Home » Theological Doctrine » Christian Ethics » When Should a Christian Break the Law
| When Should a Christian Break the Law [message #6731] |
Sun, 31 January 2010 01:10  |
 james
Messages: 2138
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
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Today I received the monthly Voice of the Martyrs newsletter, and there is a pamplet written by Tom White (the head of Voice of the Martyrs) titled, 'Is secret Christian work "illegal"? It is a defense of his/their position that it's ok to break the law to further the cause of Christ, since one of their main ministries is the smuggling of Bibles in to countries that have laws making it illegal to do so. Also there is a argument made that it's ok to lie when filling out a visa application, saying that the person entering the restricted country is entering as a tourist, rather than a missionary.
He raises the question,'When does our obedience to the government become disobedience to God?" It sure would be hard to 'spread the gospel' without being able to give out copies of it for those who've never heard it before. That's the situation in China...
Another question of conscious that just came to me, why do we Christians in America buy products from a nation, China, that serverely restricts the Bible from being available to it's citizens? And if you shop at Walmart, then the majority of what you purchase is from China, unless you've already decided to not support China's takeover as the world's most domainant financial power.
Any comments or convictions about this ethical dilemma?
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: When Should a Christian Break the Law [message #6732 is a reply to message #6731] |
Sun, 31 January 2010 02:13  |
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william
Messages: 1462
Registered: January 2006 |
Senior Member
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On Sat, 30 Jan 2010, James wrote:
>
> He raises the question,'When does our obedience to the government become
> disobedience to God?" It sure would be hard to 'spread the gospel'
> without being able to give out copies of it for those who've never heard
> it before. That's the situation in China...
>
It must have been pretty hard to spread the gospel in Rome without
printing presses and then do it in a atmosphere where the head of the
government was considered a god but they did it anyway and paid for it
with their blood.
>
> Another question of conscious that just came to me, why do we Christians
> in America buy products from a nation, China, that serverely restricts
> the Bible from being available to it's citizens? And if you shop at
> Walmart, then the majority of what you purchase is from China, unless
> you've already decided to not support China's takeover as the world's
> most domainant financial power.
>
Ahh, the cries of a conflicted heart! What difference does it make
whether we buy products made in China or those made in the good old US of
A? Both are separated only by degrees and unless someone knows where to
draw the line and can make a good case for it then I'm going to continue
to shop at Sam Walton's dollar stores! (Last time I looked they had
Bibles for a good price, even some printed on <gasp> fine paper from
India!)
I'll get there by buying petrol from Saudi Arabia which is one of the most
oppressive anti-Christian nations on the face of the earth!
But if you are sincerely conflicted James, I'll stop eating meat for your
sake; after all, Paul says that we should not offend a brother with a weak
conscience, just for the sake of our liberty! (Of course I am joking to
make a point!)
I really do think that an unhealthy relationship exists between the
world's governments and the Christian Church. For our part it should not
even be a question of whether or not it is okay to lie on an application
(of course we should not!) the question to ask is why doesn't the
government just assume that Christians will be spreading the Gospel
wherever we travel? Could it be that most are not?
Custom Agent: Son, what do you have in that duffel bag?
Christian: Clothes, sir.
Custom Agent: Are you going to be doing any spreading of the Gospel?
Christian: Ha, Ha, you trying to get Leno's job, sir? Course I am...
I'm a Christian.
Custom Agent: What are these Bibles doing in your duffel bag... I
thought you said you had clothes in here?
Christian: So I lied...
Custom Agent: Well, I see you and me have a lot in common, being
children of the same father and all... take this stuff and
spread some gospel, I don't see any harm in it.
Blessings,
William
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I want to Believe!
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| Re: When Should a Christian Break the Law [message #6733 is a reply to message #6732] |
Sun, 31 January 2010 02:38 |
james
Messages: 2138
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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Well, I DID get ya to thinking, didn't I?
Speaking of Leno, fine India paper, and eating meat.....<grin>
Did you know that Cambridge Bibles uses only paper from India,
where much of the labor is done by children?
I don't mind you eating a little ground beef,
just stay away from the rib eye's... 
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: When Should a Christian Break the Law [message #6735 is a reply to message #6734] |
Sun, 31 January 2010 03:34 |
james
Messages: 2138
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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Self justification, we see it everywhere...even in the mirror.
This guy, Tom White, writes some fictitious examples of 'what if' from the bible in an attempt to justify his position, here's a couple:
"When the mother of Moses was lovingly hiding her baby in the basket (Ex.2) one of the religious leaders knocked on her door and convinced her that her act was 'illegal'. Realizing her sin, she surrendered Moses to the authorities. He was killed and the Jews remained in salvery."
"When Paul was being lowered in the basket over the wall (Acts 9), one of the men above had second thoughts. Grabbing the rope, he said, "Wait a minute, fellas, are you sure this is legal? Didn't Paul want us to give the authorities our spiritual rights, too?" Paul didn't get a chance to answer. When the basket jerked to a stop, he fell out and broke his neck."
Then White writes, "These illustrations may sound ridiculous or even blasphemous. They are not meant to be. They are based on attitudes prevalent in some Christian circles today about secret Christian work."
Just today I overheard someone giving out spiritual advice, who is supposed to be a pillar in a local church. And the situation involved obeying God in regards a situation, and the advice was not what The Word says about if a person seeks to be a disciple of Jesus' he must be willing to forsake both father and mother and put first The Kingdom of God, but rather..."well family comes first, God understands." And people wonder why God's power doesn't 'seem' present in their lives...
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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