Are you sinning if you...

So, if you do that, are you placing yourself in submission to the governing authorities (Romans 13:1)?

 

Human laws don't determine sin, the heart does. Using human law as the basis means its not a sin to rip a baby from her mother or for two homosexuals to marry in states that allow it.

 

Human law comes from God's "governing authorities" and is valid for everyone, until it violates the tenets of His own law, such as the circumstances you name here. Otherwise, we are to obey them (even though I'm sure most of us have gone 37, or even 42, in a 35).

 

No you are not sinning, but you are breaking the local law.

 

Doesn't that also include the enforcement of such laws? If it is not deemed by the authorities to be breaking that law, say, until reaching 45 mph, doesn't that also apply to being under the "governing authorities"? The law states that Obamacare is the law of the land...yet it is not going to be enforced until next year. Will everyone be sinning by not signing up?

 

No, it's not sinning, but you might sin if an officer pulls you over and hands you a ticket for 37 in a 35.

 

Yes, I think it does. If the law says you can only go 35 there, why is a police officer allowed to use discretion in letting you go up to 44, but stops you when you hit 45?

It isn't mandatory to sign up, providing you are willing to accept the penalties, which will increase with each passing year.

 

Breaking the posted speed limit isn't the sin. Not submitting to the authority that God placed over us is the sin.

 

Everyone doesn't have to sign up for the ACA. If you fall into a category where you're uninsured, then the law does require that you sign up. If not, that's not submitting and is , indeed, sinful.

 

Possibly due to a judge who has granted some exception in the same way the Lord did with unintentional sin.

Good point, I didn't think of that, however, that will not be enforced until 2014 as well, even though it is the law.

 

1 Peter 2

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.​

Obviously it is better to obey God rather than man.
Just because the law of the land (as others have pointed out) allows abortion doesn't mean its allowable in Gods's eyes.​

However the laws of the road are given to protect us and others.
So I would say yes, if we intentionally speed becase we are late for church or work then we are sinning IMO.​

There is an "on the other hand" which I suppose could be categorized as "situational ethics".​

Here in the Seattle area even during the rush hour the flow of traffic can be very fast (or at a standstill - go figure) if it's fast and bumper-to-bumper and you try to slow down to the speed limit you will put your life (as well as the lives of others) in danger.​

In those cases I "go with the flow".​

Even at that I once received a citation (I was doing 72 in a 60) but it wasn't for speeding it was for following to closely. The guy in front of me pulled into a space with about 2 feet of slack and I got the ticket.
(OK so I took my time slowing down away from him).​

I tried to explain to the officer this guy pulled in front of me just seconds ago, - it's the rush hour and everyone is following to closely.​

To no avail - his response - I can't give everyone a ticket, I have to be selective - IOW it was my turn.​

I still go with the flow - its really scary here if you don't and you often get dirty looks, beeps, obscenities, etc... It's a real challenge trying to be civil much less trying to keep the ordinances of the govenor.​

HankD​

 

Yes, you are defying God who set those in authority over you by breaking the law so it is sin.