Christians, when do we submit and when do we fight?

Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, said things last week that many world leaders, especially Europeans, have been thinking but have been afraid to say. Although he did not mention the US president by name, everyone who knew he was talking about. At the end of his message, he received a standing ovation.

Carney’s comments were pretty bold, charging the great powers, including the US, with acting in bad faith. “We knew the story of the international rules-based order was partially false, that the strongest would exempt themselves when convenient,” he said.

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Carney is in a delicate position, because Canada is more dependent on the US than European nations or any other country. About 75 percent of Canada’s exports go to the US, and the two countries have a shared air defense system.

The response to Carney’s candid remarks was predictable. President Trump rescinded his Board of Peace’s invitation to Carney and threatened a new round of tariffs because Canada is pursuing expanded trade relations with China.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, a second killing occurred in the city of Minneapolis as federal agents shot a US citizen who was peacefully videotaping their operations.

In recent years, extrajudicial killings of a country’s own citizens have been routine events in the Philippines, El Salvador, Myanmar, and many other nations, but that is not how the United States has done its domestic business until now. (I realize that US foreign policy has supported various ruthless regimes. That is a topic for another day.)

The examples of carefully considered resistance to power raise an important question. When should Christians submit and when should they resist? We face that question frequently at many levels. Churches are unjustly restricted, individuals lose their jobs without cause, and people infringe other people’s rights on a daily basis.

The Bible is full of calls for social justice, but it also calls us to turn the other cheek and to live at peace with everyone. How can we sort out what to do? Here are a few suggestions.

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  We should always uphold the integrity of the gospel. “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29) was true for the early church and it is true in oppressive situations today. If submitting meekly will prevent us from communicating the gospel in a credible manner, we should probably speak up.

  
  


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  Who are the victims? When I am the only victim—such as when someone personally abuses me—I tend to withdraw from the situation; when others are negatively affected, I am more likely to speak out. When biblical prophets spoke, protecting themselves was never a primary concern.[destacate] Our anger is unlikely to have righteous results. We may need to start by examining our own motives and praying for those whom we oppose[/destacate]

  
  


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  What is our likelihood of success? In the face of Herod’s irresistible force, Jesus’ parents fled to Egypt. The early church scattered after Stephen’s martyrdom. Many Christians have prudently chosen to flee or make themselves invisible rather than publicly opposing bad regimes. A futile, lonely stand against the powerful seldom has much impact, although there are exceptions, such as Telemachus’s famous stance against gladiator battles in Rome.

  
  


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  Do we have a better option? Sometimes, efforts to overturn an unjust regime lead only to civil war or chaos. At the family level, trying to rebuke a troublemaker who doesn’t want to listen may only deepen enmity.

  
  


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  What recourse do we have? US residents living in an established democratic system with strong media freedom have ample opportunities to speak out about injustice; Christians in China have fewer options.

  
  


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  Whom might our actions hurt? Carney and other world leaders have tolerated Trumpian theatrics because they feel responsible not to endanger their citizens’ economic well-being or their access to US military support.

  
  


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  What is our own attitude? If we act out of bitterness or vengeance, our anger is unlikely to have righteous results. We may need to start by examining our own motives and praying for those whom we oppose. Sometimes prayer opens our eyes to a new path.

  
  

I am currently living out these principles on a much smaller scale. My homeowners association has been plagued by instances of corruption, dishonesty, and misappropriation of funds. Eight of our 200 owners have been in legal battles with the governing board in just the past year. About 20 percent of the community shares my concerns, but most owners don’t want to get involved. Though frustrated that I can’t bring greater improvement, I have helped many neighbors gain justice for themselves while trying to remain constructive rather than vindictive. (I am trusting my two neighbors who read this blog not to share this paragraph with the board president.)

Thanks for reading and keeping me encouraged in a world that longs for justice on many levels.

Bruce Barron, author or coauthor of seven books on religion and politics and a former US congressional aide, was editor of the World Evangelical Alliance’s theology journal from 2018 to 2024. Subscribe to his blog at brucebarron.substack.com.

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