Corona and Civil Disobedience

Fear of death, fear of virus and just like that, we give the government power over us. Power bordering on martial law; to lock us in our houses; close our schools, keep us from working. We whisper, “It could never happen here,” as the Mayor of New York says he will permanently close houses of worship if they don’t comply with social distancing. Or consider this headline from the New York Times, "Pandemic Tempts Leaders to Seize Sweeping Powers." Where’s the line? Do I make a stand? Corona’s got me thinking conscience.

Time to hammer out a rubric for acts of conscience. What actions require a response? Do I engage in civil disobedience? If so, when? The overarching biblical principal is that ‘every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.’ In most issues I obey the law. I protest but I don’t break it. Yet there are distinct situations where I defy.

These are the summits I stand on, the hills I’ll die on. This past December Wang YI, head of one of China’s largest unregistered churches was sentenced to nine years in prison. The crime, in his words, “The goal of disobedience is not to change the world but to testify about another world…The Bible teaches us that, in all matters relating to the gospel and human conscience, we must obey God and not men. For this reason, spiritual disobedience and bodily suffering are both ways we testify to another eternal world and to another glorious King.” Men may make God illegal but there are higher laws. 

Every person is created in the image of God. This makes all humans valuable and gives value to those considered “less than valuable (including the unborn).” If a law encroaches on their life, liberty or pursuit of happiness it is a bad law. In such cases breaking the law to save another; or to make a point is a good thing. “An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.” 

These are the parameters which guide my steps. Your guidelines may end up different. To often we make determinations based on fear and feeling. This is a good season for thinking through what you believe. What’s my grid? We’re inside now. Is there a time to step out, step in, step up? 

A Hopeful Call

There are two ways to argue.  The first is to use facts and principles to arrive at a solution.  The second is to degrade your opponent hoping that he will just cave under your attack.  For example in a marriage in the first solution you both are looking to solve the problem so you might say, “Going out to dinner isn’t in line with our budget.”  You are using a solid measure; the budget as a principle and trying to arrive at an agreement.  The second argument might sound like, “You are a stupid moron and don’t care about my hunger!”  In this instance the attack is personal and less concrete. I am dismayed in believing that individually and as a nation we are not principled unless the principal is me.

The John Adams quote, “A government of laws and not of men,” is often heard. We are girded under by law, by principles which find their precedent in the Bible. These are principles of truth and logic which have been held to for thousands of years. As a nation when we argue we should seek solid outcomes based on law. Not based on opinion or name calling. As individuals we should seek truth (and peace with all men) via solid basic facts. Our heart and our feelings are not rational determinants of the highest good for one or all.

The heart is deceitful above all things. As Solzhenitsyn says, “But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.”  We dare not argue without compass or plumb line. Then we may see only our truth and be guided by our perception; not the highest good of other or outcome. We may sink to name calling; and it is difficult nay impossible to improve if you’re being called a dork—What does ‘not a dork’ look like?  Can we do that?

I hope for more. I think we can argue rationally; honestly, and with respect for each other. I have a friend that lives in Berkeley, CA. He believes it’s impossible to argue rationally because people will cite social media and tidbits. I think higher of my fellow man that this. We have the ability to listen to each other and to hear. It’s got to be more than ‘he said, she said.’ There is truth. 

Though constantly saddened by the evil that men do I still have hope. Hope that we will choose light over darkness. That in our striving and arguments we rest on principle, law and the highest good of the other. For law has as its outcome the highest good of man.