The paramount concern of a Christian should be to obey God. We are to do this because we trust Him and love Him. And if we’re put in a situation where that earthly authority is pressuring us to disobey the command of God, we have a decision to make: to obey earthly law or God’s law. That’s what civil disobedience is all about. But there’s a spirit in which to do it. You know, one of the reasons that Martin Luther King, Jr. was such an amazing man is that when he was arrested for disobeying man’s immoral laws on segregation, he was willing to pay the price. He recognized if we’re going to disobey government authorities, no matter how corrupt it may be, we’ve got to be willing to pay the penalty.

If you, as a Christian, are called to obey God and disobey some earthly authority, don’t be moaning and groaning, demanding your rights and talking about how unfair it is! Accept it! Rejoice in it! We’re not to be angry with those who are unjustly treating us, we’re to love them. We’re to forgive them. Our whole demeanor and spirit is to be different, and this is what gets the attention of the world! They will begin to realize you are really serious about following Jesus! That’s what God wants us to do and that’s how He wants us to respond.