Is it Wrong to Break the Speed Limit?
Dear Phil,
Does the command, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (1 Pet 2:13) include the traffic laws? Some people don’t think so and drive as fast as they want. Does the Word allow us to decide which laws to obey?
Does the command, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (1 Pet 2:13) include the traffic laws? Some people don’t think so and drive as fast as they want. Does the Word allow us to decide which laws to obey?
Neither 1 Peter 2:13, Romans 13:1–6, nor any other Scripture gives us permission to choose which laws we will obey. Of course, we ought to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). But that is only when human law requires us to violate God’s law, and speed limit laws certainly do not qualify for this exemption.
Both Peter and Paul wrote during the reign of Nero, a deranged, cruel, and wicked man who used Christians as torches to light his garden parties. Yet Paul states without qualification that the powers that be are ordained of God (Rom 13:1). He does not say “only good, godly rulers are ordained by God.” He does state that since God ordains the powers that be, to resist those powers is to resist God (Rom 13:2). God has given those in authority the responsibility of rewarding good and punishing evil. He will hold them accountable for that responsibility, but even those who misuse it are ordained by God.
To disobey them is to disobey God’s appointed ministers and thus to disobey God Himself (Rom 13:4–5). That is why Paul concludes that we must obey the laws of the land for conscience’s sake and not merely to avoid the law’s wrath or punishment (Rom. 13:5). Peter’s command is the same. We are to submit to the ordinance (i.e., authority structure) of men, for the Lord’s sake. Peter didn’t say we had to agree with the laws or even think them just.
Having said that, let me suggest that we need to understand both the spirit and letter of our laws. The purpose (spirit) of speed limit laws is to promote safety. There are occasions when going 55mph, although the posted limit, is unsafe, and one may be stopped for driving too fast for hazardous conditions. By the same token, there may be times when going 55mph will cause a road hazard if the highway traffic is moving 15–20 miles faster. To go 55 may keep the letter but violate the purpose of the law. Yet, this exception cannot be legitimately used to argue “I can go any speed I want” or “I can go whatever speed I know the police will allow.” We violate Romans 13:1–6 and 1 Peter 2:13–14 when we break the laws of God-ordained authority.
Blessings,
Phil
Both Peter and Paul wrote during the reign of Nero, a deranged, cruel, and wicked man who used Christians as torches to light his garden parties. Yet Paul states without qualification that the powers that be are ordained of God (Rom 13:1). He does not say “only good, godly rulers are ordained by God.” He does state that since God ordains the powers that be, to resist those powers is to resist God (Rom 13:2). God has given those in authority the responsibility of rewarding good and punishing evil. He will hold them accountable for that responsibility, but even those who misuse it are ordained by God.
To disobey them is to disobey God’s appointed ministers and thus to disobey God Himself (Rom 13:4–5). That is why Paul concludes that we must obey the laws of the land for conscience’s sake and not merely to avoid the law’s wrath or punishment (Rom. 13:5). Peter’s command is the same. We are to submit to the ordinance (i.e., authority structure) of men, for the Lord’s sake. Peter didn’t say we had to agree with the laws or even think them just.
Having said that, let me suggest that we need to understand both the spirit and letter of our laws. The purpose (spirit) of speed limit laws is to promote safety. There are occasions when going 55mph, although the posted limit, is unsafe, and one may be stopped for driving too fast for hazardous conditions. By the same token, there may be times when going 55mph will cause a road hazard if the highway traffic is moving 15–20 miles faster. To go 55 may keep the letter but violate the purpose of the law. Yet, this exception cannot be legitimately used to argue “I can go any speed I want” or “I can go whatever speed I know the police will allow.” We violate Romans 13:1–6 and 1 Peter 2:13–14 when we break the laws of God-ordained authority.
Blessings,
Phil