Re: Kim Davis. Thinking Through Some Ramifications of Saying She Should Have Resigned
From NBC News, via Denny Burk:
Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who has turned away same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses, was found in contempt of court and taken into custody on Thursday.
Some of my brothers and sisters in Christ are agreeing with Rod Dreher and others who argue that, while they think Davis should not have been sent to jail, "as an officer of the state charged with upholding the law, she ought to resign her position if she cannot fulfill her duties."
Those who take this position MIGHT be correct, but we should notice what the "resign!" position entails. It is not just Davis who would have to resign, but (now that the Supreme Court has redefined marriage for legal purposes) ANY Christian in a public office that is involved with the institution of marriage-any Christian official in such a position, who has a conscience provoked at the thought of giving approval to sin (Rom 1:32)-would also need to resign.
Furthermore, what about the Christian police officer who will now be ordered to arrest people like Kim Davis? If his conscience is provoked, should he necessarily resign his position? What about the Christian D.A. who will be called upon to prosecute those who refuse to comply with Obergefell (or legislation that will be crafted with Obergefell in view)? Should a D.A. in that position necessarily resign rather than remain in office while refusing to bring charges? Followed to its logical conclusion, the position that 'Kim Davis should have resigned' is a position that would have Christians vacate large sectors of governmental employment. IF you believe that Christians of conscience do not necessarily need to abandon an increasing number of government jobs in our country, then you must think through another view regarding Kim Davis (and those like her). Practically speaking, this other view may need to include a willingness for Christians to occasionally face jail-time as a matter of conscience-driven civil disobedience.
A federal judge has ordered a Kentucky clerk to jail after she refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who has turned away same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses, was found in contempt of court and taken into custody on Thursday.
Davis, 49, was in federal district court to appear before a judge after refusing to issue licenses to gay and lesbian couples in Rowan County. Davis, an Apostolic Christian [a charismatic group], has said doing so would “violate God’s definition of marriage” and infringe on her personal religious beliefs.
District Court Judge David Bunning said that she is bound by an oath of office to perform her duties under the law, and ordered her to jail.
Some of my brothers and sisters in Christ are agreeing with Rod Dreher and others who argue that, while they think Davis should not have been sent to jail, "as an officer of the state charged with upholding the law, she ought to resign her position if she cannot fulfill her duties."
Those who take this position MIGHT be correct, but we should notice what the "resign!" position entails. It is not just Davis who would have to resign, but (now that the Supreme Court has redefined marriage for legal purposes) ANY Christian in a public office that is involved with the institution of marriage-any Christian official in such a position, who has a conscience provoked at the thought of giving approval to sin (Rom 1:32)-would also need to resign.
Furthermore, what about the Christian police officer who will now be ordered to arrest people like Kim Davis? If his conscience is provoked, should he necessarily resign his position? What about the Christian D.A. who will be called upon to prosecute those who refuse to comply with Obergefell (or legislation that will be crafted with Obergefell in view)? Should a D.A. in that position necessarily resign rather than remain in office while refusing to bring charges? Followed to its logical conclusion, the position that 'Kim Davis should have resigned' is a position that would have Christians vacate large sectors of governmental employment. IF you believe that Christians of conscience do not necessarily need to abandon an increasing number of government jobs in our country, then you must think through another view regarding Kim Davis (and those like her). Practically speaking, this other view may need to include a willingness for Christians to occasionally face jail-time as a matter of conscience-driven civil disobedience.
Labels: Christian worldview
posted by Andrew Lindsey | 6:09 AM
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