Daniel established a consistent self-discipline - Daniel 6:9,10, “(9)Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. (10)Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”
Regardless of the change in laws, Daniel kept doing what he was already doing.
This helped me to understand something. Daniel already had a habit of praying to his God, and Daniel prayed openly. He was not ashamed of his God. Even when it was against the law to pray to anyone but to the king, Daniel did not change his habits. He prayed to God, and he prayed openly. This was not in defiance to the king; it was in worship to his God.
In the same way, the apostles continued their worship of and service for God even when the authorities forbade them to do so. They were preaching in the temple and were arrested. “(17)Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, (18)And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. (19)But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, (20)Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. (21)And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught… (25)Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. (26)Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. (27)And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, (28)Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. (29)Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” (See Acts 5:17-29)
I have heard that we should not hand out tracts where it has been banned. Some have suggested wearing a t-shirt with a Christian message. I have tried this and have only had 2 people over the years ask me about the message on the shirt. Both of them were Christians. It may be effective in some ways, but it does not seem to be sufficient. There is much ado about finding a “legal” way to do many of these things when there is no law against doing those things in the first place. But that is not the point. If God gave us a ministry to fulfill, we are to fulfill it no matter what the law. This is not to be done in arrogance or in defiance of the authorities. But it is to be done in worship to God.
Sometimes there are effective ways to carry out the ministry within the wishes of the authorities. But if there is not, the work must still be carried through. When the angel of the Lord released the apostles from prison, He did not say, “Go see if you can find a ‘legal’ way to reach the people with the gospel." No, He sent them right back to the very place where the authorities had arrested them. And He told them to do the very thing the authorities had commanded them not to do. This is not defiance of authority; it is only obedience to a higher authority. If we give in to demands to silence the gospel, we will only be silenced all the more for we must give in again and again until there is no more opportunity to carry out the work. If God has given us a work to do, and we are certain it is His will for us, the work must go on no matter what the human law says.
This does not mean that if we had done nothing before, we should do nothing now. No, God wants everyone to be busy in His work. But nothing should be started just because someone wants to “get back” at the authorities. Any work must be done with respect to authority and with reverence and obedience and in worship to a holy God. If God gives me the work of passing out tracts or printing and distributing Christian literature, and that is made illegal, I must still do it. If God gives someone the ministry of studying the Bible with those who desire to learn about God, and Bible studies are made illegal, that person must still do it. If that is the job God has commanded His servant to do, His servant must do it. God is always the higher authority.