We Will Not

I feel like it should go without saying, but apparently it must be said anyway: I will not support sedition and insurrection against the government of the United States.

I realize this puts me (again) at odds with some of my family, friends, neighbors, colleagues in ministry, and parts of the Christian community. Yet, what some are standing for while invoking Christianity is so egregious I'm obligated to at least register my opposition.  

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Galatians 5:14, KJV).

Fomenting hatred and violence are the opposite of Christianity, and yes, even when done in the political sphere. Working to advance discrimination, racism, oppression, injustice, and deceit is a demonic endeavor no matter what the arena. That includes the recent and continuing threats against our democratically elected government.

We should, in love, stand up for what we believe in (and against what we don't). The Biblical imagery of resistance by "The Three Young Men" provides an example: 

9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, 
sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.  (Daniel 3:9-18, KJV)

Radicalized insurgents continue to demand our worship of their leader and our subordination to their malicious ideology. We will not.