Clearly not all governments are based on Christian principles. Should Christians be bound to obey the civil laws of their respective countries (states, cities, whatever) even if they disagree with the basis for the laws?
Please answer in general about how Christians fit into civil law and worldly authority structures, but feel free to use specific examples if they help to clarify. For example, do we have to pay fines, obey speed limits or submit to curfews?
As Christians we are first and foremost subject to God's commandments for us. However one of the instructions he gave us for life on this earth is that we be "subject to the governing authorities". In fact we learn that government itself, however secular and/or corrupt, is itself an institution that God places over us.
Romans 13:1 (ESV)
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
In so far as the civil laws of a country do not cause us to violate the moral and other obligations we have to our maker, we are submit to them. This means: paying your taxes, not running red lights and yes, not breaking copyright law, etc.
I think we need to deal with 3 cases:
The government's laws are consistent with God's laws, like laws against murder and stealing. This is a simple and obvious case: the Christian should obey these laws.
The government's laws are debateable applications of valid moral principles. For example, I think U.S. copyright law, which gives the author's heirs rights to his work for 50 to 95 years, is too long and unfair to other creative people. But I can't make a clear Biblical or moral case against the particular numbers in the law. I can't say that 50 years is too long but 49 years would be right, etc. And so the principle of submission applies: I have to obey the law.
The government's law violate God's laws or clear moral principles. In some cases in the Bible, people disobeyed an unjust law but announced their willingness to take the consequences, like several stories in Daniel. But in other cases, God condoned or commanded subterfuge and even open rebellion. The book of Exodus is the most obvious example: at God's command, Moses led an open rebellion against Pharoah's government. In a lesser incident in Exodus, the government ordered that all male Jewish babies be killed, but the Hebrew midwives are praised for secretly delivering babies in violation of the law, and Moses himself only lived because his parents broke the law.
I strongly believe that should the governing body within the country be corrupt and in conflict with God's Word, we should keep to our own ways.
Daniel 6:12 (ASV)
12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's interdict: Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
And God shall protect us should our motives be pure and our hearts remain faithful. Paying taxes and living a law-abiding life is of course necessary if we are able to do so without breaking God's Law. I do not however believe that people can just go around saying "what the government is doing is right, because it is Gods Will". who are we to speak for God? We must pray upon this and look within ourselves. If fear is the reason why we are not standing up to a corrupt system then that is NOT okay.
And God shall protect us should our motives be pure and our hearts remain faithful. What type of protection are you referring to? Spiritual protection? Physical protection?
Commented
Sep 7, 2011 at 14:13
This answer is not from a Biblical context, and applies equally to any sector:
Are [insert group here] bound to the laws of their country?
Yes. Yes they are. If they break those laws, they are accountable to the clauses of those laws. If they find those laws incorrect (as indeed laws evolve and change), then due process should be sought to question those laws, but keep in mind that in a multi-cultural society arguing the "because" from a Biblical basis is probably not your best route - arguing the benefits and costs to society and individuals might be better.
Sometimes civil disobedience is a very positive force, but remember that if your defined morality is fixed, it may disagree with the morality/ethics of significant parts of the rest of the population. There is a fine line between civil disobedience for the right reasons, and flagrant disregard of laws that you don't like.
No group should get a free pass here, at least in any society that values equality. You are, of course, free to exercise your activities even more within the laws than most - for example choosing not to gamble/drink/flirt/etc in societies where that is perfectly permissible. These are simply examples which tend to crop up.
Christians are obliged to oppose governments that enforce legal positivism, moral relativism and eugenic policies.
The way we weigh the relative weight of laws is the following:
Eternal Law
Divine Law
----------
Natural Law
Human Law
So, if a human law contradicts with natural law, then follow natural law. Everything else should be perfectly ordered with creation, with the exception of miracles which are natural law circumvented by divine law.
I have only a vague notion of what the difference is between eternal law and divine law, fortunately that's not part of the question.
The Bible does instruct us to be subject to the ruling authorities. However, being subject does not necessarily mean obeying. If worship of God is forbidden or worship of idols is commanded, we are under obligation to disobey those laws.
Daniel defied the king's edict and prayed with his windows open toward Jerusalem. Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego defied the king and proclaimed that they would not bow down to idols. Peter and John told the religious leaders, "We must obey God rather than men."
However, even when we disobey the authorities, we are still subject to them and will bear the consequences. Daniel was thrown into the lion's den. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were throw into the fiery furnace. Peter and John were beaten.
So, don't cheat on your taxes but don't commit adultery just because it's legal either. Live a holy life, no matter what the cost.
The LDS answer to this question is a very simple one:
"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."
But God's law is a higher law, we do not obey any law that contradicts God's law, neither do we justify sin because it is "legal" or socially acceptable.
