Christians understand the concept of "obeying God instead of men" but the question remains, for what reasons can a Christian disobey civil authorities especially in light of such verses as: Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. -- Rom 13:1-2

Then what about the validity of the American Revolution, what about the Christians under the governing authorities of such historical despotic rulers as Hitler or those Christians presently under the rule of socalistic or Islamic governing authorities?

Listen to this 44 minute audio with Steve Klein & Roderick Edwards as they discuss the topic.  To download the interview to your mp3 device or ipod, simply right click the following link & select SAVEAS: http://thekingdomcome.com/kingdomcommentaries/obeyingauthorities.mp3

Or to listen here online, simply click the play button on the player below:

RESOURCES:

• Bibilical Texts (Matthew 22:21, Acts 4:18-19, Acts 5:28-30, Romans 13:1-6, 1 Tim 2:1-3, 1 Pet 2:12-14, 1 Pet 2:17-19, 2 Peter 2:10, Jude 1:8, Titus 3:1-3, Hebrews 13:17)
• Lutheran concepts on the "two kingdoms theory" http://www.luthersem.edu/word&world/Archives/6-2_Way/6-2_Hordern.pdf
• Augsburg Confession (year 1530), Article 16 on the concept of "just war" http://www.ctsfw.edu/etext/boc/ac/augustana16.asc
• John MacAuthur quote on obeying Hitler http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/56-23.htm
• The Great Christian Revolution by Otto Scott  http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1879998025/ref=dp_olp_2/002-6549699-9093614
• Martyrs of Cordoba: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrs_of_cordoba
• Paul resisting/disobeying civil authorities:

In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands. -- 2 Cor 11:32-33