Civil Disobedience and Must We Always Obey Man's Laws and Government? And Are We Sovereign Citizens?

Originally written in 2018. Updated and edited 2022.

Some people claim that Christians are to be "sovereign citizens", meaning that we are not required by the almighty creator to submit to or to obey man's government and laws. They say that the government is evil and man's laws are evil and that we are only under the creator's laws and not man's laws. They say the entire government and law system is from Satan. Some say that you do not have to pay taxes or attain permits such as driver's licenses or car registrations.

But most Christians say that the bible commands us to obey all governments, presidents and kings, even when they are wicked, with no exceptions.

What does the holy scriptures really say?

Here, at I Saw The Light Ministries, we take a balanced approach. We must consider the entire bible, not just the verses in support of one side or the other. The bible actually supports both sides but with the proper balance. Please take the time to read this entire article/page to see the full explanation and not just one side.

Exception: Godly Civil Disobedience

I believe that most of you are already familiar with the bible verses that say that we must obey the government, even the wicked kings. We will definitely quote those scriptures later in this page, and support those scriptures with obedience, but first, let's examine the exceptions.

One of the main exceptions that the bible gives is when the government forbids us from obeying God. This has always been our teaching.

Evangelism, distribution of the gospel and Jesus name:

Acts 5:29 "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
Context: Paul and Peter were repeatedly forbidden by the officials from preaching the gospel in Jesus name. And they disobeyed. (Many demonic "ministers" are also now forbidding Jesus name!)

Did you read the above scriptures in your personal paperback/hardback bible today or just only on this website?
If only online, I encourage you to please open your bible and read these verses both on our website and in your bible. There is power in reading the real bible. Also, did you pray before beginning to read about this specific subject today? If not, I encourage you to take the time now to pray for understanding of truth.

Bibles and evangelism is illegal in Muslim and Communist nations. Yet we must still distribute the gospel of Jesus, the Christ in all nations, regardless of man's laws. We are commanded by Jesus in Matt. 28:18-20 to evangelize the gospel in all nations. Both Matthew 28 and Acts 5 gives us God's permission to disobey human laws when necessary to evangelize.

Government says that we can't criticize Islam or homosexuality. But we must continue to expose wickedness and speak against it. It is our Christian duty and what the bible commands us to do, regardless of man's law.

Any and every time that man's government tells us to disobey God, then we must disobey that rule; because our obedience to God comes first! Man is not the creator God. Only God is God almighty.
God's laws are over and above man's laws!

Daniel 3:14-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego disobeyed Nebuchadnezzar’s order to worship false gods. We know that Daniel also disobeyed the new law that said that he could not pray to the God of Israel.

2 Cor. 11:32-33 Christians disobeyed the King's order to seize Paul. We have the God given right to protect and hide our Christian brothers and sisters when they are being unfairly persecuted by the wicked government.

Joshua 2 Rahab committed treason against the government of Jericho to help the Hebrew spies.

Marriage licenses: We have the God given right to have sex and to fall in love and to have relationships. Marriage is a biblical covenant and therefore human laws have no real authority over marriage. The governments of mankind don't have any authority over our feelings, our souls, our God given rights and human nature. I refuse to get the same license that the government gives to sinful and illegal homosexual relationships. A marriage license is a tax paid in order to attain permission to do what God has already given us the right to do. God's law doesn't require us to pay that type of tax or to attain such permission.

Fishing and hunting: God gave us the right to survive, to eat, to hunt, to fish, to enjoy nature, to relax, to take from the land the food that He provides. Man's government can regulate it to help preserve it with correct balances, but can't restrict us from actually fishing & hunting. A fishing & hunting license is a tax paid in order to attain permission to do what God has already given us the right to do. God's law doesn't require us to pay that type of tax or to attain such permission.

Islamic Sharia Law: Islamic laws are from Satan and go against every element of God's law. Christians and Jews, and in fact, all humans, have no obligation to obey such demonic laws, of which many go against human nature which God created.

Abortion:
Exodus 1:15-17 The midwives disobeyed the order to kill male children.

Right now, the illegal and illegitimate Biden regime is demanding American taxpayers to send their Federal taxes to be used for murdering children (funding abortion) and to promote and fund Islam, homosexuality, poisonous fake vaccines, and to fund their war against Christians and against Israel. Therefore, the bible is clear on this! We can, and we must, disobey such demonic laws! We have God's permission to boycott Biden's federal taxes and also any state or local taxes if the state or city uses such funds to pay for abortion, or the promotion of abortion, homosexuality, communism or other evils.

What about the command of Jesus to pay taxes to Caesar?
Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
(We must consider the context, which is that the Pharisees were trying to entrap Jesus. He had to be wise about how he answered! The answer was correct for the specific situation of the wicked Pharisees paying taxes to a wicked Roman government. The wicked support the wicked. These verses really can't be applied to true Christians today, who are not Pharisees. We have a higher standard than the Pharisees. The Pharisees were the (spiritual) children of Satan, as Jesus said in other verses. True Christians have a higher obligation to our heavenly Father, Jesus, to obey the commandments, to not fund abortion and other evils, as abortion is against God's law.
As I was preaching on this subject in 2022, The Holy Ghost of Jesus led me to say "Whose picture is on our dollar bill? George Washington! Whose picture is on the penny? Abraham Lincoln! Who picture is on the nickel? Thomas Jefferson? Would any of these men want you to fund abortion, or to promote abortion, using money bearing their images? Absolutely not! Would they want you to fund an illegitimate government or a communist government with funds bearing their picture? Absolutely not! Patriots should absolutely resist unconstitutional illegitimate governments and such laws.")

The USA was founded/started because of their refusal to pay taxes to the king of England! George Washington, who was shot at least 3 times without injury, as he was protected by the almighty God, disobeyed the British king via taxes and many other ways! If he had not disobeyed, then America would have never existed! This was God's will. Many of America's founding fathers were following God's will in their disobedience against British laws and the Catholic Church including the Church of England which was a political arm of England. The American forefathers were rebels.

The 2nd Amendment: The US Constitution gives Americans the right to bear arms, and that includes primarily for the purpose of overthrowing any tyrant government. The people who wrote that law was thinking about any possibility of any future government that would possibly become extremely overbearing to the American people. They were not primarily thinking about hunting, etc. The context was the American revolution against Great Britain.
Any new law that goes against the 2nd Amendment is unconstitutional. And any law that is unconstitutional is not a lawful law, because it is made void by the Constitution. By American law, Americans have no obligation to obey unconstitutional laws. Therefore, our list here is only brief and does not include all possible examples.

But When The Law Doesn't Violate God's Law and God Given Rights or the Constitution

(Romans 13:1-7 and other scriptures teach us to obey the governments of mankind. This ministry continues to teach this! However, we must acknowledge all scripture. Not just part of it. The bible is clear that there are exceptions of when we must not obey the governments of mankind. We have already covered that subject above. Now, we'll review the scripture verses that, in general, command us to obey man's governments, even the wicked kings, when it doesn't violate God's laws or our God given rights.)

1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man (man's government & laws) for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change.

Romans 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.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

What did Jesus do? What did Paul do? They both submitted to the police and court system of man's government, without resistance.

The Creator even told Jeremiah to submit to the invading, wicked Babylonian government and the creator told Jeremiah to instruct the other people to do the same. See Jer. 27. But this submission to the government was only because it was God's will for Babylon to invade the sinful Judeans. But it was God's will for the American forefathers to resist the British government and their military. So God's will can be different for each war and each battle. We really can't put one rule for all wars and all battles and all governments. Context is key.

Just Disagreeing is Not Justification for Disobedience

Just because we disagree with a law or a government (such as seat belt laws, and license to drive) is not justification for our disobedience. When we disobey or rebel against man's government, we disobey & rebel against God himself, unless our disobedience is because the law is against God's law or our God given rights. According to what scripture says, God is who put these people into power. The Creator has appointed these people to rule over us. The Creator appointed Saul, David, Solomon, Obama and Trump. This doesn't mean they are all righteous, but they were appointed by The Creator for a time and season and for a reason. Even David respected Saul's authority while Saul was repeatedly trying to murder him! David even sentenced a man to death for confessing to killing Saul. (Although the man lied, & Saul had killed himself, but the point is still true that David sentenced a man to death because he thought the man killed Saul.) If anyone had any right to resist authority or a king, it was David, but instead, David respected those that God had previously placed in control, even though that man became wicked!

Who Created Government and Law?

According to scripture, The Creator created government and law. That's the origin of law & government, not Satan. Even the court system of man judging man was created by The Creator. Mose's father-in-law told Moses to appoint judges & officers. That was wise advice, which Moses took and The Creator never corrected Moses or his father-in-law for this. Even if you dislike your government, the fact still remains that God gave us human kings and human government and works via that government and those kings. We are not to be a lawless people, without government and laws. To not have human government, human laws, human police and a human court system, we would be extremely out of control and it would be unsafe to live anywhere. We need the police, human laws, human court system and human government. Because without it, there would be total chaos. All law except Islamic Sharia Law (which is Satan's laws and we don't need to obey) is based upon "how to treat others with love", which is based upon the 10 Commandments given by the Creator. All good law goes back to the Creator. Law & decency was given by God. Without it, would be nothing but wickedness.

We can't disobey the government just because we want to, or because we want a better government. If you live in a nation where you are allowed to protest, vote, sign petitions, etc, then generally, that's the route that you should take to change the government and laws. (Unless it's an exception such as allowed by God's will, such as the American revolution.) But you can't righteously declare yourself as sovereign to God only, because God says that you are to submit to man's government that He has appointed, even when they are wicked. That's The Creator's law. That's scripture, like it or not.

No Right to Government Assistance if You are Completely Sovereign

If you are totally against all human government or all of man's laws, then you have no right to call the police or an ambulance when you need them. You also have no right to travel the roads that were paved by man's government & paid for by their law of taxes. You also do not have any right to collect Social Security or disability or food stamps, or to go to court to sue a person, or to sue the government. Because when you accept those payments, or use the very system that you do not believe in, you expose yourself as a hypocrite.

However, the Obama regime and the Biden regime are not the legitimate governments of the Untied States. Recognizing this fact doesn't remove your right to receive government benefits. But when you say that all human government is illegitimate, then you are in rebellion against God's command to appoint human kings. I realize that human kings were the will and command of humans against God's authority. But God granted the people's desire and has ever since instituted human government.

The belief and teaching that the United States government has been illegitimate for many decades is total hogwash (nonsense). The people that believe in that fantasy, also believe in such crazy foolishness as Planet X, flat Earth, Jade Helm and that mass shootings are just actors! Those people need to buy a brain!

Consequences of Rebellion

There is law, and there are consequences for rebellion to that law. When we sin via unrighteously rebelling against man's laws or the creator's laws, we will suffer the consequences. As the scriptures above declare,

Romans 13:2-4 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Disobey & rebel, and you will eventually lose the court cases and everything will be taken away from you including your freedom. It's time people learn to respect authority and to humble themselves and realize that the Creator is in control even when wicked rulers/judges are in power.
However, there are exceptions such as the illegal Biden regime, and the Iranian regime. People inside of Iran are actively working against their demonic government, and rightfully so. The true God does not disapprove of the Persian people rebelling against their government. The New York Times in America is owned by the Iranian regime. Many large corporations are working in cooperation with the Assyrian antichrist, Iran, Russia and China, to destroy the American constitution. The Biden regime has been planted by those 666 nations for the express purpose of the destruction of America, which was founded by God.
Although it is God's will for those nations to overthrow America because of the sins of the nation, as Ezek. 38:4 says that it will be God himself who brings those gentile nations into the Israelite nations of Judean, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and America. Therefore, there's really nothing that we can do to stop the ongoing invasion of our nations, except repent. But nationwide repentance just isn't going to happen! We must face reality! The invasions will continue.
All things considered in this article/page, in general, we will have to obey these invading nations, even as Jeremiah was commanded by God to tell the people to do, but we don't have to obey their commands of funding the murder of babies. We don't have to obey Islamic Sharia laws of the halal mark, or restrictions against bibles, evangelism or restrictions against Jesus name. We don't have to obey any command to respect homosexuality, Islam, Communism, etc.

Our Duty to Stand Against Evil

-Boycott federal/national taxes if you live in a nation ruled by communism or Islam. (But still pay local if not communist/Islamic.)
-Home-school if possible. Neighbors, family, churches and some organizations can home school your children for you if necessary.
-Private schools.
-Get involved in protests. It's an American right.
-Sign many petitions.
-Vote!
-Campaign for the best man.
-Get involved with other local rebel groups such as people in Cuba & Zimbabwe should do.

Recommended Articles:

The Truth of the Confederate Flag
Planet X/Nibiru
Lunar Sabbaths?
Jesus Name Vs. Yeshua

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Civil Disobedience and Must We Always Obey Man's Laws and Government? And Are We Sovereign Citizens? Copyright 2018, 2022 I Saw The Light Ministries