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Old 07-27-2005, 02:25 PM   #1
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Default biblical justification for Christians as change agents?

Romans 13: 1-7 appear to direct Christians to obey their governments. With that in mind, can Christians biblically justify any type of disobedience with their government? That doesn't mean just following the law. I'm also including lobbying to change policy, speaking out public ally against government policies. To me, those types of activities imply disobedience. Why would I lobby to change a law or protest a war if I agreed with my government.

I'm looking for biblical justification, for or against Christian's being involved in changing laws and/or government policy.

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Old 07-28-2005, 07:18 AM   #2
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http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1162#P345_126695

The essay above notes that both Paul AND Peter make the same statement, using similar words. Also, "...it is likely that Romans 13:1-7 is an interpolation because 1) it is well known that the ending of the epistle has been altered radically and 2) nowhere else does Paul speak about the Christian's relationship to the civil authorities."

So a literalist is stuck- God installed you government, submit or be righteously punished. However, even bible scholars accept the fact that the 'editors' of the bible made some adjustments in the teaching. Remember Emperor Constantine appointed all of those editors.
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Old 07-28-2005, 12:51 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fr0sty
Romans 13: 1-7 appear to direct Christians to obey their governments. With that in mind, can Christians biblically justify any type of disobedience with their government? That doesn't mean just following the law. I'm also including lobbying to change policy, speaking out public ally against government policies. To me, those types of activities imply disobedience. Why would I lobby to change a law or protest a war if I agreed with my government.
Obedience to Government (or any other putative authority) is somewhat separate from agreeing with it.

One can decide to obey a law one can't in the same way just decide to believe it is a good law.

At least in democratic societies, publicly raising concerns in a peaceful way is generally seen as being a sign of good citizenship not of disloyalty.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fr0sty
I'm looking for biblical justification, for or against Christian's being involved in changing laws and/or government policy.

bible link
Start with Acts 5:29 'We must obey God rather than men.'

Also consider the various actions against the government (ie the King) taken by the Old Testament prophets.

Andrew Criddle
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Old 07-29-2005, 01:02 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fr0sty
Romans 13: 1-7 appear to direct Christians to obey their governments. With that in mind, can Christians biblically justify any type of disobedience with their government? That doesn't mean just following the law. I'm also including lobbying to change policy, speaking out public ally against government policies. To me, those types of activities imply disobedience. Why would I lobby to change a law or protest a war if I agreed with my government.

I'm looking for biblical justification, for or against Christian's being involved in changing laws and/or government policy.
Trying to get laws changed is hardly overthrowing the government, nor even being disobedient, unless the law was "do not try to change laws".

Anyway, that passage says "do what is good" and "if you do evil, be afraid". Without knowing what Paul considered "good" and "evil" with respect to government policys, I'm not sure how far you can take this.
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