Yesterday in our Connection Group, we discussed Peter’s words from 1 Peter 2:13-17. In a nutshell, Peter tells believers to submit to every human institution. This includes our government, government officials, our President, and even the laws our government has created. This idea led us into a very interesting discussion on a specific question:
Is speeding a sin?
I’ve heard Christians hit this issue from all sides and come up with different answers and different ways to justify their answers. I’m curious to know what you think. Consider these questions”
- Is speeding a sin?
- If not, then why not?
- If it is, then why do so many Christians do it and ignore the law?
June 29th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Being safe is good.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
If the government banned Bibles would you just turn them all in? Not saying that speeding is right or wrong.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
So abortion is not a sin, but going 65 in a 60 is? That’s what our government tells us. What about people that have kept Bibles in countries that ban them? Are those people sinners? While I agree with the Scripture you listed it was also written long before governments had nothing better to do than to come up with new laws just to justify getting re-elected every 4 years.
June 29th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Josh, I see what you’re saying, but the Bible also mentions that we are to obey authorities unless those authorities come into conflict with God (Acts 5). A restriction of Bibles would go against the Word of God. Thus we would follow God and not man. However, the issue of a speed limit does not contradict God’s Word in any way, so I see it as a completely different issue.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Most the speeding laws are based purely on revenue. I would say that is not a Godly thing of those governments. Example: The local HW 141 has a section in Manchester with a 5mph slower speed limit than the rest of the road. Road experts have examined the road and determined that it has the same amount of traffic as the rest of 141. They have been asked to change it to 50mph like the rest of 141. They refuse to because the have cops sitting out there 24/7. Someone doesn’t notice the 45 and gets snagged with a ticked. That is wrong of any government.
The other thing is red light cameras. Some cities have been caught making the yellow light cycle shorter to increase red light tickets. That’s making it even more dangerous just for the sake of getting some newer cop cars. I think red light cameras are a good idea, but longer yellows have been proven to prevent more accidents than red light cameras. I say use both, but longer yellows would mean less revenue. Can’t have that.
If you truly believe that current speed limits were set up with safety in mind you’re more naive than I.
July 5th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I usually think about this everytime I’m driving, and I always remember what my best friends dad told us. How can we pray and expect God to keep us safe while traveling if we arent obeying the law? By no means do I always follow the speed limit, but I try