Civil Disobedience

Daily Reading: Acts 4

Scripture Focus: Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. (Acts 4.19-20)

Devotional Thought: In Acts 4, we find the first account of “civil disobedience” by the Church.  After Peter and John had been commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, they made the celebrated statement: “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 

In that moment, they joined the ranks of biblical heroes:

·       Egyptian midwives who allowed Jewish babies to be born in spite of the law

·       Moses who chose God's way rather than Pharaoh’s way

·       Jeremiah who refused to stop proclaiming the truth

·       Daniel who dared to pray openly to God.

·       Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who refused to worship at the altar of big government

While we are admonished to obey civil laws (see Romans 13.1-7), it has been a long practice in the Church to disobey civil laws that are in direct opposition to God’s laws.  We applaud Wilberforce who defied the British government – on biblical grounds – in the slave trade.  We admire those missionaries who smuggle Bibles into dark lands.  We praise pastors and churches who meet “underground” in opposition to the law.  We pray for those imprisoned for standing up to tyrannical governments who oppress the Truth.

What are the issues before us today that pit religious faith against civil obedience?  Landlords refusing to rent to unmarried couples.  Abortion.  Same-sex marriage.  There are many more, and they are on the rise.  Christians need to know the Word of God!  So much that is being promoted as legal and moral behavior is antithetical to the Bible.  We also need courage to say, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.”

Prayer: Lord, teach me the Word of God and the way of God.  I want to be a good citizen, but grant me courage to stand upon your Truth - no matter the cost.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 68.1-10

1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him!

2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!

3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him!

5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

6 God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah

8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.

9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished;

10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.