When Obamacare really kicks in and the rationing starts, are we supposed to tell people to follow orders and die, or should we look for illegal alternatives, and help create some?<>
Mark Horne: A question for the other KC writer: Should Chrisitans participate in or even help form a black market?
Mark, I know this is not the exact same situation, but I just read Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand. What struck me as I read was the variety of responses to the communist oppression. Some Christians actually stayed in communist appointed positions so they could spy on the communists. At times they had to lie, cheat, and do other things so they could help their brothers. Others confessed their faith and went to prison. Some came out of prison and pretended to be communist, but weren’t. Ministers would lie to their communist overseers so they could stay in their positions and minister to the flock. Other ministers formed the underground church. As I read Wurmbrand I did not get the impression that he thought less of those who chose options other than he chose. He seemed to understand that in the middle of oppression different men make different decisions. There was never any question whose side these men were on. They just used different tactics to undermine communism.
I think there will be a variety of responses. Some will form an underground market where items/services are bought and sold. Others will go through the system and suffer to make a point to those watching. Some will lie to the authorities to escape prosecution and serve the church by living. Others will tell the truth, again to make a point. It is hard to say exactly how it will go down without more specifics. But I think in a given scenario there may be numerous options open to Christians.
Peter, when I asked my question, I had no idea that such experiences were available to give us guidance! I would never have guessed Wurmbrand’s book would be so practical.
Mark, Wurmbrand doesn’t give us a theology of resistance so much as he gives examples of how men resisted. That is what I found so fascinating. It is the difference between the playbook and playing the game. Wurmbrand is playing the game. So it is not all pretty and I am not sure I agree with it all. But it makes you think. It is easy to play armchair quarterback. It is much harder to actually play the game. Bonhoeffer also comes to mind. I know he would not have expected every Christian to do what he did in resisting Germany. Others resisted in other ways. For example, the Ten Boom family.
Here is one of Wurmbrand’s quotes about official pastors who worked to undermine the Communists, “Seemingly docile and obedient on the surface, they risked their lives to spread the word of God.” That first phrase is striking. How were they docile? Did they attend all the official church meetings? Did they preach sermons that fit the criteria, but then do other work on the side? Did they lie to their superiors to keep their positions so they could continue to minister secretly to their flock?
I will try to find his quotes about those who stayed in the military.
One of the main questions is the nature of biblical deceit. Under what circumstances is it okay for a Christian to knowingly circumvent the law of the land? When should they actively work to undermine the law of the land? What methods are open to us as Christians when we are opposing those who rule over us? At what point do we consider ourselves at “war” with those who rule over us? These are important questions and ones I think need to be discussed with humility, looking to our brothers who have resisted in other scenarios, like Nazi Germany and Eastern Europe during communism.