Call to disobey
Tuesday, January 16th, 2007Is it ever right to disobey a law? Yes. There are times that we have a moral obligation to disobey laws. Today we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, King addresses (brilliantly) the argument over the obedience or disobedience of unjust laws. I encourage you to find a copy of this letter and read it today.
In this letter, King states that there are two kinds of laws: just and injust. He quotes from St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas to prove his point that we are required by God to obey just laws that agree with God’s moral law. However, if a law goes against God’s moral law, then we have an obligation to oppose it.
Remember, Daniel knew that it was illegal to pray to Yahweh God and yet he prayed, as usual, in front of his window at home. Daniel knew that he was disobeying the law of the land, but he also knew that there was a greater law to obey. I am thankful that Dr. King understood this and left us this legacy. May we never forget who we are to obey.
