Should Christians Obey the Law?

Question

Matthew 22:21 says, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s.”

1 Peter 2:13-14 says, “Submit your self to every ordinance of man ... to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors.”

However, Acts 5:29 says, “We ought to obey God rather then men.”

Suppose that there are people out there who need help and I want to help them, which is morally good. If I don't help them they will suffer. Yet the law states that I cannot help them. Do I help them or not?

Answer 1

This is the most common problem facing part-time Bible readers. You have taken all 3 passages "out of context". Usually when you do that-then the Bible does not make sense, as you have found.

1. Matt 22:21 means we should pay taxes if we owe them.
2. 1Pet. 2:13,14 means that we should obey the law (gov't).
3. Acts 5:29 means that God's law trumps man's commands.

There is no conflict here, just misinterpretation.

Answer 2

When it says obey God not man, it doesn't mean don't obey the law. It means don't do something someone told you to do, if it goes against God's word, morals, or the law. How do you think they came up with the saying "If someone told you to jump off a bridge......". That means that just because someone tells you to do it, doesn't mean it's something you should do. Just like with everything else on earth. Just because someone says it's ok, or it's nto against the law, or it's healthy for you or good, doesn't mean that you should do it, because maybe it goes against the word of God.

If you want to help them to find God, or to get off drugs/booze, or maybe even going to the prison to help with rehabilitation, then that would be fine. Screw the law! You're doing work that God would want you to do. My pastor has a saying, can't remember it word for word, but I'll do the best I can lol! "If the shepard has 100 sheep, and one goes astray, he won't let that one stay lost. He will seperate from the other 99 that stayed where they should be at, to find that one lost sheep. The other 99 will not go anywhere, therefore the shepard doesn't need to worry about them. He needs to worry about that one lost sheep." Something like that.

I don't see how the law would prohibit you from helping someone. Unless you don't live in the united states, or the US came up with another outrageous law. If you want to help people get out of trouble, or a nasty mess, then go for it. As long as you won't get drug down with them, or get into a mess yourself! If you can be safe or fine, and still help someone out, then go with your instincts.

I wish you all the luck in the world, and remember; nothing is as hard or easy as it seems!

Answer 3

No, it does not. you recognize the regulation with regards to rushing. Do you on no account velocity? of direction you do. What makes you think of Christians are from now on advantageous than all and sundry else approximately disobeying the regulation or Jesus Christ? you do not replace into perfect by turning right into a Christian yet you do keep away from sin as much as is humanly conceivable. I additionally know that i won't be in a position to stay a holy existence on my very very own. i choose a Savior. he's Jesus Christ. He has executed the paintings for me. Even a small newborn is disobedient each and every so often.

Answer 4

It depends on whether the law is put into place for the good of all people, and whether or not by helping this one person, you may be harming others, or going against the Bible.

Looking at it another way, by possibly getting thrown in jail or fined, would that prevent you from effecting more good if you had not run up against the law?

Answer 5

You help others by standing up to the laws and trying to change them through peaceful protest. Remember how Ghandi approached matters and made such an impact. This man of God was a perfect example of how to make changes. Write to your member of government, volunteer at soup kitchen, advocate for the poor and the oppressed. There are many ways to make a difference in this world without becoming a criminal.

Answer 6

well back when the bible was written, whatever the king said was God's word, so you were to obey the king no matter what. It's a matter of interpretation. Laws are there for protection, there must be a reason for the laws so I would obey them.

Answer 7

First thing you will do to help others is put the bible aside since you're obviously interpretating it literally. It will confuse you so much you'll end up mad. And when you say "doing good" you should answer this question first: from your personal point of view, or for the solving of the true problem? You'll get better results when you can be less holier-than-thou and more human.

Now, if you inssist in using the bible, I wholeheartedly recommend you to take some theology classes first. There's plenty of symbolisms that will confuse the heck out of you if you don't understand them fully.

Answer 8

Christians should obey man's law except when biblical law supersedes it. Men make bad laws for personal reasons. God's law is always good and righteous. The fear of arrest should never enter into a desire to obey God's law first. there is no law against love.

Answer 9

You're hiding something. What people do you want to help and what law prevents this? Christians should obey the law except in certain situations where the law subverts humanity, such as turning over the innocent to a genocidal regime (such as Jews to the Nazis).

Answer 10

To 'obey' a law shows reverence for that which the Law stands for: order, understanding, process. One only 'disobeys' a law when one considers a law unjust, and to the extent to which the system that supports the law is questioned.

What this means is that if you believe in Democracy, and you also believe in the sanctity of human life, then you cannot break the laws of Democracy in order to prevent babies from being 'killed'. To break the tenets of democracy to achieve one's means is to erode democracy along with the law you wish to change.

One must also wrestle with the idea that, perhaps, even Man's laws must reflect the will of God. Even Jesus said to Pilate "You would have no power over me whatsoever unless it were given to you from above. That is why he who handed me over to you is guilty of the greater sin." Ultimately, human and divine law MUST come into accord, which means that one must question whether or not one is indeed 'obeying' the law if one should decide to break it.

In reality, the question is what law governs any person but the one of their own heart? In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, Jesus said that the rich man said to Abraham to go back to his sons and 'warn' them of the fate that awaits them: "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if one should rise from the dead."

If Christ is good enough to submit to the 'law', why should Christians be exempt from his example? People who choose to 'obey' or 'break' a law do so always with regard to themselves.