Very good point about legality and righteous action not necessarily being the same. I guess I lost sight of that. The pastor understood that, I think, and was willing to take accountability for his actions and pay the price, whatever it is.
I think what got me exercised is that we are at the point where our laws and those enforcing the laws are not reflecting the common sense of our Judeo Christian heritage, and the good guys are now all too often found to be on the wrong side of the law.
A couple of things come to mind. I’ve recently been re-reading Jacque Maritain, who makes the point that law must be rooted in morality or it is not law.
Another thing comes to mind, which is Allen West, who violated the rules of engagement in order to save his troops, and then turned himself in willingly to face court-martial.
Another is the case of the young muslim girl a few years ago, who was faced with being repatriated to her home country against her will having become a Christian. Friends helped to hide her and the whole thing became a huge legal case. It only ended when she finally turned 18 and they dropped it.
Then there are the cases of preachers in Canada, Germany, and Scandinavia who have been prosecuted for speaking against homosexuality from the pulpit, and the German parents who were prosecuted for home-schooling their kids.
Sometimes your conscience may force you to act against the law, and when that happens you may have to face the music. You should do it prayerfully, your head held high before men and bowed before God. There is no easy answer, and even your friends may not agree with you when that day comes.