When is it permissible to disregard laws; Civil or Heavenly?

When is it permissible to disregard laws; Civil and Heavenly?

The first response to this thought is to whom the abject position affects other people.  Lately, we saw where National League football players refused to stand for the National Anthem.  Collin Kaepernick was among the first and started a following of what many called it a gross disrespect to the men and women who gave their lives for peace.  As a veteran of the US Army I was also offended thinking that wearing the uniform of a US soldier required my allegiance to the flag.  

Putting the right of free speech into a perspective of standing for what we believe places the pros and cons of opposing opinions at the forefront of what liberty is all about.  Suppose anti-abortion proponents are on the sidewalk of an abortion clinic praying and speaking up for the unborn.  Suddenly, the local police arrive and tell the marchers they must vacate the premises and stop intimidating women entering the clinic.  Under the city law we are not allowed to block the sidewalk or make the women feel like they do not belong here.  According to the law of God, speaking up for the unborn is a God-given attribute of protecting those who cannot speak for themselves.

Two laws; the right to speak out for life in spite of civil laws.  God’s law protecting the unborn.  And the rule of obeying the local governing body that God has given the right to govern the people with legislative rules that protects other people, regardless if actions performed will not protect the unborn.  

Even when Jesus was asked about paying taxes.  “Show me the coin that pays the census tax.  Then they handed him the Roman coin.  He said to them, whose image is this and whose inscription?  They replied, Caesar’s.  At that he said to them, then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”  (Mt 22: 19 -21).  

The ability to stand up for the rights of a country are written in the Constitution of the United States.  To go against these documents could be treason.  But to stand up for the Amendments to the Constitution also gives everyone the right to disagree with the rules when individual rights are infringed upon as well.  

It is not all black and white when interpreting our rights without questioning the basic laws of freedom which is the first amendment.  The commandment of Thou shall not kill becomes questionable when our citizens are called to fight in order to retain freedoms for those at home.  The law of God is not broken since freedom does not come without the shedding of blood. 

Unfortunately  we, as human beings, do not have the final solution that straightens out the dilemma of right and wrong just like the premise of good and evil.  However, we must fight for life at all levels from conception to death.  To allow those in Washington DC to decide who lives or dies because of politics, place themselves in a crucible that will deal with their decisions of evil overtaking the rule of rights for the lowest in our society.  Kaepernick’s decision to ignore the National Anthem set a precedent that parallels Martin Luther’s Thesis fight for rights under Church Law.  Our ability to condemn someone for their right to speak out cannot be a reason to employ the same manner of judgment  We do have the same right to stand for what God has given to each of us and adhere to civil law, but also refuse to follow it when the rights given us are compromised and evil is allowed to overtake human life as a precedent before God.

As Christians who believe in life at all costs, we must speak out against abortion and euthanasia, and do what is necessary, under the Constitution, to protect these attributes and fight to the cost of shedding our blood for those who cannot speak or fight for themselves.

Ralph B. Hathaway