Does Romans 13 Prohibit All Civil Disobedience?

Ask Pastor John
Episode: 43

[ChristianNews]

Most of these examples of disobedience as in Daniel’s case (prayer) was being disobedient to man in order to be obedient to God.

[Richie]

Yes, I agree to the statement. Excellent explanation Pastor John.

[kaymojil]

God defines the limits of our lesser authorities! But He gives them to us for our good. Amen.

[brentmccloud]

Thanks Pastor John.
I understand this so much better, now. GOD BLESS

[josiahkronk]

This just helped me prepare to teach Sunday School. Thank you!

[joaobaptistabrandao]

It's cool that I just got to answer a debate about this question. It's great to receive John Piper answer for this

[jeremiahkirby]

Lord, thank you for Dinner.
Lord, thank you for a place to lay my head.
Lord, thank you for covers.
Lord, thank you for clothes to wear.
Lord, thank you for fans.
Lord, thank you for a shower that works.
Lord, thank you for a toilet that works.
Lord, thank you for air conditioning.
Lord, thank you for sight.
Lord, thank you for air.
Lord, thank you hearing.
Lord, thank you for tasting.
Lord, thank you for a brain that works.
Lord, thank you for thought.
Lord, thank you for memories.
Lord, thank you for that breeze on a hot Summer day.
Lord, thank you for family.
Lord, thank you for friends.
Lord, thank you for communion.
Lord, thank you for the gift of forgiveness.
Lord, thank you for the gift of repenting.
Lord, thank you for love.
Lord, thank you for a vehicle that runs.
Lord, thank you for money in the bank.
Lord, thank you for shoes without holes.
Lord, thank you for providing a place to wash my clothes.
Lord, thank you for friends that bring me clothes.
I could go ON and ON as my blessings far outnumber anything this world may throw at me. Most of all Thank you Lord for paying the price for me.
Lord, thank you for making it so easy for me.
Lord, thank you for loving me before I entered existence.
Lord thank you for dying for us, big brother I can never pay you back. One day I'll hug you and thank you and
I'll wait until then.

[deliadacanay]

In California, a 3, 000 member church decided to go against the governing authorities re: assembly despite the risks for covid transmission. No masks and social distancing. The church here are divided about whether they are right or wrong. At issue is a public health. I would like Pastor John’s comment on this if possible. Thank you.

[natahaV]

The Law of Love of Jesus in the New Testament (John 15:12, John 13:34-35, Matt.5:43-46, 1John 3:23) is the fulfillment of the Law of Moses in the Old Testament (Rom13: 10) because Jesus said He did not come to take away the law of Moses but to fulfill (Matt.5 : 17). Those whose life is leaded, guided, directed by the law of love of Jesus are not under the law of Moses (Gal.5: 13, Gal.5: 18, 22-23), and this is the children of God because they are led by the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is the New Commandment to love and rest of the words of Jesus which are written only in the New Testament (Rom. 8:14, John 6:63)

[BeccaLovesJesusevr]

Also it has occurred to me that Paul is saying Christians needn't break the law to prove our loyalty to Jesus. He is taking a burden off of our backs. As a born again person, eager to spread the gospel and prove my loyalty to the Most High God, I (like many of you) am sometimes in the position where man's law conflicts with God's law. Perhaps Paul is saying, "Yahweh does not expect every Christian to get locked up and devoured by Lions for Him" because if all of us resist the state for Jesus, none of us would be alive and free to spread His Gospel.

[SherrickDuncan]

Romans 13 says :

"That if a large group of gang members claim to be government but are a terror to the good or an aid to the evil then they are not the Governing Authority because there is no authority except for those authorities that are sent by God and they enforce only His/Gods law i.e Theonomy."

It says nothing more and nothing less.

- Sherrick Official

[glennbalkin]

Only if the government is a terror unto good works.

[gsp]

The whole context before and after Romans 13 is about upholding and doing what is good and righteous. 13 then talks about the 'governing authorities' solely in the context of a good and just government that is seeking the best for it's people and punishing the wrongdoer. "For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good . But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer . Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. " It is literally saying you must pay taxes to fund a good government so that goodness and justice can be carried out. It is mind-blowing to me that, when scripture is taken as a whole, people think that God wants his righteous people to sit idle as terror, tyranny, and oppression are inflicted upon innocents at the hands of vile, evil, GODLESS thugs that happen to be in charge of one particular government out of hundreds of other governments who aren't doing those things...Which government should we submit to then, and why? David, Gideon, Joshua, Solomon, Jonathan, on, and on, and on, ALL WARRIORS. We are saved by God's grace but don't think that you can disobey his commands now. You claim that God is everything to you, then which facet of your life, community, government, etc. should you leave God out of???? No, it is our Christian duty to fight for our culture, our government, etc. to set them up to honor God. If it is not a God honoring culture or government, you resist it and you do your part to make it one.

[Blackrims]

There is a difference between Obey and Submit

[HearGodsWord]

Taking it in context then no, it doesn't but can understand why someone might come to that conclusion.

[gojohnnygo]

They all did it alone, they did not muster their followers to do it with them. Because they would be accountable for their blood if things got out of hand.
Jesus died alone on the cross, none of His disciples were nailed to the cross with Him. Give glory to God alone.

[exploringtheologychannel]

No, it doesn't. If the action is evil, we must not obey.

[nyshoefly]

Wish he expounded upon his last point about Jesus having authority over govt.

[theresamoore]

Seeing limits where none is written is called eisegeting the text and its what unbelievers do.

[pcprinciple]

3:26 - being wronged by a government sends nobody to hell" - yes it does, do you have any idea how many people work for the government