How strictly does God want us to follow the law of the land?

[John 8:32]

Hi everyone.

I have a question about following the law of the land.

I know God tells us to follow laws of the land and our governments etc.

Romans 13:1-2

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

But my question is about how strict is this. Is it enough to just comply with the intention of laws, or to follow them to the letter? I feel like manmade laws are imperfect and there can be small inconsequential grey areas, and that although you may not follow them to the letter, as long as you follow their intent it is okay. God’s word, though, is perfect and we should therefore always follow 100%.

To give an example of what I’m talking about, if I’m driving my car in a 30mph area and a 50mph area is coming up, if it’s safe to do so I might start accelerating up to 50mph 10-20 yards before I reach the 50 sign. Technically illegal but physically it doesn’t make any difference.

Or when I approach a stop sign, the law says I should come to a complete stop. But sometimes I’ll come to almost a complete stop and be rolling forward an inch or two, have a really good look both ways and can see no other cars are coming, and then pull out. Technically illegal for not coming to a complete stop, but I complied with the intention of the law by checking really well that no traffic was coming in either direction before pulling out.

Do you think that I’m disobeying God by doing those things? Does he want me to follow the law to the letter? Or would he not mind as long as I comply with the intent of the law?

I’ve been having a big think about this and am starting to think that maybe I have been disobeying God and that I shouldn’t do this anymore.

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

How strictly does He want you to follow His law?

[JohnDB]

Well I can think of many of the Laws of this land that I don't want to follow.

There comes a point when legality is not acceptable.

For example...I know a man who is a gun smith. Not a bad hobby at all IMHO.
But the problem I have is that he wishes to make assault rifles with his talents and then sell the assault rifles to people who can legally purchase them.
As an electrician he could use my services to make his three phase lathes work easier and better. But I won't do it...again my part being completely legitimate and legal as well as his part being completely legitimate and legal.

But I can't do it in good conscience.

Unique hunting rifles and target rifles and even hand guns are one thing...assault rifles are another.

I can work in tobacco factories and even beer factories to solve their electrical problems with PLC and motor controls and lighting...no problem. Even fast food establishments and bars. My conscience is clean on those places. But when it comes to making assault rifles I gotta draw a line. The difference to me is intent. As far as I know an assault rifle has only one purpose...to kill other people. Sure it can be used as a deterrent to those who would wish bodily harm. But its primary function is to shoot other people in various environments. And it's proliferation is one that inspires the shooting of other people. I know that most of the legal ones purchased out there in America are not used in such a fashion...but they still inspire the thoughts and that is the problem I have with them.

I wish to inspire people to do good.

I wish to inspire people to do what is right.

I wish to inspire people to love their fellow man as God taught.

Anything else to me is simply a form of legalism which has an appearance of wisdom but has no merit in producing Godliness.

[adampjr]

There used to be a TV show that had as a setting the inside of a law school. The problem with meeting the intent of the law while missing the letter of the law was one of the shows that stuck in my mind.

Man's laws are not perfect, and they are not always fair. That, however, does not always mean we can disobey them AND please God at the same time. Does God care of you do a "California Stop?" Since it is so easy to obey that one, one would have to wonder why it was disobeyed. Is it possibly because we feel that we have the ability and authority to disobey? If that is the reason, would God be pleased with our humility and submissiveness?

Obedience to man's law is one thing. Our attitudes are another. I think God has placed great value on our attitudes - thus Matthew 5. If someone sees you violating traffic laws at the same time someone sees the fish emblem on your car, how is your witness? If you pass a car doing five miles over the speed limit like he is going ten mph under, and the driver of the other car sees your "Are You Saved" bumper sticker, what message does he get? (If you want to drive like that, please remove any testimony of how you are "in Christ" from your vehicle. The world doesn't need any help in tarnishing our image.)

Maybe we need to focus on our hearts and our witness more than whether or not a policeman saw it.

There's nothing damaging to a witness by failing to yield to cars taht are not there.
But no, I will not remove any testimony of my beliefs simply because I am not a legalist.

[Boo]

There's nothing damaging to a witness by failing to yield to cars taht are not there.
But no, I will not remove any testimony of my beliefs simply because I am not a legalist.

If there is no car there, then there is no policeman to give you a ticket. Being legalistic to man's law is one thing. Being legalistic to laws that do not exist in scripture is another. Don't confuse the two.

If there is someone in a house by that stop sign who sees you, how do you know?

Character is measured by what we do when we THINK nobody sees us.

[adampjr]

If there is no car there, then there is no policeman to give you a ticket. Being legalistic to man's law is one thing. Being legalistic to laws that do not exist in scripture is another. Don't confuse the two.

If there is someone in a house by that stop sign who sees you, how do you know?

Character is measured by what we do when we THINK nobody sees us.

I'm not trying to get through a stop sign in secret. I mean, if there are no cars that have the right of way before me. I'm not trying to get away with something here, I always yield to cars that have the right of way.
I'm perfectly satisfied that people might see me roll through a stop sign. That's not what I am saying. I'm saying I disagree that yielding to no cars is a character issue.

[adampjr]

I absolutely agree that character has to do with what you do when no one is seeing you. I will stop and let someone else go i from the other direction if they are there before me at the stop sign. If there is no one to yield to, I will roll through the stop whether people are there or not - the only exception I would make for that is if someone is there who has nothing better to do than take money from everyone who does that - in whihc case its a merely practical matter.

[Boo]

I absolutely agree that character has to do with what you do when no one is seeing you. I will stop and let someone else go i from the other direction if they are there before me at the stop sign. If there is no one to yield to, I will roll through the stop whether people are there or not - the only exception I would make for that is if someone is there who has nothing better to do than take money from everyone who does that - in whihc case its a merely practical matter.

If we were discussing only "California Stops," our thoughts go one way. Since the thread is about much more than that, though, my line of reasoning goes farther.

The degree in which we are obedient to God's instructions to be obedient to the government He gave us is the actual question.

It is a very sad thing to see a Christian brother in court over violations of state or federal law. It is even worse if the defense attorney appeals to a jury with a statement about how the defendant is a good man and a Christian.

We each decide our level of obedience. I have my determination and you have yours. I am greatly concerned about my witness for God, so my behavior is aligned that way. We probably both see that alignment differently.

Have a blessed day, brother.