Kenosha, WI
by Renee Jasmon
Edited by A.B. Dada
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I was one of the “loving brothers” who encouraged Dada to reconsider the vitriolic post he had made about someone in his faith family a few days ago. Although Dada and I differ greatly in doctrine (I am a Lutheran Evangelical, he is a Paleoevangelical Preterist), we both agree on one item: faith and government should not walk hand-in-hand, lest the faithful be corrupted by the power of government. Dada uses words like “the State” and “force” which for many Christians like myself seems to come with an angry tone at first, but over a few years of working with him at VIP and in person, I’ve come to understand and even accept that the State generally does more wrong than right.

I’ve been watching the situation he wrote about for well over a year because I know how it has affected him and those he considers friends in the area. It is a difficult situation for him always, because it struck close to home for him; he has always been harassed and discouraged by the law enforcement of his county. I live in the county just north of his in another state, where our law enforcement has been more focused (it seems) on protecting the people than padding the bank accounts through what I also consider ridiculous enforcement of victimless crime laws.

Dada and I had a great discussion last night, and we couldn’t come up with an answer between the two of us. I know he spoke with a few pastors in the community about some Biblical resolution, but they also were unable to come up with a satisfactory answer. The question we both had deals with how a Christian should deal with public figures who perform acts considered evil.

Our discuss set aside the situation Dada found himself in, a situation where he HAD access to the person who committed an act he disagreed with. Dada’s correct response should have been a personal and private conversation with the person, to try to find out if the person agrees that the act was not loving and just. Dada did not do this, and this fact turned into the bad situation he finds himself in today.

Yet we all know his view on other public figures he has gone on to criticize; in my opinion, he has proven that he HAS tried to contact these public figures and has been either ignored, or outright condemned for even considering their actions as hateful or anti-love as it were. Yet his opinion on the madness that exists within the power of some (not all!) government employees is an opinion many of us may agree with, even if our doctrinal beliefs “force” us to follow through with supporting “the powers that be” (Dada’s words).

What would YOU do when you see the growth of government in your area, be it a municipality, a county or a nation? Is Dada correct that the houses of faith (or what I call churches) are losing ground because so much power has been moved from the congregations to the law enforcement bodies? Is there no Biblically just way to protest the transfer of power from the individual to the government (“State”)?

I personally don’t have an answer. My denomination believes in following Romans 13, but I think Dada’s doctrinal beliefs on Romans is justifiable and debatable as Biblically relevant also. How do you, if you are a believer in the Word, look to the massive growth of government and the failures this growth continues to cause? I think Dada is blessed to be able to formulate a positive reason to ignore Romans 13 as he does, but I am unable to fully accept this because of our differing beliefs on the whole Revelation timing. But just because a brother has a different interpretation of the Bible’s schedule doesn’t mean that we can’t see eye to eye more often than not.

I know Dada is going to respond to me in a few days after discussing the topic with other leaders of faith organizations that he is affiliated with. When I volunteered at VIP, I was always amazed at how he worked with so many congregations with so many differing beliefs in their translation of important Biblical truths. I left VIP because I was unable to submit to working for denominations that believed in things that I did not believe in. Dada is a much stronger man than I, at least in his faith, that he has never succumbed to a change of opinions solely because someone else told him “this is Truth.” The Bible is there to read, and understand, to all who seek. Maybe I don’t seek enough.

Here is where we ended our conversation:

1. If a public figure errs or does something wrong (what I call a sinful act, what Dada calls an evil act), if you have the ability to directly communicate with the official, you should consider asking them about it in a non-judgmental, non-finger pointing way. Bring up the topic, bring up your view on the topic, and let the public figure discuss the ramifications of the act or acts.

2. If you do not have the ability to communicate directly, a letter may work well in opening the eyes of the official, especially one who professes a faith that might have teachings counter to their actions.

3. If a letter written gets no response, a public solicitation for advice is probably acceptable, Biblically. I am always encouraged by reading this site, and I am glad that Dada has rebirthed it, except for the post from last week which I did consider hateful and demeaning, even if I tended to agree with him on 75% of his issues with the situation.

Dada is a revolutionary Christian, for sure. We all should be, as Christ was that way. I care more about my job, my work, and my family than I do about showing society that government can not help anyone without hurting another; that is how the system works. But what does a “good Christian” do when there is something incredibly wrong happening around them, and the person doing the wrong is legally armed, and has a great power to do great harm to the individual who questions them? What is that legally armed official is a Christian?

I don’t have the answer, and I have a feel that most at my house of faith, even the leadership, won’t either. They’ll either point to Romans 13, or they’ll come up with a half-answer that isn’t Biblically justified.

Dada floored me with his final response: “What if you lived in Iraq under Saddam? What if you lived in Germany under Hitler? What if you lived in the United States under Bush, Clinton, Reagan, or Kennedy?” All those men violated the rights of individuals using “terrorism” or “the enemy” as the reason. What is a “good Christian” to do if they live under such a regime that doesn’t display true love for one’s enemies?

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Renee Jasmon is a graphic designer, and can be reached through the comment section below, or via e-mail.

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