Christians and the Civil Law

Christians and the Civil Law

Dear Editor:

God ordained human government and law for the benefit of mankind. "The higher powers...are ordained of God" (Rom. 13:1).

Righteous people do not need of civil laws to make them do right and treat their neighbors kindly. Paul observed that "the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for men stealers, for liars, for false swearers…" (I Tim. 1:9-10).

Laws are necessary to protect the weak and helpless from aggressive, predatory people who would abuse them except for the protection of the law and the punishments it can impose upon them (Rom. 13:4).

Christ expects his disciples to "be subject to every ordinance of man" for his sake (I Pet. 2:13). Such compliance to law not only is the right thing to do; it silences the worldly critics who would try to discredit Christians by implying that they were lawless (I Pet. 2:15).

When the law-abiding Christian finds himself abused by the lawless, he has every right to appeal to the law for protection. Paul did this when Roman authorities ordered him to be scourged. Roman law specified that a citizen could not be scourged (Acts 22:23-29).

In our day of endemic litigation and frivolous lawsuits, Christians must not be tempted to use the law to intimidate or penalize others for their own stupidity and mistakes. Even though greedy, unscrupulous lawyers advertise and try to entice us to let them sue others on our behalf, we must live by a higher standard.

Christians are not to take others to court over petty matters. Such disputes and injuries should be resolved privately or with help from friends rather than in the courts (I Cor. 6:1-8). Especially is this the case with fellow-Christians.

We must not use the law to bully others with threats of legal harassment. Some selfish and greedy people have found that they can usually get their way, or get material gain from others by threatening to sue them. To avoid the cost and inconvenience of going to court, the victim will often settle with the aggressor.

We must not use the law to punish those with whom we disagree. It is common to see politicians and "activist groups" use the law to punish their ideological opponents.

We must not use the law to force others to pay for the dumb mistakes we make. Remember the lady who ordered a cup of coffee from McDonalds' drive through window and drove away with the cup between her legs. When it spilled and burned her she sued the business and got cash to which she had no right. Thousands of similar lawsuits are filed each month. The situation is shameful.

No person involved in a crime should be able to sue his victim for injuries he sustains in his criminal act. That such cases are won for criminals is a damning indictment of our justice system. No one who is trespassing should be able to sue those upon whose property he is trespassing.

That a lawyer will take a case does to mean it is right for us to pursue it. That a court is willing to hear a case does not make it ethically right for the Christian to litigate. If the whole world is driven by greed, we must resist the temptation to join them. If all others refuse to accept responsibility for their behavior, we still must do so.

Some suits exhibit gross ingratitude. For example, people who sue the good Samaritans who stopped to help them when they were in a wreck or other injurious situation.

Some lawsuits are manifest cases of cruelty. A ruthless person who covets his land or possessions sometimes sues a person who is weak, or poor or unaware of his rights.

Some reflect envy and jealousy. We read of suits filed by aspiring cheerleaders who were not chosen for the squad or participants in a contest who did not win. Some are envious of the success of others and sue them for frivolous reasons hoping to acquire some of their wealth.

Dishonest people who pretend injuries and demand a financial settlement file many suits.

Many have learned that they can get advancement, privileges and avoid being held accountable for their actions if they file a suit alleging discrimination on the part of a company. Many of these suits are abusive.

Three scriptures will keep Christians from participation in such unjust lawsuits: "All things...whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them..." (Matt.7:12). "whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just... Think on these things (Phil. 4:8). "But... covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints" (Eph. 5:3).

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