Biblical Civil Disobedience

There are key differences between biblical civil disobedience and unbiblical civil disobedience. Steve Murrell helps us see God’s heart and will in biblical civil disobedience through a historical and theological lens.

[nyctbus]

Thank you for this! writing an essay on this and this helps.

[johnfinochio]

An excellent and well thought out presentation that brings clarity and delineates between righteous motives and unrighteous motives for civil disobedience. Thank you!

[gustavrademeyer]

Hi Steve. The fight in South africa the 80s was not against Mandela or for apartheid but against communism. He went to jail for planing attacks and planting bombs in witch people died. In any other country he would be sentenced to death for treason. He was a changed man when he came out of prison and then did a lot of good and reconsield people. So you can't name him in the same sentence as the outer examples you used. Thank you for the message I agree with it 100 persent and are a proud member of every nation church.

[xaratemplate]

I think this is a bit flawed he says rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad. However you will see people who are in government who are doing evil things to good people of good conduct. I think things have to be in context and I don't think that scripture is referring to governments although I could be wrong but my understanding is that is in reference to God's people and those whom he puts in charge over the church. Also that is written from ESV translation so things are a bit different in language from KJV. However for those who are wise enough to read further in the scripture in the same chapter it says "For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are GOD'S MINISTERS, attending continually upon this very thing." Notice how it says "MINISTERS" this would definitely not fit with Governments they are not ministers by default although it is possible a government leader could be a minister at the same time but that usually is not the case. God's true ministers indeed would not bear power to do you harm for a good deed but an evil carnal minded government could have evil intentions for the kind hearted and loving people. However I do agree with everything else he says in video I learned something so thanks for sharing.

[ReanCombrinck]

Dear Steve,
Thank you for the thoelogical teaching on civil disobedience. I think it's very topical today.

However, with regards to your examples I must say with all due respect, Mandela only started peaceful steps after his talks and subsequent release from prison in 1990. His conviction was based on violence against the public, including a bombing in Church Str Pretoria which killed (not to mention several other public bombings he personally sanctioned as leader of uMkhonto we Sizwe in exile). To him it was justified in view the cause.

He was offered freedom in 85 if he were to denounce violent revolutionary measures. He refused.

None of the other examples you mentioned were violent men, sadly the patron saint of the new South Africa's politics has a more jaded history than that of King and Ghandi, both vehemently opposed to violent measures.