Good points. What I’m illuding to is a certain element within the conservative Chrisitan community that are using Romans Chapter 13 as a commandment that requires the Christian to submit to government as long as they aren’t specifically asking you to do something directly contrary to scripture. I personally know Christians, even politically conservative, pro-American Christians who believe the American Revolution was a sin against God because of their interpretation of Romans 13, although they acknowledge that the nation has certainly been blessed by God inspite of the “sin”. No kidding.
What Durus said in post 78. To be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves requires wisdom and discernment, not a default clinging to simplified rules of the kind that are presented to five-year-olds.
The Egyptian midwives got that when they told pharaoh that those Hebrew women, well they gave birth faster than Egyptians... gee we just couldn’t get there in time [to murder the baby boys].
As was mentioned up thread... a non-intrusive approach is simply to state that “if” you own firearms, then [insert whatever safety tip of the day]. Then the purpose could be taken at face value - that it really is merely to impart safety advice (even if worthless), not a tactic for identifying/cornering/shaming/lecturing gun owners.
This doctor’s approach is intimidating and politically charged and therefore not to be trusted, so those Christians should know to be alert to such stealth and respond with diligence, not hand over personal information upon demand as would be expected from foolish simpletons. That’s not righteousness, that’s turning a blind eye. I sure wouldn’t want those folks as neighbors, wrestling with their under-developed conscience over what is okay to tell the JBTs about the “militant” guy next door.
It’s way beyond time that certain much-too-curious folks in our society learn the meaning of “No”.