Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God
When to resist evil
One of Jefferson's seals identified by his grandson-in-law Nicholas Philip Trist bears the motto, "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God."1
This motto adorns Henry Randall's Life of Thomas Jefferson an early biography of the second president of the United States.2 It is engraved on the gates to the Monticello graveyard. "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God" was one phrase suggested for the Seal of the United States likely given its punchy and concise brevity by Benjamin Franklin.
This sentiment descends from the writings of the legendary reformer John Knox in his Historie of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland. The Thundering Scot wrote, "...to resist a misled King, is not to resist God, nor yet his Ordinance..."3 In the face of persecution by Mary Queen of Scots and even the threat of being burned at the stake he prayed, “Lord, give me Scotland, ere I die.”4
On the other end of the theological spectrum, Jonathan Mayhew was a liberal Boston Unitarian Congregational minister and Harvard lecturer.5 Yet even he preached on the Christian duty to resist tyranny. In his sermon “The Snare Broken” (1766) he encouraged liberty and independence from England. This indicates to me that liberals in the 18th century were more logical and not as inconsistent as those today. He may have practiced heresy in the pulpit by denying the trinity, but he knew that he was better off allying with conservative Presbyterians when it comes to fighting for religious liberty. Meyhew’s right to believe false teaching was protected by the blood of faithful Christians. This is the principle of co-beligerancy we exercise today.
If you can find common ground against an immediate rising threat in the next month, deal with that first. Use the needed resources and find others to join you. Then return to safer debates about deep truths that may take years to resolve. Meyhew references the verses, “Our soul is escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 124:7-8).”6 He appeals to soverginty of God over all. His lengthy sermon, Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission was delivered on January 30th, 1750, on the 100th anniversary of the execution of Charles I, as it lauded the British Civil War and presages the American Revolution.7
Christians should resist malevolence and trust in God’s plan, “You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked (Psalm 97:10).” Freedom of conscience is essential for faith. We must support the right of every man to believe in his own way. God would demand nothing less because he can work with any broken vessel in his time. And he will decide when one is too far gone. Jesus said, “The world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world (John 17:14-16).” They hate us because we love the truth.
We can put up with a lot. At some point there is push back. Appropriately and with an adequate amount of vigor. If this is met with increasing violence rather than logical forethought the escalation continues. Then, some will be made a martyr. In the Declaration of Independence Jefferson wrote, “…Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves…”8 But, there is a limit to our tolerance.
When our faith is threatened, it is a bridge to far.
When the church is attacked, we must defend her.
We should allow people to seek the truth. And, we must allow people to present the truth and call out lies. We must not promote falsehood and deception. As we encourage this process, we support righteousness by elevating Christian leaders who respect the individual and condemn wickedness. Prohibiting the exercise of faith and Christian leadership is evil and violates our national charter. This must be ended.
Christians are not called to abandon leadership in the economy, government, or military. We must perform our duty with honor and respect. We are equipped to do so by a God who has ordained the time and place for each person to live and lead.
Jefferson's memorandum book, "Pd. Thomson for a seal £3-7" on March 26, 1786 possibly referring to this logo, https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/personal-seal/#fn-1 See PTJ, Appendix II: "Bradshaw's Epitaph": The Source of "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God," 1:677-79.
Randall, H. S. (1858). The Life of Thomas Jefferson. United States: Derby & Jackson.
Knox, J. (1644). The Historie of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland: Containing Five Books, Together with Some Treatises Conducing to the History. United Kingdom: John Raworth. Trans. Buchanan, D.
Brown, P. H. (1895). John Knox: A Biography. United Kingdom: A. and C. Black.
A. VanDeBeek, Ed A. J. G. VanDer Borght & B. P. Vermeulen. Studies In Reformed Theology, 19 Freedom Of Religion 9 (2010).
Jonathan Mayhew (1766). The Snare Broken; a Thanksgiving Discourse [on Ps. Cxxiv. 7, 8] Preached in Boston, N.E., May 23, 1766: Occasioned by the Repeal of the Stamp-Act. Boston, N. E. ISBN 9780608411958.
Jonathan Mayhew (1750). A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-resistance to the Higher Powers: With Some Reflections on the Resistance Made to King Charles I, and on the Anniversary of His Death. Boston: D. Fowle in Queen-Street.
Jefferson, T. (1776) The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States. (2008). United Kingdom: Random House Publishing Group.