Terrorism is the use of terror (i.e., violent acts) to make a political statement, in the hope of gaining advantage.
Here are some quotes that I found concerning Christian attitudes towards authority.
What The Bible Says About
"Christian" Activism/"Just" Wars or Passive Resistance?
Rom 13:1-5 -- Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. [God has established these powers, but God is still above these powers; therefore, rather than merely obeying the powers without question, thereby assuming that we are obeying God in the process, everything must be tested against Biblical commands concerning good and evil.] The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. [The fundamental sense of organized government is to promote good and punish evil. For this reason, believers ought to obey rulers where rulers are actually performing the function for which they were ordained of God. Paul is therefore certainly not arguing that Christian's should do evil simply because it was commanded by government. We cannot disobey a divine law ("thou shall not murder") in order to obey a contrary law by the government ("thou shall go to war and kill for the state").] But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. [It is not within the provision of human government to compel the doing of evil, but only good. Thereby, whenever the government calls for activities that believers are forbidden by divine authority to perform, then they must bow to the higher divine power (but be willing to suffer the consequences for their disobedience of governmental edicts).]
John 19:10,11a -- "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above.
Acts 4:17-20 -- But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
Acts 5:29 -- Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!"
1 Pet 2:13-17 -- Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. [But no command for "activism" to coerce or influence the government to do good.]
Titus 3:1,2 -- Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. [But, again, no command for "activism" to coerce or influence the government to do good.]
Jer 29:4,7 -- This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ... Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." [Our "activism" is to be active prayer for the peace and prosperity of our cities, not joining the city's rulers in government in order to influence the leaders to do good.]
1 Tim 2:1-4 -- I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, [not social action to change the system or to overthrow the government, but prayer for a peaceful environment in which we may continue with the ministry in accordance with the Word of God, and thereby, bring the Good News (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) to others] that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Pet 2:21-23 -- To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth." When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him Who judges justly. [No "activism" here, just humility and trust of God.]
Psa 118:8,9 -- It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
1 Tim 6:1,2 -- All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. [Show respect to authorities so that God's truth is not slandered, not civil disobedience to force the ungodly to live like the godly.] Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.
Eph 6:5-8,12,13 -- Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. ... For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God [resistance through God's spiritual armor, not fleshly attack], so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [The whole doctrine of separation is designed to set the Christian against the evils of this world, which resistance is moral and spiritual, but not physical.]
1 Cor 7:17,20,24 ... Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches ... Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. ... Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to. [Where is the command to change the world to improve our situations?]
2 Tim 2:3,4 -- Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. [Disengage yourself from worldly things, and commit yourselves to doing the will of the Commander; that means no participation in the world's wars.]
Rom 12:17-21; 13:8 -- Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ... Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
Mat 5:43-45a -- "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. [No command to force your enemies to accept Biblical principles.]
Acts 20:21 -- I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. [Evangelize the ungodly, not "Christianize" them.]
John 18:36 -- Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." [The Kingdom of Christ is not of this world, but is a spiritual kingdom, and therefore, the subjects of this spiritual kingdom should not employ force to advance the cause of God. Logically then, if Christians can't use physical force even to advance spiritual, godly interests, would it not also be wrong to join the world in the use of physical force to achieve its temporal interests?]
2 Cor 10:3,4 -- For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. [Spiritual weapons (e.g., prayer) is what demolishes strongholds, not physical force.]
Mat 17:24-27 -- After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax ?" "Yes, He does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" He asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes--from their own sons or from others?" "From others," Peter answered. "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."
Luke 6:27-29 -- "But I tell you who hear Me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. [Passive resistance, not "just" war.]
Mat 5:38-41,43-48 -- You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. [Under the Law, "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth;" under Grace, passive resistance. It is the same as saying that there is no time or place during the sojourn of the believer in the world when he is not charged with the responsibility of being non-resistant when physical force is the means employed to gain the end.] ... "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Mat 26:50-52 -- Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested Him. With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. [No command for "just" force here.]
Mat 10:18 -- On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. [When called to account by authorities, we are to be a witness of our faith, not an agent for social change.]
John 15:18,19 -- "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. ... If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. [The world will always hate true Christians; if a Christian "serves" in the government, guess who is compromising to maintain the peace?]
Phil 3:18-20 -- For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. [Note: Not on earth as a citizen of America or any other earthly kingdom; our citizenship is in heaven, and that is where our obligations are, our responsibilities center, and our privileges are derived from. A citizen of heaven will live a different kind of lifestyle than a citizen of earth.] And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Phil 1:27 -- Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. [Our conduct on this earth should be a direct reflection of our citizenship obligations, allegiances, and responsibilities. Any other citizenship focus than a heavenly one will be inappropriate for guiding godly behavior.] Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.
Eph 2:19 -- Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, [To say that God wants us to function as "good citizens of our country;" i.e., to vote, to hold public office, to serve in its military, etc., is totally foreign to what God says concerning the rightful focus of our allegiances. The "country" we represent is not America, but the "country" of heaven.]
1 John 2:6 -- Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did. [When did Jesus ever walk in the "activism" mode?]
Luke 9:53-56 -- but the people there did not welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them and they went to another village ["Activism" is rebuked by Jesus, not encouraged. If the Christian carries on that purpose, he cannot possibly take the lives of men physically, thereby taking from them the possibility of hearing and believing on the Word of Christ.]
Gal 5:22 -- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [Since the fruit of the Spirit includes peace, which thereby makes believers peace-makers, it would be impossible to, at the same time, bear arms.]
James 4:1 -- What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?
Rom 8:3,4 -- For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
John 12:25; Mark 8:35 -- The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ... For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. [This principle of Christ is one which rises above the principles of men, and it is in operation today. The sense of this passage is ultimately spiritual, but the outcome turns on the attitude one takes toward his life in this world and the methods he uses to save that life. If his life in this world is more important than life with Christ, then he is of this world and will employ the methods of this world to save it, though he will ultimately lose both physically and spiritually. But if he is willing to lose his life in this world for the sake of Christ and the Gospel, he will use the methods of Christ. This may mean that he loses his life physically, but he will save it ultimately both physically and spiritually.]
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