Disobedience is unfaithfulness, either to your belief or to the law of the land. Divine law (God given law) governs Christianity. Most governing laws of the land take their root or borrow from divine laws. In most cases, divine law hardly contradicts the law of the land.
The scripture states
“Let every soul be subject unto the government authority. For there is no authority but of God: the authorities that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resists the authorities resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation (Rom. 13:1-2).
All believers are responsible to obey the law of the land except when it becomes sinful to do so. Where there seems to be a conflict, a Christian should obey God’s law. Besides, whoever violates any of the laws of the land will pay the penalty.
Examples
Should a Christian take part in a riot? Should a Christian participate in peaceful protest because the law permits peaceful protest? When peaceful protest turns to violent protest, that situation calls for any Christian in that protest to withdraw. Why? Rioting is against the law of the land. As Christians if you partake in any riot, you are risking your life, you are disobeying the law, and you will pay the penalty if arrested.
Should a Christian drive pass the speed limit because he/she don’t want to be late for an appointment? No, do not be surprised, I have seen and heard of many men of God pulled over and given a ticket for speeding because they don’t want to be late for a missionary appointment. Were the police wicked for giving him a ticket? No, the police are doing their job.
Hence, the scripture states,
“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.Therefore, you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake (Rom. 13:3-5).
The man of God should have planned his trip putting all factors into consideration to make sure he would’ve arrived for his appointment without violating any law.
Case study
A man came to me sometimes ago; he claimed to be born again and wanted to know whether what the Lord Jesus said, that “… Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s …” (Matt. 22:21) applies to bribing one’s way if caught in any violation.
He said, “the law of the land does not permit the transportation of any produce across a state boundary after 7 pm. Any vehicle caught violating this law would be impounded. The vehicle would not be released until the driver had paid the due fine for that violation”.
He however said that some drivers violated this law and get away with it by bribing the law enforcement officers. He was caught violating this law; he wanted to know as a Christian if he could bribe the law enforcement officers that his vehicle would not be impounded.
My response
Being a Christian doesn’t exempt you from obeying the law of the land
As a Christian, you cannot bribe. The fact that the world is doing it does not give you the license to disobey God’s law and the law of the land. If the law enforcement officer does not catch you, you will still be guilty before our omniscient and omnipresent God. To worsen the situation, if you are caught, you will be guilty and charged with Carrying produce after 7 pm. If you try to induce an officer with bribe, that is another offense against God’s commandment and against the law of the land. You will suffer as a criminal.
The scripture states,
“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matte (1Pet.4:15-17).
As Christian, 3 things you can do in this situation.
- Plan your journey properly so that you will be able to make it to your destination before 7pm, all things being equal.
- In case there is a mechanical breakdown or emergency, explain your situation to the law enforcement officer. If he accepted your excuse, good; if not, let him impound your vehicle and redeem it the following day. In that way, you wouldn’t have to bribe whereby you are disobeying God’s law and the law of the land.
- If you know you won’t make it to your destination before 7pm, stay the night in your point of origin or nearest town before 7pm and continue your journey the next day.
The Bible condemns bribery. If you bribe, you have disobeyed God’s law; you have denied your faith: and you are a sinner. The law of the land does not contradict the Law of God; therefore, if you have violated the law of the land, you are a transgressor.
Give what is Caesar to Caesar
“Give what is Caesar to Caesar” is not to pay the devil with our good substance, but rather, do what is right and obey the law of the land, because the law protects us. We should not be ignorant of the law of the land; they are not against the Christian belief.
With the above scenario, as a Christian, you do good if after being caught after 7pm, you stay at the law enforcement station until daybreak, pay your fine and continue your journey the following day. But if you are bent on continuing your journey that night, then you must be ready to give what is due to Caesar. That is, you must bribe your way to continue your journey that night.
However, if it happens that you are bribing a law-abiding officer, you are in for trouble. He is going to charge you for bribery. You will pay the fine for carrying produce after 7pm, you will be charged for bribery, and you will sin against the Law of God.
I am not saying you can not get away with bribery, but it is wrong to do so. If you keep bribing each time you break the law, it becomes a habit, that is the beginning of spiritual backwardness. It sets the stage for backsliding. It takes the grace of God to redeem yourself from such a habit. Don’t you know that sin begat sin? Do not suffer as a sinner.
Disobedience is unfaithfulness to the covenant of God. Disobedience reflects people’s evil heart and character. Christians are not exempted from obeying the law of the land if it doesn’t contradict the law of God.
By Lawrence abitogun
Lawrencebabitogun.com OR christianedification.org