CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
Civil Disobedience
Navy vet defends beheading Iowa capitol's satanic Baphomet statue: 'Christian civil disobedience'
A Mississippi Navy reserve pilot instructor who admitted to beheading a statue of the satanic half-man, half-goat Baphomet inside the Iowa State Capitol told Fox News he was simply engaging in "Christian civil disobedience." Michael Cassidy said he decided "spur of the moment" to travel north to Des Moines and take action against the statue, which had been permitted to be erected not far from the rotunda's Nativity display for Christmas. He told "Jesse Watters Primetime" he wrecked the statue then went straight to Capitol security to tell them what he did. (Fox News 12/16/23) READ MORE>>>>>
A Mississippi Navy reserve pilot instructor who admitted to beheading a statue of the satanic half-man, half-goat Baphomet inside the Iowa State Capitol told Fox News he was simply engaging in "Christian civil disobedience." Michael Cassidy said he decided "spur of the moment" to travel north to Des Moines and take action against the statue, which had been permitted to be erected not far from the rotunda's Nativity display for Christmas. He told "Jesse Watters Primetime" he wrecked the statue then went straight to Capitol security to tell them what he did. (Fox News 12/16/23) READ MORE>>>>>
ACTIONS NOT WORDS, THE SACRAMENTAL SIGNS OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
50 years ago last month my dad, the local vicar, stood in front of a bulldozer on the edge of Durham city to stop it clearing a site on Flass Vale a bit of urban wilderness. This sparked a local campaign to stop the development and included a mass picnic which hundreds attended. Flass Vale was saved and my dad’s non-violent direct action helped spark action and continues to inspire me. So many weasel words are spoken, so many speeches pledging action on global warming are delivered, oil companies spend millions (tiny proportions of their profits) on advertising their green credentials. Thousands of rousing speeches are given at protest marches, millions of words are written in petition, thousands of messages in Whatts App, Signal etc. As each year passes, I become more convinced that the way for me to protest is not through words but rather symbolic action. Often saying nothing, letting the action speak for itself. ‘Actions not Words’ as one of the CCA banners reminds us.
(Christian Climate Action 10/7/23) READ MORE>>>>>
50 years ago last month my dad, the local vicar, stood in front of a bulldozer on the edge of Durham city to stop it clearing a site on Flass Vale a bit of urban wilderness. This sparked a local campaign to stop the development and included a mass picnic which hundreds attended. Flass Vale was saved and my dad’s non-violent direct action helped spark action and continues to inspire me. So many weasel words are spoken, so many speeches pledging action on global warming are delivered, oil companies spend millions (tiny proportions of their profits) on advertising their green credentials. Thousands of rousing speeches are given at protest marches, millions of words are written in petition, thousands of messages in Whatts App, Signal etc. As each year passes, I become more convinced that the way for me to protest is not through words but rather symbolic action. Often saying nothing, letting the action speak for itself. ‘Actions not Words’ as one of the CCA banners reminds us.
(Christian Climate Action 10/7/23) READ MORE>>>>>
Oct 17, 2022: Christianity Today: Myanmar’s Christians Fight for Peace
Protests became too dangerous once the police switched from rubber bullets to real ones, but civil disobedience continues. Civil servants like health care staff and teachers refuse to work under the regime; by the military’s own estimates, nearly 30 percent of public employees have participated. Some are boycotting the state-owned power company or telecommunications company (internet connectivity has worsened and tripled in price since the coup).
Lamung still repeats the pleas she made to the Lord each night when she got home from the vigils and protests right after the coup—for him to bring safety and peace to Myanmar. “I can’t yet see the result of our prayers,” she said, “but God also gave us hands, feet, and a mouth to speak out for justice.”
Protests became too dangerous once the police switched from rubber bullets to real ones, but civil disobedience continues. Civil servants like health care staff and teachers refuse to work under the regime; by the military’s own estimates, nearly 30 percent of public employees have participated. Some are boycotting the state-owned power company or telecommunications company (internet connectivity has worsened and tripled in price since the coup).
Lamung still repeats the pleas she made to the Lord each night when she got home from the vigils and protests right after the coup—for him to bring safety and peace to Myanmar. “I can’t yet see the result of our prayers,” she said, “but God also gave us hands, feet, and a mouth to speak out for justice.”
So does engaging in civil disobedience mean not following the New Testament counsel to be subject to authority? No, it’s important to note that the apostles’ guidance in the New Testament doesn’t say that we, as believers, are to always obey government authority, but that we are to be subject to it. As John Yoder, a Mennonite theologian and ethicist, explained: “The conscientious objector who refuses to do what his government asks him to do, but still remains under the sovereignty of that government and accepts the penalties which it imposes, . . . is being subordinate even though he is not obeying.”
Even though Peter and Paul preached subordination to government authority, they disobeyed their local leaders by continuing to preach the gospel when they were told to stop, leading to their arrest and imprisonment (cf. Acts 5; 12; 16). Also, Jesus anticipated that spreading the gospel could and would at times result in being handed over to authorities to be beaten and punished, and prepared His followers for this (Mark 13:9-11).
Early Adventist pioneers also understood that at times civil disobedience may be called for, while recognizing that this also meant being subject to the law and its penalties. Ellen White counseled that at times civil disobedience was necessary. “When the laws of men conflict with the word and law of God, we are to obey the latter, whatever the consequences may be. The law of our land requiring us to deliver a slave to his master, we are not to obey; and we must abide the consequences of violating this law.”
As believers our default position should be submission to authority and when possible, obedience to the laws of the land if they are not in direct conflict with our ability to follow the commands of God. But when we were faced with a conflict that requires obedience to government or submission to God, our first duty should always be to Him, regardless of the cost. -Jennifer Gray Woods; associate director of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Even though Peter and Paul preached subordination to government authority, they disobeyed their local leaders by continuing to preach the gospel when they were told to stop, leading to their arrest and imprisonment (cf. Acts 5; 12; 16). Also, Jesus anticipated that spreading the gospel could and would at times result in being handed over to authorities to be beaten and punished, and prepared His followers for this (Mark 13:9-11).
Early Adventist pioneers also understood that at times civil disobedience may be called for, while recognizing that this also meant being subject to the law and its penalties. Ellen White counseled that at times civil disobedience was necessary. “When the laws of men conflict with the word and law of God, we are to obey the latter, whatever the consequences may be. The law of our land requiring us to deliver a slave to his master, we are not to obey; and we must abide the consequences of violating this law.”
As believers our default position should be submission to authority and when possible, obedience to the laws of the land if they are not in direct conflict with our ability to follow the commands of God. But when we were faced with a conflict that requires obedience to government or submission to God, our first duty should always be to Him, regardless of the cost. -Jennifer Gray Woods; associate director of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists