City of Man, Kingdom of God: Why Christians Respect, Obey, and Resist Government

When government protects rights given by God, then it is owed obedience, submission, and honor, Johnson writes. But when government violates those rights, Christians are no longer bound to submit to laws that do not serve the purpose for which God made government. Developing the Puritans' understanding of religious freedom, Johnson shows how Christ followers have reasoned through this tension in past centuries, and he identifies biblical principles for navigating government restrictions in the future.