidence that there is not only a judgment to come but also a trustworthy remedy to our plight. The role of Church leaders is to give an example to others of this priority. If Christians are prohibited from using violence to advance the kingdom of God, how then can they fight?
What weapons does God want his people to use?
When Jesus was unjustly arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane Peter’s immediate reaction was to draw a sword and strike Malchus, one of the arresting party. It is significant that it was the ear that was cut off and this Jesus healed. This reminds us that Peter was using the wrong weapon. Our weapon is truth and love and it is vital that people have ears to hear this message!
In Ephesians chapter 6, Paul describes the many defensive parts of a soldier’s armour but he has only one offensive weapon, the sword of the Spirit. He goes on to explain what this weapon is; it is the Word of God. Just as the prophets in the Old Testament were commissioned to tell people what God has to say, sometimes at great cost to themselves, so is this the responsibility of all Christians today. We have a duty to pass on what God has to say about sin, judgment and the possibility of salvation through turning back to God and his Son.
The Word of God is a powerful weapon:
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword . . .” Hebrews 4:12
Christians fight evil through teaching, love, forgiveness and self sacrifice but not revenge. Jesus said:
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
Similarly Paul taught:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overco me evil with good.” Romans 12:21
There is much evil in the world but our weapon is the power of the Holy Spirit that can be accessed through prayer. Again Paul wrote:
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4
How easy it is for church leaders to overlook what our real weapons are. God’s power is available for God’s people to overcome the evil that surrounds us:
“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy.” Luke 10:19
Truth must be shared
When Peter and John were arrested by the Jewish authorities for teaching people about Jesus they were expressly banned from ever doing this again. This sounds very much like the rule in many countries that forbids Christians from talking about Jesus and his power. The apostles bravely replied,
“Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20
On their release Peter and John returned to explain to the other Christians in Jerusalem what had happened to them. The response of this young church was to use the potent weapon available to them – they prayed. They recognised that they were all involved in a spiritual battle and they asked the Lord to give them courage so they could continue to speak on behalf of the Lord Jesus:
“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Acts 4:29-30
They recognised that their weapons were what they said about Jesus, supported by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. The result was impressive:
“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” Acts 4:33
I was once told by a senior hospital manager not to invite patients to Christian events. I replied as graciously as possible,
“I am sorry but I cannot comply with this request as the message about Jesus is true and people need to hear it. What I do promise to do is to be very careful, as I have always been, not to cause any distress. It is good news that we have to share.”
In Paul’s final letter to Timothy, written a little time before he was executed by beheading, he wrote this passionate plea:
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:1-3
Opposition to the gospel was mounting but the urgent need was for Christians, and especially Christian leaders, to keep on sharing the news about Jesus. How much more this is needed today.
In 1660, after King Charles II was restored to the throne, the British government re-enforced laws requiring all Christian ministers to be licensed by the Church of England. John Bunyan (1628–1688 AD), a Nonconformist preacher, refused to stop preaching, believing that God’s call was above human laws. He was arrested in November 1660 for holding religious meetings without state approval and was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment in Bedford County Jail. However he refused to stop preaching, so his imprisonment lasted over 12 years (1660–1672). In 1676 he was again imprisoned for six months for the same reason. He understood that the Lord Jesus had died because he adamantly taught the truth and refused to obey the authorities. He also recognised that Paul and Peter were first jailed and later executed for their faith and he was willing to follow in their steps. His encouragement came from the Bible and he repeatedly reminded himself and others:
“We must obey God rather than human beings.” Acts 4:19
He feared disobeying God more than prison saying:
“I will stay in prison till the moss grows on my eyelids rather than disobey God.”
Watchman Nee (1903–1972) was a Chinese Christian leader, teacher, and author known for his deep biblical insights and leadership in the house church movement in China. He founded the “Local Church” movement, emphasizing simple, Biblical Christianity free from denominational divisions. His books, such as ‘The Normal Christian Life’, are still widely read. In 1952, the Chinese Communist government arrested him for his Christian faith and his leadership of unregistered Christian churches. He was falsely charged with “Resisting the government, engaging in religious activity contrary to state policy and being a counter-revolutionary”. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison but remained incarcerated for 20 years under brutal conditions. He faced torture, forced labor, and isolation for refusing to deny his faith yet he never renounced Christ, even while suffering in prison. Despite the severe persecution, he continued to write and encouraged both believers and unbelievers through secret messages. His last known words, written on a piece of paper shortly before his death, were:
“Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my faith in Christ.”
The influence of Watchman Nee is still felt in China where the house church movement thrives and is growing. When Rosy and I were in China it was inspiring to see how our Christian guides always wanted to sit next to the driver. It soon became clear why they did this. They found a way to talk about Jesus and his gospel and they nearly always they gave them some Christian literature before they left the car. At one informal lunch time meeting of local Christians we were told that some would be late because they had gone round to meet people and knock on doors to try and interest people in Jesus and the gospel. Christian leaders who will inspire others to act in this way are sorely needed in churches in the west.
BVP
