Should a Christian ever support a rebellion or uprising against an evil government?

[timothyu]

And as we read scripture, it is evident God wishes from time to time to overthrow various regimes for various purposes.

Agree and the differentiating factor is it is due to God's will, not the will of man which likes to use God to justify our acts..

 

[lismore]

All government kingdoms are possessed by satan, so one replaces the other.

Right!

To answer the OP I would say a Christian's task is to permeate where they are in society with salt and light. Too much political activism or involvement of the church in Politics is toxic, because Jesus said his Kingdom is not of this world. Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) You'll only find yourself doing a deal with the devil or splitting the church up the middle. As for Revolutions, chances are the regime that replaces the overthrown regime will be just as bad or indeed worse. It might be better for the church to support victims of the violence and hardship that follow every revolution. God Bless

 

[timothyu]

It might be better for the church to support victims of the violence and hardship that follow every revolution.

Yes. On both sides as Jesus taught.

 

[lismore]

If a government told me I wasn't allowed to read the bible or meet with other believers, I would not be obeying!!! don't would do all could to meet and read Bible in secret

That is what is happening to our brothers and sisters in China. And yet they are sharing the gospel in prisons and seeing a great harvest. Interesting though I have never met a Chinese believer who advocated a Revolution to overthrow the Chinese Govt, wicked as it is. God Bless

 

[timothyu]

Interesting though I have never met a Chinese believer who advocated a Revolution to overthrow the Chinese Govt, wicked as it is. God Bless

Could be true enough as the Kingdom has no place in the world of man and is quite easily followed in secret and separate from the 'real' world. The two philosophies may be opposite but need not clash because the Kingdom as a religion is not a physical threat to the world of man. Only the King will be that threat and suppressing the religion won't prevent that. What the governance of man wishes to suppress is the hope of a counter-culture to what we have traditionally had forever which we built in our own image.

 

[Silverback]

Hi all, I realise there is unlikely to be a consensus on this, but I was wondering, based on Romans 13, is there ever a scenario in which a Christian should help overthrow a government? I've noticed that in some articles people have said that since this told in the time of Nero, a truly corrupt and evil ruler, we should submit even to evil authorities. Whereas others have said that in the case that a government has become completely against the word of God and no longer does good a Christian may do so, but only if there is no other option.

I'm just wondering, because I recall that my church's old pastor once said that we should overthrow evil regimes if they were too corrupt, but perhaps I misheard, or can't remember the context properly.

Lutheran theologian, and Pastor Dietrich Bonhoffer(probably spelled wrong) came to the conclusion that Hitler needed to be killed, and sided with the July 1944 plot to do just that...it failed, just like the 20 or so attempts before this.

Bonnhoffer believed that overthrowing the National Socialist was justified simply because it would saved lives, and he was convinced of the necessity to kill Hitler, who Bonnhoffer felt was in Satan's grasp.

Three weeks before the war ended, Pastor Bonnhoffer was hung from meat hooks with piano wire over a period of several hours. Before he died his pants were pulled down to his ankles. Hitler had it all filmed for his viewing pleasure.

Evil like this, I feel needs to be ended at whatever cost is necessary. The same cannot be said for tax increases, face mask requirements, or lock downs during a disease outbreak.

It requires wisdom, prayer, and courage to discern Gods desires in matters like this...glad I never have had to do it.

 

[public hermit]

Hi all, I realise there is unlikely to be a consensus on this, but I was wondering, based on Romans 13, is there ever a scenario in which a Christian should help overthrow a government? I've noticed that in some articles people have said that since this told in the time of Nero, a truly corrupt and evil ruler, we should submit even to evil authorities. Whereas others have said that in the case that a government has become completely against the word of God and no longer does good a Christian may do so, but only if there is no other option.

I'm just wondering, because I recall that my church's old pastor once said that we should overthrow evil regimes if they were too corrupt, but perhaps I misheard, or can't remember the context properly.

I would argue that Romans 13 establishes the qualifications of legitimate government, i.e. promotes the good and restrains evil. If there happens to be a government that, more than less, promotes evil and restrains the good, then it is not legitimate and not ordained by God. Hence, Christians need not submit to illegitimate governments.

 

[lismore]

Bonnhoffer believed that overthrowing the National Socialist was justified simply because it would saved lives, and he was convinced of the necessity to kill Hitler, who Bonnhoffer felt was in Satan's grasp.

Hello Silverback. Sadly I think the horse had already bolted by then. Hitler could not have climbed to power without the votes of many churchgoers. The Pope even signed a concordat with Hitler. Many churchgoers helped to put him there. God Bless

 

[Silverback]

Ah, I'm in Australia, so the politics are not quite as intense as in the USA at the moment. This topic mostly sprung up when I thought about how often rebellion is often portrayed a the right thing to do in many movies and books, e.g Star Wars, Eragon, Braveheart, etc. It made me wonder what the Christian perspective on the matter was, and here I am.

It's a tuff call, but I think unless the innocent are being killed outright, or being worked to death, we are to persevere in prayer, and patience.

Just to mention it, when we had our war of independence, I don't really think it was justified, at least not initially, as the years passed...maybe.

 

[Silverback]

Hello Silverback. Sadly I think the horse had already bolted by then. Hitler could not have climbed to power without the votes of many churchgoers. The Pope even signed a concordat with Hitler. Many churchgoers helped to put him there. God Bless

No question about it, you are correct...but not all churches or Christians fell in line behind Hitler. Oddly, I am tempted to give the Vatican a bit of leeway on some of it's decisions during those dark days. The Vatican sheltered thousands of Jews during the war, and none would have been helped with the SS replacing the Swiss Guard. There were reprehensible clergy though, Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox.

 

[Silverback]

I would argue that Romans 13 establishes the qualifications of legitimate government, i.e. promotes the good and restrains evil. If there happens to be a government that, more than less, promotes evil and restrains the good, then it is not legitimate and not ordained by God. Hence, Christians need not submit to illegitimate governments.

Good point, well said...Bravo-Zulu to you

 

[timothyu]

It requires wisdom, prayer, and courage to discern Gods desires in matters like this...glad I never have had to do it.

Hmm, no Hitler, no Israel of today. Is it wise to tamper with God's plans and presume our will serves His purposes?

 

[Carl Emerson]

Hmm, no Hitler, no Israel of today.

Really???

 

[Biltong65]

Hi all, I realise there is unlikely to be a consensus on this, but I was wondering, based on Romans 13, is there ever a scenario in which a Christian should help overthrow a government? I've noticed that in some articles people have said that since this told in the time of Nero, a truly corrupt and evil ruler, we should submit even to evil authorities. Whereas others have said that in the case that a government has become completely against the word of God and no longer does good a Christian may do so, but only if there is no other option.

I'm just wondering, because I recall that my church's old pastor once said that we should overthrow evil regimes if they were too corrupt, but perhaps I misheard, or can't remember the context properly.

This doctrine (of Freedom) is espoused in the Declaration of Independence, and the Jeffersonian dictum of "alter or abolish".

No Government should rest on its laurels.

This is not a question of Christianity, all get the government they deserve.

 

[timothyu]

Really???

Really. Cause and effect.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

How much of this soul searching is based on the upcoming election?

I'm in Canada, so I tend to not reflect on US politics unless it is the main topic.

 

[chad kincham]

Hi all, I realise there is unlikely to be a consensus on this, but I was wondering, based on Romans 13, is there ever a scenario in which a Christian should help overthrow a government? I've noticed that in some articles people have said that since this told in the time of Nero, a truly corrupt and evil ruler, we should submit even to evil authorities. Whereas others have said that in the case that a government has become completely against the word of God and no longer does good a Christian may do so, but only if there is no other option.

I'm just wondering, because I recall that my church's old pastor once said that we should overthrow evil regimes if they were too corrupt, but perhaps I misheard, or can't remember the context properly.

The USA was started by Christians overthrowing the British government, and they wrote in the constitution that another revolution might be needed someday if the government turned bad.

That’s one reason they put having an armed militia in the constitution as a right we have.

 

[chad kincham]

All government kingdoms are possessed by satan, so one replaces the other.

Romans 13 tends to disagree with you.

BTW, the earth is a spinning ball, that orbits the sun.

The Bible does not demand geocentric belief, at all.

 

[Aussie Pete]

Hi all, I realise there is unlikely to be a consensus on this, but I was wondering, based on Romans 13, is there ever a scenario in which a Christian should help overthrow a government? I've noticed that in some articles people have said that since this told in the time of Nero, a truly corrupt and evil ruler, we should submit even to evil authorities. Whereas others have said that in the case that a government has become completely against the word of God and no longer does good a Christian may do so, but only if there is no other option.

I'm just wondering, because I recall that my church's old pastor once said that we should overthrow evil regimes if they were too corrupt, but perhaps I misheard, or can't remember the context properly.

Christians that live under corrupt regimes are rarely influential enough to overthrow them. Of course, God is all powerful and bring about regime change with no problem at all. I'm old enough to remember the amazing collapse of the USSR and the end of the Berlin Wall. All it takes is for the church to unite and pray diligently. Ugh. And therein lies the problem....

Derek Prince said that a democratic nation gets the government that it prays for. The church appears to have gone missing in the last decade or so.
12 Timothy 2
1First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone — 2for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.…

"First of all....."

Very few rebellions result in a regime superior to the one it replaces. God asks us to trust Him and to depend on His ability to deal with the wicked.

 

[Junia]

That is what is happening to our brothers and sisters in China. And yet they are sharing the gospel in prisons and seeing a great harvest. Interesting though I have never met a Chinese believer who advocated a Revolution to overthrow the Chinese Govt, wicked as it is. God Bless

True it I wouldn't obey the government either