So you’re a fired up campaigner and a determined activist – but you’re also a passionate follower of Christ. Brilliant! That’s what we LOVE to see at PJ Gen. 

As you continue along in your journey of justice, one of the questions you might come up against is whether Christians should break the law in non-violent civil disobedience. 

We’re not aiming to give you a neat answer to this question, we’re also NOT telling you to break the law, but rather just want to give you some things to ponder. A slice of food for thought!

So let’s be clear: Jesus broke the Jewish law pretty regularly (every time he healed on the Sabbath, for example). But he ALSO respected and honoured it. Where do we draw that line in 21st century campaigning?

The Christian discipline of submission is HUGELY important, and Peter told the Christians he was writing to that they should submit to the authorities:

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 1 Peter 2:13-14

We shouldn’t immediately rebel against this, even if we don’t like the sound of it:

Both Peter and Paul called for obedience to the pagan State because they understood the great good that resulted from the human institution. I have found that human ‘authorities’ often have a great deal of wisdom that we neglect only at our own peril. - Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster 

But we’re also clearly commanded to STAND UP against injustice:

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9

This seems to bring us to a contradiction: what if the authorities are committing injustices? What do we do then?

It’s here that we come up against the limits of the discipline of Christian submission. Those limits are when it’s adhered to so strictly that it becomes destructive, and goes against genuine biblical submission. The Pharisees were the very definition of legalism – of destructive submission to the law. They often used questions about the Jewish law to try to trap Jesus into saying something they could use against him in court (John 8:6).

But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?” Acts 4:19 NLT

We should absolutely obey the law of the land until the point at which it conflicts with our Christian principles – and at that point, if we decide we are going to break the human law, we should carefully and prayerfully consider how and why we do that.

Whatever you decide, pray throughout and seek God as you campaign for justice in the world he created. God has commanded us to always act out of love, whether we’re standing up for someone, holding a protest or campaigning against injustice. Our love for God and others must always be at the centre.