Window or Mirror?

I recently had a discussion on driving habits with a gentleman with whom I commute to work fairly regularly. This man is a consummate professional, erudite, well-spoken, and possesses a quick wit and ready answers; and he made a statement to me that I’ve heard often, “I don’t think that my going 10 mph over the speed limit is an issue between me and my God”.

First, let me say that I don’t believe this man was sinning, because he honestly doesn’t believe that it is an issue. We’re asked to examine ourselves and the Scriptures to decide what is right and what is wrong, that is, to undergo a process of examination to decide what is right and I’d like to make sure, so I go to Scripture since it is infinitely wise and right.

This is the point that we’ll examine in this post. Is it “a sin” to go a few miles an hour over the set speed limit?

I’d like to suggest that we step back from traffic laws and look at the larger picture. Does God actually expect us to obey the yokels that run our town, our state, our country!? I mean, does He expect us to obey the really key stuff, or does He intend that we should follow it all? What if our country asks us to do something that is in conflict with Scripture? What then? Let’s turn to Scripture for guidance and wisdom..

Romans 13:1-7 is the most commonly used passage in the New Testament when we discuss civil leaders. Here, Paul explains that we must each submit ourselves to “higher authorities”. The reason for this is that these authorities have been established by God, and rebelling against them or their laws is taking a stand against the ordinance of God. In verses six and seven Paul seems to indicate that beyond mere obedience, we are to support our government willingly by paying taxes and giving respect.

In 2 Peter 2:13, Peter takes the teaching of Paul and hammers it home, while maintaining the idea of Christian freedom. We are to obey the law of the land as it aligns with the law of the Lord (Acts 4:19), that is, we are to obey the law of the land unless it directly conflicts with the law of the Lord. Peter ends this section (verse 17) with the responsibilities of Christians one to the other, to fear God, and to obey the king.

Proverbs 24:21 makes it simple and explains that we have two authorities that we must obey, God and the king (our governing authorities).

The final passage we will look at is in Jeremiah 29, starting with verse seven; here, God sends word to the exiles in Babylon that they not only are to obey the rules of their captors, but they are to pray for the health and prosperity of the country! They were to submit to their captors and to pray for the success of those in power over them. This they were instructed to do for seventy years until they would turn their hearts to the Lord and He would bring them home.

These verses indicate – to me – that we are to follow all of the laws that civil authorities place for us and that we should, furthermore, do it joyfully and support those same leaders with prayer, respect, and our taxes. If you are convicted of this as I am, then I welcome you to the brotherhood of drivers that follow the speed limit and every traffic law. Prepare to be honked at.

Ron

P.S. Before I cam to this understanding of Scripture, I drove aggressively in my Jeep. I got around 14.5 mpg. Now that I drive within the bounds of all traffic law, calmly and reasonably, my gas mileage has increased to around 19 mpg. So, even if you don’t think as I do, a 24% decrease in gas cost for each forward mile might convince you?

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