There is both a proper and an improper subjection in this area. As long as the civil law does not command us or ask us to do anything, which goes contrary to Scripture, we should obey. It may not be our way of doing things; we may wish we did not have to do it; we may not follow their philosophy; it may not follow our own particular political frame of reference; but regardless of all that, if the civil government passes a law which in no way violates Scripture, we are to obey it whether we like it or not. This is proper subjection to human government. Some examples of this are found in Romans 13:1–7; 1 Peter 2:13–17; Titus 3:1.
There is also improper subjection when we are expected to comply with something which does clearly contradict Scripture. Examples of improper subjection include Acts 4:19–20 and 5:29. If the government tells us that we cannot preach the gospel, then we disobey that law. If the government says we need to have an abortion; we disobey that law. If the government says we should go out and kill a particular group of people; we do not obey that law. When the Nazi government in Germany passed resolutions that Jews should be exterminated, no German believer should have obeyed that law. If he were a true believer, he could not have obeyed it unless he was terribly out of fellowship with God.
One more thing about subjection to human government is that there are ways by which we can use the law properly. For example, if we can legally protest, we can use the law to protest an action as Paul did in Acts 16:37–40, when he used the law to protest an official action by the civil authorities. Since the United States Constitution allows its citizens to organize protests against abortions, they have the right to protest publicly. The Constitution allows any law of the government to be challenged through the courts of the United States; therefore, the law can be properly used by way of protest. Another way of properly using the law is for gaining rights; we have the right to use the law to gain our rights. Examples of this are Acts 22:25–29; 23:1–10; 25:10–12; 26:32. Where the law allows us to gain our rights, we should use it.
Excerpt from Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum:
MBS137 THE SPIRITUAL LIFE AND THE BELIEVER’S RULE OF LIFE: Pg 12-13
