Evangelical Leaders Call for Civil Disobedience Against U.S. Government

The Gospel Coalition ^ | 14 Feb 2010 | Joe Carter

[Gamecock]

The Story: After the Obama administration's announced that health insurance coverage would require the inclusion of contraception and abortifacients, several Christian leaders---including Chuck Colson, Richard Land, and Rick Warren---called on evangelicals to stand with Catholics in civil disobedience to this law.

The Background: In a special edition of his weekly video segment, Chuck Colson said:

We have come to the point---I say this very soberly---when if there isn't a dramatic change is circumstances, we as Christians may well be called upon to stand in civil disobedience against the actions of our own government. That would break my heart as a former Marine Captain loving my country, but I love my God more . . . I've made up my mind---sober as that decision would have to be---that I will stand for the Lord regardless of what my state tells me.

On the same day, Saddleback pastor Rick Warren wrote on Twitter:

I'm not a Catholic but I stand in 100% solidarity with my brothers & sisters to practice their belief against govt pressure [...]

I'd go to jail rather than cave in to a govement mandate that violates what God commands us to do. Would you? Acts 5:29

And Richard Land and Barrett Duke wrote in an op-ed:

The Obama administration has declared war on religion and freedom of conscience. This must not stand. Our Baptist forebears died and went to prison to secure these freedoms. It is now our calling to stand in the gap and defend our priceless First Amendment religious freedoms.

Why It Matters: Because opposition to contraceptives is most closely associated with orthodox Catholics, media have portrayed the current controversy as a Roman Catholic issue. But as these evangelical leaders make clear, the direct assault on freedom of conscience should be a grave concern for all believers.

Acts 5:20 records a profession of Peter and the apostles that all evangelicals should heed: "We must obey God rather than men." In almost all cases, Christians are required to obey the laws of the state. But when we are forced to choose between obedience to God or obedience to man, we have no other recourse but to disobey the magistrate and obey King Jesus.

[goseminoles]

Says who??

[cripplecreek]

"It was Sunday morning early in the year 1776. In the church where Pastor Muhlenberg preached, it was a regular service for his congregation, but a quite different affair for Muhlenberg himself. Muhlenberg's text for the day was Ecclesiastes 3 where it explains, 'To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted...'"

"Coming to the end of his sermon, Peter Muhlenberg turned to his congregation and said, 'In the language of the holy writ, there was a time for all things, a time to preach and a time to pray, but those times have passed away.' As those assembled looked on, Pastor Muhlenberg declared, 'There is a time to fight, and that time is now coming!' Muhlenberg then proceeded to remove his robes revealing, to the shock of his congregation, a military uniform."

"Marching to the back of the church he declared, 'Who among you is with me?' On that day 300 men from his church stood up and joined Peter Muhlenberg. They eventually became the 8th Virginia Brigade fighting for liberty."

"Frederick Muhlenberg, Peter's brother, was against Peter's level of involvement in the war. Peter responded to Frederick writing, 'I am a Clergyman it is true, but I am a member of the Society as well as the poorest Layman, and my Liberty is as dear to me as any man, shall I then sit still and enjoy myself at Home when the best Blood of the Covenant is spilling? ...So far am I from thinking that I act wrong, I am convinced it is my duty to do so and duly I owe to God and my country."

[Gamecock]

Because opposition to contraceptives is most closely associated with orthodox Catholics, media have portrayed the current controversy as a Roman Catholic issue.

Note: Many Reformed folk, as well as other conservative Evangelicals, recognize that oral contraceptives can function as abortifacients and therefore oppose their use.

[Gamecock]

Say what?

[FightforFreedomCA]

That is awesome - thanks for posting.

[Domestic Church]

Wonderful!

[cripplecreek]

Funny thing about Muhlenberg’s brother. He changed his tune pretty quickly after the British pulled him out of bed in the middle of the night and took him to watch as they burned his church to the ground. Fredrick Muhlenberg, then joined the fight himself.

[GeronL]

Maybe its the Catholics who should stand with evangelicals?

[wmfights]

Many Reformed folk, as well as other conservative Evangelicals, recognize that oral contraceptives can function as abortifacients and therefore oppose their use.

Also, the issue of the State interfering in religious institutions can't be ignored.

I have a sinking feeling that we will be fighting this battle long after the RC's have retired from the field. The media and admn have framed this as a "contraception" issue and made it seem that only the RC's would be concerned for a reason.

[wmfights]

Maybe its the Catholics who should stand with evangelicals?

If they had in the last Presidential election we wouldn't be in this mess.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Fedzilla might consider you a terrorist if...

[Inyo-Mono]

Thanks for posting. I am related to Peter Muhlenberg.

[cripplecreek]

The Muhlenberg story is a really great story and I hope people will take the time to learn about another one of America’s forgotten founders.

[lastchance]

I am more than willing to stand with my Reformed and Evangelical brothers and sisters in Christ should the government ever threaten their religious liberty and rights of conscience.

Any government that would require her people to risk their souls to be good citizens is not worthy of my obedience.

[magslinger]

We must all hang together...

[cripplecreek]

[wmfights]

We must all hang together...

Sounds great, but I already know where a majority of Evangelical and Reformed Christians stand. If the Roman Catholics want to come over and support conservatism I say welcome! We will see in 8 months.

[SkyPilot]

On the same day, Saddleback pastor Rick Warren wrote on Twitter: I'm not a Catholic but I stand in 100% solidarity with my brothers & sisters to practice their belief against govt pressure [...]

Gee, thanks a lot there Rick. And about 36 months ago you were doing what again exactly?

[realcleanguy]

I stand shoulder to shoulder with all my Christians Brothers and Sisters. Nothing shall separate us from the love of Jesus Christ. And we have a Bill of Rights in this country that gives us the ability to stand up and be counted. If the Left hates us, rejoice in heaven, for the World hated Christ Jesus also, and still does today. We as Christians have been joined together through the blood of Jesus Christ, and His Crucifiction and resurrection.