Breaking a “Lesser” Law to Emphasize a “Higher” One?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesWe do indeed see this, virtually daily, on the newscasts, and we have seen it most recently as anti-abortionists block entrances to clinics, take up parking spaces and walking space with their bodies, and otherwise interfering with public access to public facilities. Spokesmen for such tactics admit breaking a law, which is a lesser one, in order to call attention to those breaking a higher law.
We are fully against abortion, and all other things contrary to the will of God. But God’s children do not themselves break laws, calling one law “a small one,” in order to emphasize that some are breaking other laws. We find no Scriptural justification for Christians bodily blocking public access to public facilities, however much we disagree with what goes on in that place. There are means available – letters and phone calls to officials, our own public preaching and teaching, and then there is the ballot box, etc. – whereby the Christian can make his views known without casting his lot, publicly, with those who misbehave.
God’s child remembers that the powers that be are ordained of God (Romans 13:1), and that he is to submit to them (v. 2), because resisting law is resisting God! We must never make the mistake of spurning law because, in human eyes, it is a “little one,” and therefore breaking it is of no consequence! We can make our voices heard, for the right, in law-abiding ways and without interfering with public access which, by law, is granted to every citizen!
THE SOUTHWESTERNER, May 31,1989