If a local law contradicts the Bible, what should we obey?

Does local laws have authority over the word of God?

  • Yes. God established the authoirty. We must obey regardless of what scripture says.

  • No. God commands are supreme.We are to obey local laws only if they dont contradict God.

  • It depends.

  • I don't know.


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This question is a response to a discussion I was having with a friend. The friend truly believes that all government authorities are established by God and therefore ought to be obeyed. This I agree with because it is found repeatedly in scripture. Romans 13 is clearly one of them. However, this friend went on to say that because God established all authorities, we are commanded by God to obey these authorities even if the laws contradict the word of God. He told me specifically that "local laws have authority over scripture". Can anyone please tell me if I am wrong on this. But my position is that we are commanded to obey local laws, however, if local authorities command us to disobey God, “We must obey God rather than human beings!" Acts 5:29. What do you think?
 
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thecolorsblend

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Yes. Local law, state law, federal law, if any of them violate God's law then we cannot comply with them. The Early Church had a lot of martyrs because they refused to obey certain Roman laws.

During Prohibition, an exemption was made for consumption for religious purposes. That was good news for my Church, who otherwise would've been forced to disobey the law in order to celebrate Mass.
 
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HTacianas

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This question is a response to a discussion I was having with a friend. The friend truly believes that all government authorities are established by God and therefore ought to be obeyed. This I agree with because it is found repeatedly in scripture. Romans 13 is clearly one of them. However, this friend went on to say that because God established all authorities, we are commanded by God to obey these authorities even if the laws contradict the word of God. He told me specifically that "local laws have authority over scripture". Can anyone please tell me if I am wrong on this. But my position is that we are commanded to obey local laws, however, if local authorities command us to disobey God, “We must obey God rather than human beings!" Acts 5:29. What do you think?

That's generally an easy question to answer because modern secular laws rarely require a person to do any particular thing, they only restrain a person from doing it. I cannot think of a single law in the US that requires a person to do some thing or another against their religious beliefs.

But the new testament is filled with warnings about obeying the secular law if that law requires you to transgress the laws of God. Worshipping the image of the beast is perhaps the best example.
 
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Ttalkkugjil

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This question is a response to a discussion I was having with a friend. The friend truly believes that all government authorities are established by God and therefore ought to be obeyed. This I agree with because it is found repeatedly in scripture. Romans 13 is clearly one of them. However, this friend went on to say that because God established all authorities, we are commanded by God to obey these authorities even if the laws contradict the word of God. He told me specifically that "local laws have authority over scripture". Can anyone please tell me if I am wrong on this. But my position is that we are commanded to obey local laws, however, if local authorities command us to disobey God, “We must obey God rather than human beings!" Acts 5:29. What do you think?

God's commands > local laws, because God > the world.
 
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That's generally an easy question to answer because modern secular laws rarely require a person to do any particular thing, they only restrain a person from doing it. I cannot think of a single law in the US that requires a person to do some thing or another against their religious beliefs.

But the new testament is filled with warnings about obeying the secular law if that law requires you to transgress the laws of God. Worshipping the image of the beast is perhaps the best example.
Well. the laws in question doesn't necessarily have to be a U.S. law. Take countries like China, North Korea, and Saudi Arabia where worshiping God and sharing the Gospel may be forbidden.
 
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Yes. Local law, state law, federal law, if any of them violate God's law then we cannot comply with them. The Early Church had a lot of martyrs because they refused to obey certain Roman laws.

During Prohibition, an exemption was made for consumption for religious purposes. That was good news for my Church, who otherwise would've been forced to disobey the law in order to celebrate Mass.
Do you have any scriptural that demonstrates that the word of God should be obeyed over local laws?
 
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Sketcher

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Kaon

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That's generally an easy question to answer because modern secular laws rarely require a person to do any particular thing, they only restrain a person from doing it. I cannot think of a single law in the US that requires a person to do some thing or another against their religious beliefs.

But the new testament is filled with warnings about obeying the secular law if that law requires you to transgress the laws of God. Worshipping the image of the beast is perhaps the best example.

We in the West are not even at the level of experiencing the trials of the martyrs who were required to make a choice between disobeying the Most High God, or obeying Him and dying (even horribly). That is why this question is so important: better to discuss this and understand the purpose from spiritual brothers and sisters while we still can. Antichrist and the false prophets aren't going to hand us the Truth, and teach us how to recognize them. We need to be training spiritually right now.

For example, some of our brothers and sisters use Romans 13 as a justification for abortion, homosexuality and even divorce (which is a different topic altogether). This will be a problem for souls; it would be on us (too) if we let this slide repeatedly - even if the leadership of the Church decides to mislead the people. All of us are witnesses to the entirety of prophecy before our eyes - if we have eyes to see.
 
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We in the West are not even at the level of experiencing the trials of the martyrs who were required to make a choice between disobeying the Most High God, or obeying Him and dying (even horribly). That is why this question is so important: better to discuss this and understand the purpose from spiritual brothers and sisters while we still can. Antichrist and the false prophets aren't going to hand us the Truth, and teach us how to recognize them. We need to be training spiritually right now.

For example, some of our brothers and sisters use Romans 13 as a justification for abortion, homosexuality and even divorce (which is a different topic altogether). This will be a problem for souls; it would be on us (too) if we let this slide repeatedly - even if the leadership of the Church decides to mislead the people. All of us are witnesses to the entirety of prophecy before our eyes - if we have eyes to see.
Makes you wonder how many Christians are going to receive the mark of the beast because "Romans 13 told me so"?
 
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thecolorsblend

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Do you have any scriptural that demonstrates that the word of God should be obeyed over local laws?
I see that someone provided a few examples for you. That's good. But honestly, I don't think I need authorization from Sacred Scripture.
 
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HTacianas

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We in the West are not even at the level of experiencing the trials of the martyrs who were required to make a choice between disobeying the Most High God, or obeying Him and dying (even horribly). That is why this question is so important: better to discuss this and understand the purpose from spiritual brothers and sisters while we still can. Antichrist and the false prophets aren't going to hand us the Truth, and teach us how to recognize them. We need to be training spiritually right now.

For example, some of our brothers and sisters use Romans 13 as a justification for abortion, homosexuality and even divorce (which is a different topic altogether). This will be a problem for souls; it would be on us (too) if we let this slide repeatedly - even if the leadership of the Church decides to mislead the people. All of us are witnesses to the entirety of prophecy before our eyes - if we have eyes to see.

If someone is using Romans 13 to justify abortion they are deeply confused. They are attempting to argue that since the secular law allows for abortion, and we are to obey the secular law, abortion is acceptable within Christianity. That's an imbecilic argument. The secular law allows us to build an image of Moloch and worship it, but it is prohibited by Christianity.
 
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Kaon

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If someone is using Romans 13 to justify abortion they are deeply confused. They are attempting to argue that since the secular law allows for abortion, and we are to obey the secular law, abortion is acceptable within Christianity. That's an imbecilic argument. The secular law allows us to build an image of Moloch and worship it, but it is prohibited by Christianity.

And yet there are monuments of Baphomet, Molech, Diana/Ishtar/Semiramis, etc. - with or without their knowledge. And, indeed, they use much of the bible speaking of civil law to justify doing something that would be against the Most High God.

Our human history is based on it.
 
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HTacianas

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And yet there are monuments of Baphomet, Molech, Diana/Ishtar/Semiramis, etc. - with or without their knowledge. And, indeed, they use much of the bible speaking of civil law to justify doing something that would be against the Most High God.

Our human history is based on it.

And where are all of those things?
 
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Natsumi Lam

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Do you have any scriptural that demonstrates that the word of God should be obeyed over local laws?

Example:
When the mark comes out and the government says to take it and bow to the beast.....the Word says absolutely not....we must obey the Word.
 
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Richard T

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Suppose the laws would tell you not to preach the gospel as is found in some nations. Of course you would disobey for God. Acts 4: "Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. 20For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” That is an easy example. I would assume too that Paul and Silas' prison break was against the law, yet it was God who orchestrated it through angels. Some laws are more difficult to interpret as to whether you should obey or disobey. In these cases you need to look at the law's intent. Was the laws intent to protect? have all legal options been exhausted? Is breaking the law an action of love? I once was returning from a mission trip and was scheduled to return to the host country without a proper visa. I could have easily crossed the border illegally, but instead I remained in a nearby country until I could legally cross. I assumed that immigration laws were written with good intent, and there was no emergency to break such laws.
 
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HeartenedHeart

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This question is a response to a discussion I was having with a friend. The friend truly believes that all government authorities are established by God and therefore ought to be obeyed....
What then of Hos. 8:4; Rev. 13:2, and other?
 
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HeartenedHeart

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However, this friend went on to say that because God established all authorities, we are commanded by God to obey these authorities even if the laws contradict the word of God. He told me specifically that "local laws have authority over scripture". Can anyone please tell me if I am wrong on this. But my position is that we are commanded to obey local laws, however, if local authorities command us to disobey God, “We must obey God rather than human beings!" Acts 5:29. What do you think?
It doesn't so much matter what I think, as what God said on it, right?

Peter was speaking by the Holy Ghost, in Acts 5:29. There is a time to say, "No, this far and no further, for God said ..."

Those authorities, are to be subject to the authority of God, the supreme authority, notice, Romans 13 carefully:

Rom. 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

God, and His word is the highest authority, and any authority which contradicts that authority is to be ignored and refuted (as Peter did), lest obedience to mere men be to us sin against God's commandments, by taking up the commandments of men in their place, see Mat. 15:3,9, etc.

Romans 13, is in the context of true government, and true ministers of justice, see Rom. 13:3-6.

For example, see Daniel 3 and 6, with Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, and with Daniel.

See Joseph in Egypt, and so on.
 
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Kaon

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It doesn't so much matter what I think, as what God said on it, right?

Peter was speaking by the Holy Ghost, in Acts 5:29. There is a time to say, "No, this far and no further, for God said ..."

Those authorities, are to be subject to the authority of God, the supreme authority, notice, Romans 13 carefully:

Rom. 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

God, and His word is the highest authority, and any authority which contradicts that authority is to be ignored and refuted (as Peter did), lest obedience to mere men be to us sin against God's commandments, by taking up the commandments of men in their place, see Mat. 15:3,9, etc.

Romans 13, is in the context of true government, and true ministers of justice, see Rom. 13:3-6.

For example, see Daniel 3 and 6, with Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, and with Daniel.

See Joseph in Egypt, and so on.

Exactly.
 
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Kaon

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And where are all of those things?

In plain sight. All around the world.

This plane of existence truly is sick in how the Most High God is mocked through every dimension of our humanity - and we rarely notice it, but often participate in it (sometimes unconsciously.)

I am not going to begin naming off cities with wards, statues to the various gods in nations of religious predominance, and the incantations and rituals in which the people participate. Why? Because spells can't be broken through Socratic or didactic method. Besides, I am thoroughly tired of telling people something with the instant reaction of dubeity and incredulity. I know many others are too. Everyone needs to see for themselves at this point - the epiphany cannot be activated through words anymore in this time. Sight may not even work.
 
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GodLovesCats

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I voted with the majority because "local laws" are written by sinners, often for sinful purposes, or at least to incite fear in the world. Example: Some U.S. cities ban pit bulls. God loves all dogs. He would not want pit bulls to be euthanized or abandoned just because a few elected officials hate the breed.
 
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