The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum The Doctrine of the Atonement

Funny how the author of the article you provided from the Canadian Gospel Coalition used very few scriptural references, e.g, Acts 5 which clearly demonstrated that Christians were NOT to give universal obedience to ANY authority. There are however many other references where God's people flatly refused to obey a ruler's/government's edicts, e.g., Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who disobeyed Nebuchadnezzar II's commandments re: prayer and the worship of the one true God. After the resurrection, the early church's history is replete with examples of Christians gathering in private/secret because it was forbidden to do so. CONTEXT offers not only propositional truth but truth by way of example. The Reformers, including those mentioned by the author, Ian Clary, also held tenaciously to the well-known and openly taught that no Christian is bound to any authority who demands that one do that which God forbids nor not do what God commands of them.

The framers of the U.S. Constitution, albeit perhaps not one was a genuine Christian and some who were Deists, in their writings "The Federalist Papers" included much in regard to the government, it's authority and the freedom of the people from tyranny. The Constitution's "Bill of Rights" was included not to give particular freedoms to the citizens but rather to clearly state the limitations of the government(s). One of the most prominent of the amendments was the Second Amendment which states that citizens have the natural/God-given right to own and bear arms for the particular purpose to overthrowing a tyrannical ruler/government and for self defense. Obviously, these men knew all too well to various degrees what Scripture teaches concerning the natural man; the universal corruption of nature which exhibits itself in the blaspheming of God, the worship of idols and the oppression of men.

In the military one of the axioms that was told us was despite the Uniform Code of Military Justice which is the law that governs all branches of the US military, it does not require any member to obey an unlawful order given by a superior. Even the pagan run military knew that it was wrong to give unreserved obedience to anyone to whom they were subject.

So, both in biblical Christianity and in the world, it is recognized that no one should give unfeigned obedience to any authority. That demonstrates that God's moral law resides in the hearts of everyone, even though many (most?) harden their consciences and thus fail to exercise this principle of God as it was intended.