2/2/2015
Must Christians Pay “the price of citizenship”?
When Elaine Huguenin, because of her Christian principles, politely declined to do photographs for the ceremony of two lesbians in 2006, she was sued. In 2008, The New Mexico Supreme Court sided against her, telling her, in the words of Justice Richard Bosson, that people “must compromise, if only a little, to accommodate the contrasting values of others.” He went further, declaring that this “is the price of citizenship.” Increasingly, Christians in various businesses that offer services are being required to make decisions about whether or not they compromise their religious beliefs.* Will they comply with laws or court opinions regarding various practices that conflict with their own convictions as they conduct the business they offer the general public? What makes the decision difficult is the force of the governmental entities requiring compromise.
This is nothing new. The Three Hebrews refused the price of citizenship which was to bow to the golden statue of the King of Babylon. Had Justice Bosson been there to advise them, he would likely have told them they might have to compromise “only a little” by bending the knee. But would the government compromise only a little on their side? No, the penalty for refusing to engage in this “little compromise” was to be thrown into a furnace of fire. So compromise from one perspective is “only a little” but from the other side their conformity was so important that the death penalty was imposed. In Elaine Huguenin’s case, the New Mexico Court ordered her to fork over $6,630, not yet the death penalty but what, ultimately, is to stop them? In 2014 the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case, allowing New Mexico’s decision to stand.
Daniel was a model citizen, but that did not stop his adversaries from scheming to entrap him. They crafted a law that they knew he would break because they knew he was a man of uncompromising faith. They flattered the king into signing an anti-prayer law for thirty days. The penalty for violating it was to be thrown to the lions. Daniel’s custom was to pray three times a day, kneeling before an open window toward Jerusalem. He could have made a little compromise and prayed silently without kneeling and no one would know he was praying. Compromise would have been his price of citizenship. But Daniel continued serving God according to his custom and ran afoul of the new law. From the king’s perspective, the law had unintended consequences for his friend Daniel was sentenced to the lion’s den. But the consequences were exactly what his enemies had hoped for, and they were elated.
Lot’s price of citizenship was severe – he would have to have allowed the violation of angels by the perverts of Sodom. When he tried to restrain them from their lust, they said, “This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door” (Gen.19:9). In Lot’s case the citizenship issue was turned on its head. If he stayed, he was a dead man. If he was true to his heavenly citizenship, he had to leave. His choice for heaven was reluctant (the angels took him by the hand to lead him out) but was life-saving.
The Book of Revelation gives the ultimate contrast regarding the price of citizenship. When things progress to the point where citizens cannot buy or sell
without taking the mark of the beast, that “little compromise” will have eternal consequences. God has the last word. “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name” (Rev. 14:11).
The price of citizenship is extremely important. The question is, which country deserves our highest priority? The heroes of faith in Hebrews gave us the blueprint. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” (Heb. 11:13-16) .
When the law is written in such a way that Christians are forced to violate their Biblical principles, the Christian must decide which citizenship is most important. God vindicated the Three Hebrews and saved them from the fire. He delivered Daniel from the mouth of lions. He saved Lot from the brimstone of Sodom. For Elaine Huguenin, the last chapter of her story has not yet been written. But the principle that God watches over his own is still viable. Historically, people have suffered for staying true to their Christian principles in the face of oppression. But from an eternal perspective it is always best to keep our heavenly citizenship current and without betrayal. The rewards are well worth it.
*Marriage is honorable for all. However, just as the deceiver ruined the best environment for marriage in Eden, so he is working to ruin the institution of marriage by getting deceived people to redefine what God has made clear- “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). Marriage is between a man and a woman. God is very careful about the integrity of his word and he instructs us thus: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your of his selves” (James 1:22). In keeping his word we are also admonished to “…neither be partaker of other men’s sins…” (1 Tim. 5:22). It is not a matter of needing to go with the changes of society, for “thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” (Ex. 23:2a). Christians who are serious about keeping God’s word cannot celebrate what God calls an abomination.