When is it right for a Christian to resist the government?
Christians are first responsible to live peaceably under civil government, which God has ordained. The only right to resist arises when government goes contrary to the believer's Christian experience and to the commands of Scripture; then a believer may refuse, saying, “I can't do that.”
Les explains that the powers that be are ordained of God, and to resist the power is to resist the ordinance of God. He acknowledges the question of what to do if someday there is a completely totalitarian, ungodly government. First and foremost, the believer's responsibility is to live peaceably under that government. The only place believers have the right to resist is when that government goes contrary to their Christian experience and to the commands of Scripture. At that point, they have every right to say, “Hey, wait a minute, I can't do that.” Until then, they are to give themselves under the control of the central government. Les also notes that government exists so rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evil and criminal element, and taxes are required for government to operate.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.