The Right to Resist Evil Leaders—The Christian History

Canada Free Press ^ | 08/03/14 | Kelly O'Connell

[Sean_Anthony]

Do Americans have a right to oppose unjust authority? Given our history, this right goes without saying. You see, our country was founded by men resisting the unjust rule of Great Britain. More precisely, in one of history’s most famous recitations of the Right of Resistance, the American Declaration of Independence itself says,

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Odd place to start Martin Luther in that the Church had already been resisting the rise of Islam for centuries when Luther was born.

[Louis Foxwell]

When a moral people succumb to the tyranny of evil rulers they become one with evil and can no more be considered a moral people.

[ForYourChildren]

Generally yes. Not just for Americans but for all Christians.

This is an extremely broad topic, and each situation needs its own biblical analysis. But Lex, Rex, by Scottish Presbyterian minister Samuel Rutherford, is a great intro for this topic.

With respect to the Declaration of Independence, there were many many years leading up to that point in time. The black robe brigade (regiment) during the revolutionary war is an example of pastors engaging the cultural times.

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The Black Robed Regiment was the name that the British placed on the courageous and patriotic American clergy during the Founding Era (a backhanded reference to the black robes they wore). [1] Significantly, the British blamed the Black Regiment for American Independence, [2] and rightfully so, for modern historians have documented that:

There is not a right asserted in the Declaration of Independence which had not been discussed by the New England clergy before 1763.

[Alice M. Baldwin, The New England Clergy and the American Revolution (New York: Frederick Ungar, 1958), p. 170.]

http://nationalblackroberegiment.com/original-black-robe-regiment/

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[Clump]

Pfl

[Benito Cereno]

Ben Franklin's original design for the Great Seal:

[unlearner]

From the article:

“The foundations of Resistance Theory were laid during the Reformation (1517-1648). Of course, since time immemorial there have been sentiments to push-back against tyrants.”

It is also a bit different to resist an institution of which you are already a part than to resist some external threat.

[TalBlack]

Do Americans have a right to oppose unjust authority?

...Sigh...

[JoeFromSidney]

Do Americans have a right to oppose unjust authority?

While my book RESISTANCE TO TYRANNY is intended for any people suffering from tyranny, rather than aimed at the United States in particular, in it I present an argument, based on the Just War Doctrine, for when resistance to a tyrannical government is justified. If the conditions specified by the Doctrine were met in the USA, then the citizens would have a right to oppose unjust authority.

[trisham]

"We moved our base camp last night and we’re now positioned literally
within feet of the river. Have been sitting here watching the border
patrol patrolling in their riverboats all night and all morning..."

~Jim Robinson

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